April 16, 2026
One of the things I love seeing on a wedding day is all of the pieces my couples work so hard on come together. Planning any party is a lot of work and a wedding is probably one of the biggest kinds of parties to plan and execute. Karley and Nathan were so thoughtful when planning their wedding day, sentimental moments throughout and aesthetically, it was a beautiful day. Moody details, romantic florals, lots of candles.
Romantic St. Louis Wedding
Karley and Nathan’s St. Louis Wedding incorporated so much of what we love about St. Louis into the day. They let the historic architecture do much of the work when it came to decor, but then brought the romance into their day with their phenomenal florals. Nathan’s cousin Andrew, a florist, flew from Texas for the wedding, and did a phenomenal job on the florals for this day(@saintmontogrens). With pink roses and amaranth scattered throughout the wedding venue there was so much to love.
Karley’s Grandma’s helping her get her dress on made for such a special moment.
Everyone was feeling emotional that morning wedding morning.
Karley’s dad & mom surprised her with a bracelet & charm for her bouquet. The tears were flowing!!
We took some quick portraits before heading over to the venue!! Thanks to the Alton Cracker Factory for the large getting ready space.
Post Commons, now a coffee shop, was a Federal Post Office in the 1900s!
Please note- Post Commons no longer hosts wedding ceremonies in this room. Events are held in the Hallie room (where Karley & Nathan hosted their reception).
We made sure to take some photos inside! The light coming inthrough those windows cast some really pretty shadows. It was a vibe.
A Vintage Inspired Wedding Day
One of my favorite parts about St. Louis are the beautiful historic buildings that make up the city. So many beautiful buildings repurposed for different uses. Knowing they would be surrounded by so many beautiful historic buildings, Karley and Nathan infused a lot of vintage inspired elements into their wedding day. Along with the vintage elements incorporated throughout their wedding day, Nathan has been restoring his vintage pickup for years and he finished it just in time for the wedding, so of course we had to incorporate it into their wedding portraits. Isn’t she beautiful? 🛻
Time to sign the marriage license before joining their guests! Don’t forget to make it official.
I am forever thankful for the couples who trust me with their time, money, and memories. Loving on someone through photos (aka being an artist) is my absolute favorite thing in the entire world. If you’re loving the vintage feel of these photos and ready to start planning your wedding day, I would love to be a part of it! Fill out my contact form & tell me about your vision.
STL area & Illinois Wedding Vendors
Florals- Saint Montogrens x Mayesh Wholesale Florist
Gown- Main Street Bridal
Suit- The Brass Horn
Rings- Flora Gems
Hair & make up- Studio Bride , Kayla Elaine Beauty, Ashlinn Rae Wedding Day
Venue- Post Commons in Alton, IL
All love is affirmed & celebrated here.
Rachael Marie Photography values inclusivity and will never discriminate against your gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religion, body type, or abilities. You are wonderful, beautiful, and loved here.
For the people who would rather be living the moment than posing for it.
I'm Rachael (she/her) by the way.
I'll give you direction when you need it and space when you don't. I believe the best photos aren't always the ones where everyone is looking at the camera.
Sometimes they're the ones where your best friend is crying. Your grandma is laughing.
Your partner is looking at you when you aren't paying attention. And someone is absolutely losing their mind on the dance floor.
Those are the photos I want to make.
