1. Real Weddings

A Modern Wedding in St. Louis, MO

The Bride Melissa Barton, 30 and a PhD candidate in English at University of Chicago The Groom Chris Gackenheimer, 29 and works as a school social wor

The Bride Melissa Barton, 30 and a PhD candidate in English at University of Chicago The Groom Chris Gackenheimer, 29 and works as a school social worker The Date June 27 Melissa and Chris let their hip, quirky downtown venue -- Mad Art Gallery -- dictate the details of their wedding, tying it together with an orange and blue color combo (her favorite color and the color of his eyes).

The three-tiered buttercream cake was decorated with simple white dots and orange fondant ribbon trim to echo their stationery.
The old police squad car garage-turned-art space was decorated with white globe paper lanterns.
All of the paper elements from the day, including the programs, matched and included the same pop art-style orange and blue hearts and modern typeface.
Chris' orange boutonniere was a single mokara orchid accented with a yellow billy ball to go with Melissa's orange bouquet.
In addition to exotic mokara orchids, Melissa's vibrant bouquet was accented with yellow billy balls and white dahlias.
The tiny plastic ninja escort cards were an inside joke -- and a nod to their love story. The two knew they would be a great way to set the tone for their party.
Melissa's florist created these tall centerpieces with orange mokara orchids (the dominant flower of the day) and filled it out with orange roses and white dahlias.
The two exchanged vows in front of potted palms in Mad Art's courtyard. Their florist added two loose flower arrangements to define the space and add color.
One of the benefits to renting a fun and funky art space was the original art already on the walls, like these animal drawings.