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Saint Louis Date Idea: The Mud House

Our trip to St. Louis is winding down and before we know it we’ll be saying our goodbyes. My least favorite part about coming home.

But before we leave, we had to share our newest discovery. It’s absolutely perfect for a date! The spot is called The Mud House and it’s located on the famous Cherokee Street in St. Louis. It’s technically a coffee house, but their food menu makes it so much more. Vitaliy enjoyed their soup-of-the-day a few times, and I was completely hooked on their Mushroom Reuben sandwich. However, I’m a total sucker for breakfast, so one of the days we worked there I enjoyed their famous French Toast which was to-die-for.

Besides the great food, my top two reasons why this would be a great spot for a date is the atmosphere and the neighborhood. Let me explain.

If you’re going to go on a date, you want to take him/her somewhere unique. The Mud House has a bicycle hanging from the wall. Does it get anymore interesting? Their décor has a total vintage/hipster vibe and you can’t help but want to walk around and enjoy all the art on your way to your table. Not to mention, their restroom is covered in old board games. You can trust that any location that takes the time to design their restroom knows how to pay attention to detail in every way.

But to get the most out of your experience to The Mud House, grab your coffee to go and enjoy stepping back in time as you stroll Cherokee Street hand in hand. There are tons of little shops and bakeries to enjoy. But be sure not to miss the plaques telling the old stories of the families of Cherokee Street. There is so much history in this quaint little neighborhood.

The Mud House is definitely a new St. Louis favorite of ours. If you live in the area or are planning a visit, be sure to check it out! Here are a few other St. Louis staples that we never miss when coming to town.

Ted Drewes Ice Cream – Come here after a Cardinals baseball game!

The Pasta House – A St. Louis chain; I come here for my toasted ravioli’s.

Park Avenue in Lafayette Square – Get your St. Louis gooey butter cake here with a cup of coffee and then stroll Lafayette Square Park.

Artwork on the wall - Bob Dylan portraitArtwork on the walls and seating area. Date Idea in Saint Louis.At the registerBalck and white photo of an old school bikeWe love CherokeeThe Mud House coffee shop outsideStuff on the wallsSeating and ambianceMud House date ideaTypewriters on the shelf with books.
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Anthony+Nicole
A San Francisco
Greek Wedding

Anthony and Nicole’s wedding was a quintessential San Francisco affair with all the elements of a big fat Greek wedding. It doesn’t get any better than that!

The two were married at the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church then took a cable car ride to the Marine’s Memorial Club & Hotel for their reception. And this is where the party of all parties unfolded. To start things off, Anthony and Nicole and the entire wedding party were announced into the reception by a prerecording from the famous broadcaster Duane Kuiper of the San Francisco Giants. I’m telling you, the Greeks do it big!

If that wasn’t memorable enough, Nicole’s brother James stood up to toast the happy couple but instead broke out in dance which resulted in a flash mob complete with flying confetti. Nicole’s mom informed me that the flash mob was a first for a Greek wedding, but the way Greeks celebrate, I thought it fit right in.

There were so many more unforgettable moments like this, but what really made this wedding so special was the people. This was our very first Greek wedding and I only hope it won’t be our last. Everyone gave us such a warm welcome we were ready to turn Greek by the end of the night. Opa!

Anthony and Nicole, thank you for being you! Two people who are truly beautiful inside and out. I laughed and cried my way through your pictures preparing to share them today. I hope they help you relive the day all over again. Congratulations! We wish you a marriage filled with love and laughter. Love to you and your families!

You can read Anthony and Nicole’s love story. And you can also view our favorite memories from their day here – ANTHONY AND NICOLE: THE HIGHLIGHTS.

Below is the team of vendors that helped make the day so perfect.

THE TEAM:

Ceremony: Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church

Reception: Marines’ Memorial Club

Florist: Julie Snead

Cake: Mazzetti’s Bakery

Hair: DiDi Salon

Makeup: Social Beauty Co.

Cocktail Hour Musicians: Hallie Pridham

DJ: DJ GSTAV

Band: Lou Skoby

Dress: Maggie Sottero

Shoes: Nine West

Paper Goods: Signatures by Sarah

Suit/Tux: Selix

Videographer: Marmalade Sky Films

Photographer: Pictilio

Greek wedding in San FranciscoWedding invitation with custom caligraphyGreek olive oil as a wedding favorBlack and white photo of the groomBride and groom leaving Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox church in San Francisco as the guests wave the streamersDinner menu with custom caligraphyWedding party cheering for the bride an groom at the Music Concourse in Golden Gate ParkPortrait of the bride at the Music Concourse in Golden Gate ParkBalck and white photo of the bride and groom doing their first danceBride and groom at the fountainsFirst look portraits of bride and groom. Greek wedding.Wedding florals by Julie Snead. Wedding at Marines’ Memorial ClubPortrait of bride holding her dog. Dog wearing a tuxedo.Greek wedding in San FranciscoBalck and white photo of groom caressing the bride's faceEarrings, shoes and clutchPortrait of bride and groom huggin each other at the Music Concourse in Golden Gate Park. Greek wedding in San Francisco.Bride with bridesmaids riding the cable car and drinking champagneWedding cake by Mazzetti’s BakeryBride and groom kissing on cable car in San Francisco with Just Married sign
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The Lie:
Just Push Through

A friend asked me yesterday if I enjoy marriage. My answer was yes, and then I ended with a big fat BUT.

BUT…

It totally depends on how much you decide to invest into the relationship. Vitaliy and I photographed 5 weddings in the past month. That doesn’t include other projects or shoots that we also worked on. About halfway through the month, we both began to see and feel the effects the busy season was having on our relationship. We started to neglect our marriage and could tell by the way we were treating one another.

In the past, we would have just told ourselves to push through. That things would work themselves out once we got past this busy season. But we learned the hard way that it just doesn’t work that way. Putting off the necessary attention your relationship needs will only make things more difficult when you finally decide to face the issue.

This time when things started heating up, we looked back on the years past. We chose to get our priorities straight and put our marriage in it’s rightful place. What our relationship needed most was time; we each needed some undivided attention. But if you are like us, who has extra time? It’s true, something had to be sacrificed in order to find the time. But I never had any regrets. I know we wouldn’t have made it through our three wedding weekend as a unified team if we hadn’t made the investment the week before. It was another reminder that other areas of life benefit when we keep our priorities right.

Another favorite from Jeffrey and Phoebe’s wedding.

j-p-wedding
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