Photo credits:Memories Are Forever

Jill Elizabeth Wengler
Mark Munsell
Wedding Ceremony - The Old Cathedral, St. Louis
August 3rd, 2002

ABOUT THE BRIDE: Jill is originally from Crystal Lake, Illinois. She graduated from the University of Illinois and is an Account Executive for the St. Louis Cardinals. Jill has two brothers and her parents have "returned home" to St. Louis, as of Spring 2002.

ABOUT THE GROOM: Mark is a St. Louis native, graduated from Southeast Missouri State, played football on scholarship, and baseball for two seasons. He is an agent for Country Insurance and Financial, out of Columbia, Illinois. Mark's three sisters and his parents all reside in St. Louis.

HOW WE MET: The couple met at Soulard's Mardi Gras Celebration! Jill's first glimpse of Mark was... in line for the porta-potty! A kind stranger actually made the meeting happen later in the day, following Jill's stares straight to Mark. Of course, she bribed him with tickets to Opening Day. Our first date was on St. Patrick's Day... then a few YEARS of off and on dating finally led to...

ENGAGEMENT: A New Year's Cruise to the Bahamas was the proposal scene. Mark couldn't wait for New Year's Eve and even though December 31st is his birthday, he had a surprise gift for Jill! Expecting a crazy beach hat... instead, a beautiful diamond ring! His mother's engagement diamond is the center stone, making it especially meaningful.

PLANNING: Five days at sea allowed for some planning to be done right there on the boat! Jill loves the St. Louis heat, so it was just a matter of which August date their dream church and reception site would be available! The date was chosen and all subsequent planning was smooth sailing, with Jill and Mark making sure it was fun every step of the way! The bridesmaids were always available to help, even being scattered in St. Louis, Chicago, Bloomington, Denver, and Dallas!

ATTIRE: The bride's Lila Broude gown from Berrybridge was a candlelight tank style with bodice lightly embroidered and beaded with crystals. It featured a natural waist, A-line skirt, and back detailing of classic loophole buttons, accented with a small fleur-de-lis bow. The veil, custom made in Geneva, Illinois, was elbow length and very full. A simple ribbon headpiece was adorned with crystals from Jill's Mom's veil! Added to this was "something borrowed", crystal hair-pins from one of the bridesmaids.

Bridesmaids wore "sterling" silver taffeta, strapless gowns with full, box-pleat, floor-length skirts. The guys wore four-button black tuxedos with vests and Windsor ties, the Groom in classic ivory and... football cufflinks.

THE CEREMONY: Jill and Mark wanted a very traditional Catholic Mass and felt very privileged to be married in the oldest church west of the Mississippi, the Old Cathedral.

THE RECEPTION: In keeping with the history and tradition of St. Louis, the reception was at The Stadium Club in Busch Stadium. Wedding party photos included shots on the field and in the Cardinal's dugout, highlighted by batting practice for the groom, tuxedo and all! Fortunately, the Groomsmen's gifts were personalized bats!

A cocktail reception was chosen to allow maximum time for mingling and dancing! Stations were located throughout the club, so guests were free to enjoy different views, catch up with old friends, and taste menu items from crabcakes and gulf shrimp to hot dogs and nachos!

The new couple's first dance was "Can't Help Falling in Love". Traditions of the Delta Gammas singing to their newest "Anchor Man" and everyone dancing to "The Hustle" were entertaining for all!

HOW WE PERSONALIZED THE WEDDING: The entire engagement time really reflected Mark's and Jill's personalities, but the intricate personal details will always be very special.

(That's why they're also the) THINGS WE LOVED: The ring pillow was hand-made by the bride's Mom, using crystals from her wedding veil, and an ivory rose from her headpiece!

Arriving at the church in a copper and ivory '57 Chevy, thanks to Louie's Limos, was very fun, especially for the Father of the Bride!

Jill's bouquet choice was simple... cream-colored roses, her sorority flower! Jeannie Roberts, a longtime family friend, was the florist, from Botaniques on the Square in Farmington, Missouri.

The bridal gown's fleur-de-lis (also a traditional St. Louis symbol) inspired everything from Rehearsal Dinner favors, to care packages for hotel guests, to the ceremony programs.

McArthur's Bakery created a gorgeous cake for the bride, mirroring her dress embroidery and icing the couple's monogram on the top tier. They surprised all guests with a groom's cake -- a replica of Busch Stadium!

As parting favors, guests received ballpark peanuts and a new wedding version of the song "Take Me Out to the Ball Game", written by the bride and groom.

The photographers, Kathie Belfield and staff from Memories are Forever were amazing... the studio name ringing very true!

Mark and Jill loved everything from their engagement to their Cape Cod honeymoon but most of all, getting to see family and friends have so much fun and celebrate their marriage with them!