A sorority sister of Shelby Fenster’s at Syracuse University had a feeling she would get along well with Simon Brett, and the friend’s instincts happily proved correct. “I was graduating and looking for a job, but he still had a couple of years left at school when I moved to Nebraska for work,” says Shelby, a St. Louis native. “We had a long-distance relationship for a while, but it was meant to be!” Simon moved west to join her after he graduated, and the pair were engaged in August 2016. They chose the recently renovated St. Louis Union Station for both the ceremony and reception because of its unique style and atmosphere. “Simon is interested in architectural design, and we especially loved the Grand Hall,” Shelby notes. “It’s already such a beautiful space that you don’t have to do much to it. That was the kind of vibe we wanted for our big day.”
The ceremony took place in the Gothic Corridor, which features ornate ceilings, glazed tile and other historic touches. “It was sweet and intimate,” Shelby says of the wedding. “We felt so relaxed and comfortable walking down the aisle, surrounded by friends and family.” A cocktail reception followed in a room beneath the Grand Hall before guests adjourned upstairs for the big party. The couple had pipe and drape set up to create a ‘reveal’ as everyone stepped into the majestic space. Later, they enjoyed one of the venue’s special light shows.
To surprise the newlyweds, their parents flew to Los Angeles earlier in the year and had a choreographer create and teach them a dance routine for the reception. “Simon’s mom and dad came all the way from London,” Shelby says. “They all put a lot of work into it! We feel blessed that our parents get along so well. It’s really symbolic of our strong family unit.”
Shelby attended Lafayette High School and is an anchor at KOLN-TV in Lincoln, Nebraska, and Simon works for Nebraska Wesleyan University.
resources
Ceremony & reception | St. Louis Union Station
Gown | Oscar de la Renta
Cake | Sarah’s Cake Stop
Florist | Artistry & Exclusive Events
Music | Arvell & Company, Terri Langerak
Honeymoon | Tahiti
wedding party
Maid of honor | Jourdan Fenster
Bridesmaids | Stephanie Goette, Donelle Roberts, Paige Meehan, Jessica Steinmetz, Sarah Park
Best men | Edward Brett, Grant Fenster
Groomsmen | Thomas Hayes, Olabanji Aborisade, Joseph Becherer, Daniel Chavarriaga, Adam Coy, Drew Deal, Carl Fisk, Allen Ghavami, John Manolis, James O’Brien
Bride’s parents | Neal & Dana Fenster of St. Louis
Groom’s parents | Mark & Pina Brett of London, England
wedding date | Oct. 7, 2017
Photos by Lisa Hessel
