Katie Maguire and Luke Layden both had fond memories of visiting the Missouri Botanical Garden when they were young, so it seemed like a natural choice for their wedding and reception. They held a small, intimate ceremony on the lawn before guests went indoors for a party in Monsanto Hall. “We saw the outdoor green space as a blank canvas with the beauty of nature,” Katie says.

The couple first met in high school. “We went on a road trip with a group of friends, and Katie drove while I sat in the front with her,” Luke says. “Our friends fell asleep in the back, so we ended up talking and really hit it off.” Their first date was a trip to Six Flags, and on New Year’s Eve two years ago, Luke proposed in the same Central West End spot where they shared their first kiss.

“We wanted a small, close-knit wedding with a bit of an Art Deco theme,” Katie says. “I’m an interior designer and am earning a master’s degree in architecture, so I love working with color and form.” Her bridesmaids chose their own dress styles in different jewel tones with flowers to match, and the groomsmen sported coordinating bowties.

Luke is a fiction writer and poet, so the reception decor included items like an old-fashioned typewriter and books by authors like Neruda and Faulkner, plus a small model plane to symbolize the pair’s love of travel. “Three of our grandfathers have passed away, so we remembered them with special seats left empty at the ceremony,” Luke says. “We put their photos on each chair, and it really felt like they were there with us.”

Katie says a belated honeymoon will appeal to the couple’s classical sensibilities, as they plan to tour ancient monuments and ruins in Greece later this summer. They recently moved to Roanoke, Virginia, where Luke is pursuing a master’s degree at Hollins University and Katie works for Marcia Moore Design. The groom is a Clayton High School and Maryville University grad, and the bride attended Webster Groves High School and Stevens-The Institute of Business and Arts.

resources
ceremony & reception | Missouri Botanical Garden
gown | Morilee by Madeline Gardner
cake | Tyler Davis of Alchemy Bakery
florist | Wildflowers
music | Acoustik Element, Millennium Productions

wedding party
maid of honor | Olivia Maguire
bridesmaids | Caitlin London, Lindsey Gray, Christiny Miller, Emma Sperka
best man | Jack Layden
groomsmen | Jordan Floretta, Carter Frerichs, Tyler Groves, George Duarte
bride’s parents | Diane Maguire of St. Louis; Charles Waite of Rochester, Minnesota
groom’s parents | Larry & Jayne Layden of Clayton

wedding date | march 25, 2018

Photos: Sara Taylor Reed