Leisha Ritter says her wedding to Brevin McVicar was full of personal touches that all added up to a very memorable event. From writing their own vows to choosing centerpieces, the pair took a ‘do-it-yourself’ approach. Leisha says the result was a celebration that reflected their personalities and their priorities.
“Brevin and I are both Christians, so it was important for us to make the ceremony’s message about the roles of a husband and wife,” she says. “We wanted our family and friends to know what commitment means to us.” Each wrote a speech for the ceremony, and neither knew what the other was going to say until that moment. “It was such a nice surprise to hear what he had written,” Leisha recalls. “That was my favorite part of the night.” They held both the wedding and reception at Jefferson Underground in Benton Park, a unique venue that features a scenic rooftop space.
The bride is an interior designer and says she happily took the event’s creative decisions into her own hands. “My mom and I enjoy working on projects together, so we did as much of it as we could and included a lot of greenery and natural elements,” Leisha says. “There were many trips to Hobby Lobby and thrift stores. We spent so much time shopping that I still find myself looking for those things when I walk into a store!” They put together a collection of mismatched brass candlesticks and other eclectic touches for the reception tables, which worked well with the venue’s exposed brick and wood decor, Leisha says. “We displayed photos of the different phases of our relationship throughout the space,” she adds. “Our guests really enjoyed looking at them.” Friends and relatives made cookies and cake pops for the reception, and the bride chose white flowers with leafy green accents to complement her attendants’ dusty maroon gowns.
After the wedding, the couple departed for a honeymoon in Mexico. “Our big day was wonderful, but with all of the planning, moving and both of us starting new jobs, we needed a break!” Leisha says. “Normally we’re pretty adventurous when we travel, but we spent this trip just enjoying the beach and recharging.”
Leisha, a Westminster Christian Academy and University of Missouri-Columbia grad, works at Gray Design Group. Brevin, who attended Francis Howell High School and Lindenwood University, is an account manager for TEKsystems. They live in the Tower Grove South neighborhood.
resources
ceremony & reception | Jefferson Underground
gown | Wtoo by Watters
florist | Blooms-Jenny Seitz
music | Elite Pro DJ
honeymoon | Riviera Maya, Mexico
wedding party
maid of honor | Rachel Ritter
bridesmaids | Katie Reed, Leah Younkin, Laurel Dicus, Jordan Montgomery, Bethany Strodtman, Tessa Canon
best man | Chris Perry
groomsmen | Kevin Mason, Richard Copeland, Ryan Ely, Alex Langford, Andrew Frank, Guido Margiotta
bride’s parents | Andy Ritter of Wildwood and Belinda Ritter of Ballwin
groom’s parents | Doug & Elizabeth McVicar of Lake St. Louis
wedding date | October 6, 2017