Sheri Steffens wants every bride to have the wedding of her dreams. “And with more than 23 years of experience in the wedding business, I can make it happen!” she says. Steffens owns Heart of St. Charles Ballrooms, a venue that hosts more than 250 weddings a year, and the just-opened Old Stone Chapel, located on historic Main Street. “Heart of St. Charles features four ballrooms and can hold anywhere from 100 to 400 guests,” she explains. “The new venue, a beautiful chapel with a connected ballroom, holds about 200 guests.”
Choosing a wedding and/or reception venue can be a difficult decision. “Yes, you want a place that’s conveniently located and large enough to accommodate your guests comfortably,” Steffens says. “But there’s so much more to it than that. Ambiance is equally important. Brides these days like the convenience of having their wedding and reception at a single location, of course, but they also long for a unique, destination-type venue and a warm, intimate atmosphere. We fill those needs with great style. The Old Stone Chapel, with its Old World charm, is especially romantic.”
Located on a cobblestone street just west of the Missouri River, the 5,000-square-foot structure is built on the site of a former barrel factory, one of the oldest buildings in St. Charles. “We’ve preserved most of the original stone for the chapel, adding a new roof with exposed trusses and a ballroom built of distressed brick,” Steffens says. The ballroom features a gabled pavilion-style porch and a balcony overlooking a landscaped courtyard and a bubbling water feature. “It’s perfect for wedding pictures.”
Brides today are more particular than ever before, Steffens says. “They’re not as bound by custom as brides used to be,” she notes. “They really want an experience that reflects their personal style. They’ve seen so much celebrity wedding coverage in the media that they’re extremely detail-oriented—but luckily, so is my staff of caterers and designers.”
Great lighting is essential for a romantic atmosphere. “Nothing kills the mood faster than overhead fluorescent lighting!” Steffens says. “Our designers create magic with an array of lighting techniques and colors, from subtle to spectacular.” Both venues also offer on-trend fabrics for brides to choose from. “We can match and complement your color scheme and enhance your theme throughout the entire event, creating just about any effect you want,” she says, adding that draped, tent-like ceilings are particularly popular.
Brides obsess over atmosphere, but guests remember the food. “Our food is amazing,” Steffens says. Options include three types of buffets and an elegant sit-down dinner, all with tempting entree and side choices. “We also have our own baker, and our cakes and other desserts are as scrumptious as they are beautiful,” she says. “It’s a special day. You deserve exactly what you want. My team and I make sure you get it.”
