Fate brought Kelsey Holmes and Brendyn Kaintz together at Creighton University in Omaha, where the two became friends and started dating. They relocated to St. Louis after Brendyn accepted a job. “He is originally from St. Louis, and I’m from Nebraska,” Kelsey says. “We decided it would be fun to move to the ‘bigger’ city.”
Last summer, Brendyn learned that one of their favorite Omaha haunts, the Blue Jay Bar & Grill, would be closing. He arranged a trip for the couple to visit for its final weekend. While in town, they stopped at Creighton, and in front of the campus church, Brendyn asked Kelsey to marry him. “He said, ‘This is where our story began, and I would like to continue the journey with you,’” she remembers. “He even got our friends in on it—they were nearby, secretly taking pictures while he proposed.”
Later, the two met their parents for a celebratory dinner at Mahogany Prime Steakhouse and received a keepsake bottle of champagne engraved with the engagement date. “We had the best time reliving the proposal and looking at pictures,” Kelsey says. “It was really special.” The next day, the whole group had brunch together before heading home.
The pair will marry this fall at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis with an evening reception in the Starlight and Zodiac rooms at The Chase Park Plaza. “We are all having a lot of fun planning the wedding together,” Kelsey says. “It’s been a great chance for us to learn more about each other’s families and incorporate their traditions into our big day. We really want it to be a timeless celebration with details that we can look back on years later and enjoy.”
She plans to carry her mother’s rosary during the ceremony, and Brendyn’s mother is making cameo photos of their grandparents to attach to her bouquet. The wedding color scheme will include navy blue, soft pink and ivory. The two are still deciding on a honeymoon getaway, but Kelsey says St. Lucia is on their short list.
Kelsey is a nurse at Mercy Hospital, and Brendyn is a certified athletic trainer with Peak Sport & Spine Physical Therapy. “We plan to stay in St. Louis after we’re married,” she says. “We love it here, especially because it’s a big city that feels like a small town.”
resources
ceremony | Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis
reception | The Chase Park Plaza
gown | Tara Keely by Lazaro
cake | The Cakery
wedding party
maids of honor | Kyndal Holmes, Cassie Kinney
bridesmaids | Sarah Washington, Kate Wiste, Megan Mullin, Stephanie Tufano
best man | Chris Kaintz
groomsmen | Scott Toman, Michael Hathaway, Michael Luetkemeyer, Alex Millman, Adam Suraud
bride’s parents | Jay & Suzanne Holmes of Gothenburg, Nebraska
groom’s parents | Craig & Rosalia Kaintz of Wildwood