Newlyweds Magen Williams and Nicholas Laurence didn’t realize it at first, but their paths already had crossed when they met on a dating website three years ago. Magen works for the Sunset Hills agency Captiva Marketing, which had created a website for Nick’s employer, the Hammer & Steel construction equipment firm in Hazelwood. “Nick actually had been to our office for a training seminar before,” Magen explains. “Later, we met on eHarmony and had our first date at Kirkwood Station Brewing Co. Before long, we were closing down restaurants whenever we went out because we’d stay at the table talking so late.” The couple got engaged in November 2015.

One of the bride’s most touching memories took place as she was getting ready for the ceremony. “My 11-year-old niece was in the wedding party, and she came in as I was getting into my dress,” Magen notes. “She saw me and started crying, and didn’t stop for the next three hours! She had us all in happy tears.”

Magen says she and her husband enjoyed incorporating some of their favorite things into their big day, from a reception coffee bar (both are caffeine enthusiasts) to cute bridal shoes and a cake topper with feline designs (both love cats). Leading up to the wedding day, she had been listing a ‘reason why I want to marry you’ on each page of a small notebook. The day of the ceremony, she gave it to her new husband as a special gift.

Nick is an avid reader, so Magen surprised him with a wedding-day photo shoot at the beautiful, historic Central Branch of the St. Louis Public Library. The pair honeymooned in San Juan, Puerto Rico, where they strolled around the city and visited historic sites. “The rest of the time, we were relaxing in the pool or hot tub,” Magen says. “It was hard to come home after that, but we had a great vacation.”

resources
ceremony | Shrine of St. Joseph
reception | Moulin Events
gown | Watters
cake | The Cakery
florist | Poppies Design Studio
music | McLovin
honeymoon | San Juan, Puerto Rico

wedding party
maid of honor | Erica Way
bridesmaids | Allison Nay, Angie Ilko, Alesha Bardot, Emmy Way
best man | Michael Scott
groomsmen | Tony Laurence, Andrew Edmonds, Jeremy Way, Major Way
bride’s parents | Tom & Gayle Williams of Union, Missouri
groom’s parents | Bob & Angie Laurence of Chesterfield

wedding date: Jan. 7, 2017

Photos:  Keith Lee Studios