Jessie & Jonah | A Beautifully Intimate St. Louis Wedding

Some wedding stories begin long before the wedding day. Jessie and Jonah’s began in 2022 at Scott Air Force Base, where they met as military musicians.

They quickly became best friends, exploring St. Louis together and sharing their love of music. The city became an important part of their story, even though neither of them was originally from here.

Then came a deployment to the Middle East in 2023, where their relationship took some memorable turns: their first kiss in Bahrain, their first date in Oman, and their first “I love you”s in Qatar.

When Jessie unexpectedly received orders to Japan in 2024, Jonah decided they had waited long enough. He proposed just two nights after she told him they would be separated for at least two years. The next day they got their marriage license, and the day after that, they were married at the St. Clair County courthouse.

But they still wanted the church wedding they had always imagined.

So, after settling into their new life in Japan, they began planning a return to St. Louis.

A Wedding in the Place Where They Fell in Love

Jessie and Jonah chose the beautiful Pleasant Hill Chapel in Defiance, Missouri, for their ceremony. The intimate white chapel, stained-glass windows, and historic character made it a perfect setting for such a personal celebration.

Their small wedding was filled with the people closest to them, making the day feel incredibly relaxed and genuine.

After the ceremony, everyone headed into St. Louis for the reception at 21c Museum Hotel St. Louis. The contrast was wonderful—the classic beauty of the chapel followed by the colorful, art-filled spaces of 21c gave us plenty of opportunities for creative portraits.

And then there is one more detail from their story that we absolutely love.

Before Jessie ever met Jonah, she attended a concert at Powell Hall featuring military musicians. During the performance, she noticed an Air Force bandsman playing Taps from the balcony. Much later, after she and Jonah had become friends, she told him about the musician who had impressed her that night.

“That was me,” he told her.

Somehow, it seems fitting that two musicians who found each other through the Air Force would eventually return to St. Louis—the city where they fell in love—to finally celebrate their marriage.

We were honored to document their day and their story. If you’re looking for a St. Louis wedding photographer who wants to tell the story of what makes your relationship unique, check out our St. Louis Wedding Photography.