Wedding Fair a 'one-stop shop' for information on venues, photography, catering and more

Whether you’re planning your upcoming dream wedding or any other special event, the Leader’s 32nd annual Wedding Fair will ease the process.

The fair is set for 12:30-3:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 1, at the Corpus Christi Center, 6020 Old Antonia Road, in Imperial.

Tickets cost $3 in advance at myleaderpaper.com/weddingfair or $5 at the door. A limited number of free advance tickets are available by using the code “SAVETHEDATE” at checkout.

Leader advertising manager Katelyn Mary Skaggs described the fair as a “one-stop shop” for any type of event planning, even retirement or anniversary parties.

“If you are in the middle of planning, getting started on planning or just thinking ahead, we invite you to attend,” she said.

Nearly 30 vendors will be on hand to offer information about local DJs, photographers, tailors, caterers, vacation planners and more.

“You can plan a wedding in one afternoon if you stop by,” Skaggs said.

She said past attendees have used this Leader Wedding Fair special section to help prepare for their visit to the fair. See Page 16B for a map of the event.

“We’re excited to be a part of so many people’s love stories,” she said.

The first 50 brides at the fair will receive free swag bags provided by the Bridal Shoppe in Crystal City. Bags will include freebies from other event vendors.

A cash bar serving mimosas will be open throughout the event, and speakers will take the stage to talk about wedding-related topics.

At 1:15 p.m., Tracey Luye with Brightway Insurance, The First Choice Agency in Arnold will talk about event insurance and combining insurances once married.

At 2:15 p.m., Amy Lovewell with the Bridal Shoppe will share tips for choosing the perfect wedding dress.

At 3 p.m., Savvi Formalwear will put on a fashion show, highlighting different colors, styles and trends for suits and tuxedos. The following actors from Spotlight Community Theatre will model the clothing: Brandon Dougherty, Zane Moore, Landon Sanford, Austin Prince, Nick Sullivan, Ben Somers, Austin Sitz, Will Wofford, Chad Godier, Chris Vancil and Caleb Potter.

Complete Weddings and Events will DJ the show.

Like every year, ticket proceeds will benefit a local charity. This year’s charity is the Twin City Area Optimist Club.

“The Optimists are a fabulous group of women who are very involved in the community. They have various projects where they provide children with things like bike helmets or coats,” Skaggs said. “They really do make a positive impact on the smallest members of our community.”

More than $51,000 from ticket sales has been donated to local charities over the Wedding Fair’s history.

-- Lindsay Recar

Wedding Fair ticket proceeds to benefit Twin City Area Optimist Club

Proceeds from this year’s Leader Wedding Fair ticket sales will be donated to the Twin City Area Optimist Club, a charitable group that has focused on meeting the needs of young people in southern Jefferson County since 1988.

The club is a community-based, volunteer organization associated with Optimist International.

“The Twin City Area Optimist Club is a local group that cares deeply about our community and its members, especially children,” Leader advertising manager Katelyn Mary Skaggs said. “The group works year-round on projects, including food and coat drives, bike safety and giving dictionaries to third graders. The members are always doing something for the kids in our community.”

Jean Naeger, a past president of the Twin City Area Optimist Club and immediate past governor of the East Missouri District, said the club has been growing and currently has more than 130 women members.

“We have a really good core group,” she added.

Naeger said club members aren’t afraid of change and are willing to take on new projects when they see a need in the community.

She said the club’s oldest and largest project is Coats for Kids, which provides up to 500 coats each year to local children. The group works with local school counselors and Head Start programs in the southern end of the county to identify children in need.

One of the club’s new projects is a Sun Safety program. Naeger said members plan to pass out samples of sunscreen and information about sun safety and skin cancer. It pairs with the club’s Bicycle Safety program, which provides hundreds of children with properly fitted bicycle helmets.

The club organizes two luncheons a year: a Youth Appreciation event that honors selected students for demonstrating good character and making a positive impact on the community and a Respect for Law luncheon that honors law enforcement officers for outstanding service.

More than 260 junior high and high school students participated in the club’s annual Art Contest in 2025. The club also participates in the Optimist International’s annual oratorical and essay contests that allow students the chance to win scholarships.

The club collects donations for local organizations, including Brenden’s Friday Backpack (feeding hungry kids) and Foster Together, a community organization that supports foster families.

The club also gives dictionaries to third graders in southern Jefferson County and educational supplies to area Head Start students.

For the last three years, the club has sponsored the Leader’s Celebrating Women’s event.

For more information about the club, which meets weekly, visit twincityoptimistclub.org or the club’s Facebook page. All funds raised by the club stay in southern Jefferson County.

Each year, the Leader selects a local charity to receive the ticket proceeds. In the Wedding Fair’s history, the Leader had donated more than $51,000 to local charities.

-- Teresa Inserra

Arnold woman snags first place in wedding photo contest

Jessica Burkett, 34, of Arnold won the $100 grand prize in the “Share the Love” photo contest ahead of the 32nd annual Leader Publications’ Wedding Fair set for 12:30-3:30 p.m.. Sunday, Feb. 1, at the Corpus Christi Event Center at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Imperial.

Mark M. Harris, 56, of High Ridge won second place and $75, and Renee Hampton, 28, of Festus won third place in the contest.

The winning photos were randomly selected from among more than 50 entries.

Burkett

Burkett took her winning photo while standing at the altar to marry her husband, William. Pictured in front is her maid of honor, Priya Barchi of New York City, as well as Samantha Edinger and Emily Stoner, both of St. Louis. Barchi and Stoner are Burkett’s cousins, and Edinger is a longtime friend.

“I loved surprising all my guests when my coordinator passed me my camera as I was standing at the altar,” she said. “I didn’t tell anyone ahead of time, and I cherish their candid smiling faces in these shots.”

In her 20s, Burkett was a wedding photographer but was always cynical of love.

“I never pictured myself getting married,” she said.

Burkett and her husband met on Tinder in 2023. Since getting married in October 2025, they bought and now live in the house where Burkett’s mother grew up.

Burkett said she is working to build up her photography business again and plans to use the prize money to repair a lens and get more clients.

Harris

Harris’ photo captures him and his wife, Tanya, cutting cake following their wedding in September 2017.

“This is one of my favorite photos of my wife because of her smile and laugh,” Mark said. “I wasn’t really trying to stab her in the back; we had just gotten married.”

Harris said the two plan to donate their prize money to charity.

Hampton

Hampton’s photo was taken by a Disney World photographer and captures her fiance, Alex Wittke, proposing to her in front of Cinderella’s Castle in the park in November 2025.

“Not only is Disney World our favorite place, but he also surprised me with my parents showing up right before he proposed,” Hampton said.

She said they plan to use the money to help pay for their wedding.

-- Sarah Lerch

Take a look at all the contest entries here:

+55

'Share the Love' wedding fair photo contest 2026

Not your mother’s wedding reception

Anyone who knows my youngest daughter, Madeleine, can attest to her unconventional outlook and around-the-corner thinking. From babyhood, she has marched to not only her own drummer, but also her whole doggone orchestra, steadfastly resisting those who would try to influence her to follow trends and do things the “regular” way.

So it was no surprise to anyone, once Maddie and Sara got engaged, that their wedding plans would involve some outside-the-box elements. No formal ceremony with rows of seated spectators. No limo ride. No thrown rice.

That’s not to say they have anything against people who enjoy a conventional wedding, but it just wasn’t for them.

The two of them eloped to New York City in October and got married on the steps of the New York Public Library. Between the iconic stone lions, they said their handwritten vows and cried their happy tears, then went on a whirlwind trip around the city being photographed in every iconic tourist spot that came to mind.

Their families and friends were happy for them, but we all wished we had been around to help them celebrate such a momentous occasion and complained, “Sheesh, you two – couldn’t you at least have a reception?

And then we all got invitations to a new kind of wedding celebration. We should have known the newest Marlow couple would come up with something memorable, something that would include everybody.

No conventional rental hall reception for these two with artful centerpieces and the Duck Dance. No, they planned something that was at the same time hugely ambitious and delightfully low-key.

Camp Marlow, they called it. A weekend of activities, camaraderie, food and fellowship held in December on the northern Florida acreage of Sara’s parents, a place called Magnolia Farms.

The two created a logo and developed and sent out an itinerary. They sent all sorts of links – maps of the area, lodging suggestions, food, shopping, local activities, where to get coffee. They laid out clear rules for the weekend – dress code (there wasn’t one); smoking and alcohol policies (please don’t); pets (bring only their pictures); what to bring (extra chairs and perhaps some bug spray). They outlined their plans to accommodate guests with special needs, from diet to medical to transportation.

The three-day party started on a Friday evening with a light dinner of hot dogs and hamburgers and all the fixings. There were name tags provided and cards to leave the couple a message. A screen on the wall of the camp headquarters (a refurbished garage) showed a movie, complete with fresh popcorn.

Saturday was a long, full crazy day. Beginning in late morning, guests arrived at the farm to find scavenger hunt sheets and a range of activities set up – cornhole, hillbilly golf, ping pong, volleyball, Frisbee targets. Fishing poles stood ready for excursions to the pond, maps were set out for hikers and tours of the old Amish-built barn were led by Sara’s dad, Harry.

Craft supplies were set out on long tables under the live oaks for those who wished to get creative, and another table held tie-dye supplies.

Lunch was catered from a local barbecue restaurant, supplemented with seemingly endless platters of fruit and vegetables.

As darkness fell, the firepit was lit and the s’mores production ramped up (and yes, there were vegan marshmallows). Groups meandered out to the field a quarter of a mile away to look at the stars through a telescope. I emceed a bragging rights trivia game, with teams demonstrating their knowledge of Maddie, Sara, their pets and more.

On Sunday, the action moved to nearby Ravine Gardens State Park, where we all warmed up with a little Wiffle ball and Frisbee before setting off on a hiking tour of the park. We crossed the suspension bridge, peered over the old waterworks and wandered through the formal gardens.

As the afternoon waned, we said our goodbyes. It may sound cliche, but we felt like one big family. I don’t think that would have happened if Maddie and Sara had opted for a conventional reception; the two families and the friends who attended would likely have seated themselves separately and not intermingled much.

But at the close of Camp Marlow, we all felt a sense of family unity. We were tired and a little itchy, our clothes smelled of woodsmoke, and some of us had dye-stained hands, but we also had a trove of memories from the weekend. Maddie’s nephew seated on the lap of Sara’s brother-in-law, talking about dinosaurs and roasting marshmallows. Sara’s aunt and Maddie’s sister playing cornhole while 4-year-old Ben zoomed through on a scooter. The newlyweds’ proud dads, standing in a century-old barn, comparing notes about their own childhoods. A 30-something friend of the couple reminiscing with me about vintage TV shows.

It was typical of Maddie and Sara to do something out-of-the-ordinary to celebrate their wedding, but Camp Marlow was truly genius. It was relatively inexpensive and absolutely relaxed, and it left us all with some wonderful memories.

If a conventional wedding and reception appeals to you, hey, plan away! Choose a venue, get a band, hire a cake baker and a photographer and wear formal clothes. But if you yearn for something a little less typical, a rustic weekend of fun and fellowship could be just what the doctor ordered. I highly recommend this approach!

-- Laura Marlow

How to make sure your special day fits you

In the movies, weddings almost always look the same: a bride in a big white dress walking down a long church aisle past hundreds of guests to meet her groom in a black tuxedo at the altar. They promise to love and cherish each other until “death do you part” before exchanging a kiss and riding off into the sunset in a limousine with a “just married” sign in the back window.

But here in reality, people don’t have to choose a cookie-cutter wedding celebration. Your wedding can be as unique as you are.

Take some time to discuss with your partner what is most important to you when starting your life together. Do you like to be the star of the show in front of a large crowd, or is a small, intimate gathering more your style? Do you want a large wedding party or a small one? Do you want your wedding officiated by clergy member or a friend? Are you on a tight budget, or is money no object for your wedding day? Do you want to wear dresses and tuxes, or is your style less formal? Do you prefer to stick to tradition, or would you like to forge your own path?

Try an unusual location

One of the biggest decisions a couple makes is where to get married. Some traditional couples may envision a church wedding, but to others, this may seem boring or outdated. A wedding can be held just about anywhere, so why not choose a place that’s especially meaningful to you and your partner?

Couples who enjoy nature could get married at a park, a botanical garden, beside a peaceful lake or even in a cave. Animal lovers could get married at a zoo, an aquarium or even a farm. Sports lovers could get married at a golf course, ballpark or bowling alley. Many unexpected places are willing to host a private event, so if your local museum, library, arcade, brewery or other special place sounds appealing, it’s worth reaching out to see if they can accommodate your special day.

Save the (unusual) date

Another important part of a wedding is the date. Many couples opt for a summer wedding, but a wedding can be held any time of year. Having a fall or spring wedding can be a great option to beat the heat. A winter wedding could be a good option if your dream venue is difficult to book during the summer wedding season. Some venues and vendors may even offer discounts during their off-season.

A wedding can even be held during the holidays. Christmas lovers could plan a winter wonderland wedding featuring candlelight, evergreens, pine cones and winter-themed refreshments, such as mulled wine or a hot chocolate bar.

Fans of gothic vibes can plan a Halloween wedding with fall-themed colors, black lace, festive foliage, pumpkins, lanterns and spooky decorations, like bats, skulls and cobwebs. Romantics could celebrate with a Valentine’s Day wedding and a red-and-pink color theme, hearts and roses for decorations and red velvet cupcakes and chocolate-dipped strawberries for dessert.

Serve interesting food

One option to show your unique style on your big day is with the food you serve at your reception. If the menu options from a typical catering service aren’t your style, check with your favorite local restaurant or food truck to see if they offer options for large events. Sharing your favorite pizza, burritos or barbeque with your friends and family can help make your event memorable.

Instead of the traditional multi-tier white wedding cake, serve some of your favorite desserts. You could offer an ice cream bar, a doughnut wall, a s’mores bar or a complete dessert buffet with cheesecake, brownies, cupcakes, cake pops, churros, chocolate-dipped fruit or even popsicles.

Pick a unique theme

For those who truly want to step out of the ordinary, a wedding themed around a favorite movie, show or hobby can be a fun way to show your style. This is even more impactful when the bride, groom wedding party and guests are dressed in costume. Popular themed weddings include Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, Harry Potter, Bridgerton, Game of Thrones, Outlander and Disney. The location, ceremony, food, decorations and music can all be matched to the given theme.

Mix the personal and traditional

Even couples who want a more traditional wedding can pick details that highlight what is most important to them. For example, if you and your partner love to travel, incorporate travel-related items into your reception, such as maps for place settings.

Those with a beloved canine friend could use their pooch as a ring bearer.

Whether you want to just add a small touch of your unique style to your wedding or have the day completely centered around your interests, there are endless opportunities to add in special details to your ceremony and reception, both big and small.

-- Goldie Lowe

A wedding checklist can save the day

Planning a wedding can be overwhelming and the list of things to do can seem endless. Creating a comprehensive wedding checklist can help make the job feel more manageable and ensure nothing falls through the cracks.

When planning a wedding, timing is everything. Some items need to be completed many months ahead, while others need to be finished closer to the big day.

Post-engagement

Some of the first tasks to be completed come soon after engagement. Discuss with your partner how you will announce your engagement; what your wedding and honeymoon budget will be; when and where you would like to get married; how many guests you’d like to attend and whether you want to use a wedding planner. This is also a good time to create a wedding website and online wedding gift registry.

12 months until the wedding

This is the time to book some of the most important features of the wedding, such as the venues for the wedding and reception; a photographer and videographer; a band or DJ; a florist; a caterer and an officiant. It’s a good idea to complete these items well ahead of time, or you may find your options are limited. This is also a good time to start planning the style and theme of your wedding, start shopping for wedding dresses and select a bridal party.

Nine to 12 months out

Send your ‘Save the Date’ cards and put in your orders for wedding invitations, a wedding dress and dresses and suits for the bridal party. Ensure you have requested time off from work for all necessary wedding and honeymoon-related events. This is also a good time to plan and hold your engagement party.

Six to 9 months out

Finish planning most of the biggest wedding items, such as ordering a wedding cake, sending invitations to the guest list, booking accommodations for the wedding night, booking hair and makeup appointments and booking your honeymoon plans and accommodation. If you are traveling by plane for your honeymoon, ensure you have a valid REAL ID or passport. If you plan to have bachelor and bachelorette parties, now is the time to delegate the planning to a trusted friend.

Three to six months out

During this time, you and your partner should decide what you want your wedding service to include and pick the songs you want played for ‘walking down the aisle’ and for your first dance and other special dances. Choose your bouquets and floral arrangements, order wedding and reception decorations and purchase your wedding rings.

Two to three months out

Purchase gifts for the bridal party and buy a guestbook. Work on writing your vows and select readings for your ceremony.

One month out

It’s time for the finishing details. Confirm and pay all vendors, finalize your seating plan and get your final dress fitting. Pick up your marriage license and decide who you want to be your witnesses. It’s also a good time to plan and hold a bridal shower.

One week out

Confirm your final guest numbers with your vendors; collect the suits and dresses for the bridal party; and speak with the bridal party about the schedule for the wedding day.

The big day

Ideally, you have a trusted friend or family member who will take care of ensuring the flowers and wedding cake have either been picked up or delivered to the venue and who will walk through the venue to ensure everything is set up for the day.

After the wedding

After the wedding ceremony, ensure the officiant has completed the marriage license and that your witnesses have signed it. Return the marriage license to the Recorder of Deed’s office within days of the ceremony.

-- Goldie Lowe

On-screen weddings typically feature big-day snags

Couples planning a wedding expect everything to go smoothly on the big day. But, I’m guessing it might be better to anticipate at least some things going wrong while still hoping no major calamities occur.

When my wife and I got married, it was a generally pleasant occasion. Some snags happened, but we got through the day and evening relatively well.

In movies and TV shows, however, characters run into all sorts of troubles on their wedding days, anything from running late to get to the church to being stood up at the altar.

I’m thinking of Steve Martin in the 1991 remake of “Father of the Bride” who goes against the wedding planner’s advice and doesn’t hire enough people to park cars, leading him to enlist his young son to help with the task. It’s a chaotic, funny scene.

Even worse is the knight who ruins a wedding with a brutal attack on those assembled in the 1975 movie “Monty Python and the Holy Grail.”

To mark the upcoming Leader Wedding Fair, here is a trivia quiz on weddings depicted on the small and large screens. May your wedding go off without a hitch, or only a small one or two.

1. Which of the other main characters officiates Phoebe’s wedding to Mike in a 2004 “Friends” episode?

2. Who plays the title character in the 1950 version of the film “Father of the Bride”?

3. The wedding of Luke and Laura over two episodes in November 1981 drew a tremendous viewership to what TV soap opera?

4. Who plays the woman getting married in the 1991 version of “Father of the Bride”?

5. Cece marries which of the main characters in a 2016 episode of “New Girl”?

6. Which actress plays the woman getting married in the 2011 comedy “Bridesmaids”?

7. Which actor playing a version of himself officiates Sheldon and Amy’s wedding on a 2018 episode of “The Big Bang Theory”?

8. Who plays the title character in the 2022 version of the film “Father of the Bride”?

9. On a 2007 episode of the sitcom “How I Met Your Mother,” which character shaves his head on his wedding day?

10. Rebel Wilson plays a maid of honor who is also a secret agent in what 2025 action-comedy film?

ANSWERS: 1. Joey. 2. Spencer Tracy. 3. “General Hospital.” I’ve seen the interest in these episodes described as a “cultural event” drawing 30 million viewers. 4. Kimberly Williams. 5. Schmidt. 6. Maya Rudolph. 7. Mark Hamill. Actor Wil Wheaton, playing a version of himself, is supposed to perform the ceremony until he gets bumped from the task. 8. Andy Garcia. 9. Marshall. 10. “Bride Hard.”

-- Kevin Carbery