Jessica Burkett of Arnold took home first place in the Share the Love photo contest. 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.
Sarah and Jacob Brunsman of Fenton had wedding pictures taken on Oct. 4, 2025, at Silver Oaks Chateau. “Real moments from our best day ever!” Sarah said. Photographer: Nicole & Co. Photo.
Jim Voss, 74, of Festus and Rita Burke of O’Fallon, Ill., got married on Dec. 15, 2025, at the St. Claire of Assisi Church in O’Fallon. The pair had been married to their now deceased spouses for a collective 98 years. “We met two years ago on a dating website and realized last year that we wanted to spend the rest of our lives together,” Jim said. The relationship deepened while Rita was on a monthlong Alaskan trip with her family. “We enjoyed sending romantic songs to each other as a way of saying ‘good night.’ I took the first step by sending her the song, ‘I'll have to tell you I love you in a song,’ by Jim Croce. I did that just before she was scheduled to come home. We now refer to that time as ‘love songs from Alaska.’” This picture was taken by Jim’s grandson, Kaleb.
Jacob and Madison McNees of De Soto got married on June 28, 2025, at the Jewel Box in St. Louis. “This photo is very special to me because it captures our first kiss as a married couple not with formality, but with joy and love surrounded by the people who support us most,” Madison said. “It reflects the heart of our marriage: playful, tender and rooted in choosing each other completely.” Photographer: Hannah Lillian Photography.
Jennifer (Therrell) and William Wentz of Arnold got married at the Arnold VFW on Oct. 4, 2025. “I was able to share my special day with the people I love most and also represent my veteran service,” Jennifer said. “We were so happy, I felt so beautiful and the weather was amazing! We were so thankful our special day was so close to home.” The couple grew up in Jefferson County, and Jennifer is a 2000 Seckman High School graduate. Photographer: Missy Neff.
Annie and Donovan Davis of Arnold got married on July 1, 2024. In this photo taken about a week later, the couple hold up a watercolor painting, created by Donovan’s cousin, depicting the special day. “This was our ‘housewarming/reception’ for family and friends as we had a private ceremony,” Annie said. This picture was taken by Donovan’s mother, Jane Davis.
Bailey and Crystal McCoy of De Soto are standing on the Hillsboro R-3 Little League field in this June 3, 2023, photo. The couple met while umpiring little league games in 2018, and Crystal is the vice president of softball and Bailey is the umpire in chief. Crystal said they are on the board to be positive role models for young people, and they have strong connections with many players.
“What started out as family photos on my fiance’s family’s farm turned into a forever memory,” Olivia Beck, 21, of Barnhart said. “It was such a special moment surrounded by our family and, of course, the cows!” This picture of Olivia and her fiance, Caleb Wynn, 21, of Cedar Hill, was taken by Ady Nicole Photography LLC in Cedar Hill.
Debbie (Nickels) and Mike Ford, both 69 and from High Ridge, can be seen leaving their wedding reception at the House Springs Lion’s Club hall on Sept. 8, 1979. “My little brother, Tony Nickels, and his friends surprised us by decorating our honeymoon car,” Debbie said. “They filled it from top to bottom with newspaper, and each page was separated and crumbled. It was a special and well-planned surprise. This will always be one of my favorite memories and pictures of our wedding day.” Kelly Ford, 41, of High Ridge sent in the photo on her parent’s behalf.
Derek Buechner and Stephanie Oliver of House Springs got married on Aug. 5, 2025, in Destin, Fla. Derek’s grandmother, Mary Roqueplot of House Springs, took the picture. “He’s my oldest grandson, and after 18 years together, they chose to get married,” Mary said.
Mark Harris of High Ridge earned second place with a photo of him and his wife, Tanya, following their wedding in 2017.
Renee Hampton of Festus won third place with a picture of her fiance, Alex Wittke, proposing at Disney World last year.
Tom and Sheryl Schroeder of Arnold will celebrate their 39th anniversary this year. Tom’s sister, Susan Narron, took this photo on May 9, 1987, as the couple was leaving the reception at the Stratford Inn Banquet Center.
Jerzie and Matthew Nelson of De Soto were on Treasure Cay in the Bahamas during their honeymoon. On Sept. 15, 2025, the couple did a swimming with pigs excursion. “The feeling of being newly married and getting to experience something so fun with my new husband was amazing!” Jerzie said.
Trenton and Cassie Brown of Festus narrowly avoided disaster at their Oct. 1, 2022, wedding at Villa Antonia Winery. “This photo was a very candid shot!” Cassie said. “When we started cutting the cake, the cake stand started to give out and was headed directly at me. Luckily, we both let up on the cut and pushed the stand back up. That teamwork has carried through our next three years of marriage and is one of our greatest strengths as a couple. It gave us something to laugh about for the rest of our lives. This picture is framed on our living room wall, and I think back to that moment every day I look at it: the immense fear of what was about to happen, the relief of a miraculous save followed by the joy and laughter when (the photographer) immediately came up to us to show he captured this moment forever.” Photographer: Dayton with Complete Weddings and Events.
Codi King, 32, of Hillsboro had this wedding photo taken with her horse, Prince, at home on Sept. 21, 2019. “Prince was my best friend for 12 years until we lost him tragically,” Codi said. “I’m thankful he was able to be a part of our wedding. This will always be my favorite picture of us together.”
Jacob and Brittany Wideman of Hillsboro had wedding pictures taken on Oct. 25, 2025, by Ashley at Baetje Farms in Bloomsdale. “We wanted to capture our love of the outdoors and animals into our wedding,” Brittany said. “The goats at Baetje made us fall in love with this place. The photo is fun and sums up our special day.”
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