After getting engaged, my wife and I had NO clue where to host our wedding reception. From country clubs to even a backyard BBQ, we were all over the map on where we'd host everyon...e to celebrate our special day. My mom said it best in that "when we saw it, we'd know it."
Given we both had such large families - many that live all over the country - it was important to us that we found a location able to accommodate us in space, amenities, professionalism, and uniqueness.
I was stuck at work the day my wife, mom, and mother in-law toured multiple venues. During a FaceTime of Union Station, Event Manager Katie McCloskey showed us the Grand Hall - a 125 year old space that had been recently restored to reflect it's historical richness, originality, and beauty. Even viewing it through a phone, I was completely blown away. Then to cap it off, Katie demonstrated the one-of-a-kind "Light Show" features that come with using Grand Hall. With the push of a button, the rounded ceiling transformed into a night sky, complimented with music. Another push, and the lights projected fireworks as well! It was included in the wedding package, and piqued my interest in how it could be utilized at a wedding reception.
After touring another venue later that evening with my then-fiancé, we both agreed that we NEEDED to go back and look at Union Station. So with no scheduled appointment, we went straight to the hotel. Not more than 10 minutes being there, my fiancé - with tears in her eyes - said "I know it now. I can see us celebrating our wedding here." I could not have agreed more.
After that, we planned and prepared for the next 11 months. Katie was phenomenal to work with; she was flexible, accommodating, professional, and downright polite. We've even stayed in touch since the wedding! And the evening was everything we dreamed it could be. Despite having 330 guests, they fit more than comfortably in the space. The food was excellent, and the bar was large enough to accommodate everyone. The light show, as I'd hoped, was a complete hit ! In between the band's sets, they played Beatles and Queen medleys. Many of our guests said they'd never seen anything like it before! There was a balcony for people who wished to go outside, plenty of room and acoustics for the band, and all the perks of a Four-Diamond hotel. Many of our guests stayed there, and it was the perfect place for us to all gather before and after various events throughout the weekend.
If you are considering a wedding in St. Louis, you MUST consider Union Station! Along with all the aforementioned items, there are a whole litany of new features around the hotel, including a 250 foot Ferris wheel, restaurants, mini-golf, and a state-of-the-art aquarium. My wife and I are looking forward to spending our one-year anniversary at Union Station, and plan on bringing our kids back there with us in the future. Thanks to how great our wedding experience was with them, we will be patrons of Union Station for many years to come!