Classic Wedding with Mizzou Gold | Amanda + Brock from Columbia, MO
Graduating from the University of Missouri in Columbia appears to be a shared milestone in numerous love stories among our couples! Over the years, we've witnessed many Mizzou graduates choosing Emerson Fields as their dream wedding venue near Columbia, MO. However, Brock and Amanda's wedding marked a unique moment for us – it was the first time we had a surprise Mizzou guest in attendance! We'll delve into that twist later, but for now, let's get to know this charming Missouri couple who selected Emerson Fields as the backdrop for their destination wedding near Columbia.
Brock and Amanda both went to Mizzou for their undergraduate degrees and met in passing a few times around campus. But after graduating, they matched on the popular dating app, Hinge. With both of them living in Columbia, they decided to make their first date to Mizzou’s football homecoming weekend. That first date started their forever and in their words “It’s been history!”
“We got engaged at Les Bourgeois Winery in Rocheport, MO during the most beautiful sunset. We both were shaking like leaves, crying happy tears and in so much joy!”
The love of Mizzou runs deep for these two as they both work for the University of Missouri. Amanda works in Admissions for the School of Medicine and Brock is the Director of Marketing and Communications for Mizzou Athletics. They said “it’s safe to say that our house bleeds back and gold.” You’ll see how much they love Mizzou and all of its traditions later, but we loved getting to host this sweet couple’s wedding day at our venue just 45 minutes from the University of Missouri.
We asked Brock and Amanda about why they chose Emerson Fields over another Columbia wedding venue. Here’s what they said.
“Amanda had seen Emerson Fields in pictures from a friend's wedding and immediately fell in love. Once we started looking further into it, we realized that it was going to be the most perfect spot for us. The location from Columbia was ideal and Amelia and Steve [of Emerson Fields] were such a joy to work with! It was not a hard decision for us!”
After they booked their wedding weekend, we were able to stay in communication up until the wedding day. Brock and Amanda made it to our Open Venue Experiences (and even modeled for one!) and the majority of their wedding vendors came through our recommendations.
Amanda said, “Amelia was there every step of the way and was so extremely patient with us. Amelia would check in frequently, even just to ask us how our lives were! Wedding planning definitely was stressful, but Amelia and the entire EF team relieved so much of my stress and anxieties.”
From Chicago to Columbia…
To warmly welcome Amanda and her extended family from Chicago, the groom’s family orchestrated a delightful surprise- an authentic Chicago-style welcome dinner on Friday evening to kick off the weekend. After the wedding party rehearsed the ceremony, the culinary charm of the Marceline Pizza Co. graced Emerson Fields to serve signature Italian entrees, deep-dish pizza, and delectable cannois.
Transforming the venue into an intimate Italian cafe, the ambiance was perfected with red and white checked linens, personal favors for every guest of infused olive oil, and a heartwarming “That’s Amore” welcome sign. The happy gathering, filled with close friends and family, was complemented by the rich notes of red wine and delightful conversation. This was the absolute perfect way to welcome everyone here for the wedding weekend. The evening concluded on a sweet note with Eli’s Chicago’s Finest cheesecake- sourced especially for this cherished occasion by the Marceline Pizza Co catering team.
On Saturday bright and early, Amanda and her bridal party arrived at Emerson Fields ready to celebrate. The whole bridal suite was buzzing with excitement and even a little nervous laughter. All the ladies got started with hair and makeup in their matching silk robes. It was a sunny morning at Emerson Fields, but the weather was forecasted to be stormy. Amanda didn’t let that get to her too much though because the storm was supposed to pass by after the wedding ceremony.
“It was so fun to hear everyone laughing and having fun while in the bridal suite getting ready. The entire weekend was incredible and we are so fortunate to have had the large venue space and time to enjoy everyone!”
Brock and Amanda took every opportunity to make this weekend and wedding day special to them. Not limiting themselves to only a few special moments, Brock and Amanda made an impression on their family, wedding party, and each other with “first looks.” Brock and his mom enjoyed a special moment together by the stage inside the venue as high winds picked up outdoors. Amanda impressed her parents with her stunning modern wedding gown during a private first look inside the foyer at Emerson Fields.
Then the couple shared a first look at the stage with one another. This joyful moment allowed the couple to enjoy more time together on the wedding day. And with the forecast turning stormy outside, the indoor venue was the perfect covered location.
We asked Brock and Amanda about their favorite part of their Emerson Fields wedding.
“Having the entire space for friends and family to make themselves comfortable. I LOVED that we had the entire weekend to ourselves; it really made EF feel like home during our wedding weekend.”
With our large indoor wedding venue, Brock and Amanda’s wedding party could take beautiful portraits inside while the winds and rain started picking up outside. When there was a reprieve from the stormy weather, they even ran outside for photos on the terrace. With so many options for light, bright wedding portraits around Emerson Fields, even some stormy weather didn’t impact the beauty of their portraits. Unfortunately, the outside storm was turning to hail and high winds. The D-Zines Wedding team had set up the pavilion for the wedding ceremony with white drapery and floral arrangements which were quickly being destroyed.
Braving the storm, the D-Zines Weddings and Emerson Fields team sprang into action. Flipping the indoor venue which was set up for the wedding reception, into an indoor ceremony space. If you look at the first look photos you can see the head table all set up on the stage. We removed the head table and D-Zines saved the floral arch as the new ceremony backdrop. It didn’t take long to flip the space and the couple was so appreciative of our quick response to the weather changes. The wedding ceremony Plan A was the outdoor pavilion but Plan B, the inside venue, was just as beautiful!
Simple. Classy. Modern.
Now it was time to get these two lovebirds married! With rows of chairs up front, the close family members were escorted in by the groomsmen. Wedding guests sat at the reception tables for an “Oscar Style” wedding ceremony. Amanda's parents proudly walked her down the aisle, leading her towards the stage where Brock awaited, a radiant smile on his face. Brock’s cousin, Chad, officiated the ceremony which added a personal touch. This classic and modern wedding ceremony was simple yet so sweet as Brock and Amanda exchanged vows. After slipping on their new wedding rings, Brock and Amanda were declared husband and wife. The guests all cheered as the couple shared a kiss and then walked down the aisle, hand in hand.
By this point, the pop-up summer hail storm was over! Wedding guests were able to head outside to the patio and dock overlooking the lake for cocktail hour. The signature cocktails of gin & tonic (his) and pineapple spritzer (hers) were flowing. The classic black, gold, and white color palette created a modern and tasteful design throughout the venue. D-Zines Weddings created all the guest table and head table floral arrangements for centerpieces with all white flowers. Guests were able to mingle, catch up, and grab a drink while the Emerson Fields team quickly flipped the room back to a reception space. Then all the guests took their seats for the grand entrances!
Brock and Amanda shared a sweet first dance, cut their two-tier white bow wedding cake, and then had special dances with a parent. These classic traditions couldn’t be missed for this Missouri couple. The tradition of speeches by the best man and maid of honor sparked a lot of laughs, a few tears, and tons of memories.
After the formalities and a delicious dinner, the guests made their way back outside to stretch their legs, refill their glasses, and enjoy the sunset. Amanda and Brock stole away with their photographer, Amanda Musselman, for some golden hour portraits by the lake. When the photos were done, everyone was ready to get on the dance floor. Little did they know that a special someone (or someTHING) was waiting to surprise all the wedding guests!
Reception Surprise!
“Since we both work for the University, we had Truman the Tiger [Mizzou’s mascot] make a guest appearance during our reception! It was a surprise to our guests (parents included) and it was so fun to watch our guests dance and take pictures with him.”
Brock and Amanda had invited Truman the Tiger, the University of Missouri - Columbia’s, mascot to attend the wedding reception! With a room full of Mizzou friends and alum, the wedding guests went wild for this surprise guest. Everyone was snapping selfies, taking videos, and celebrating Brock and Amanda. Truman strutted down the stairs and fully joined in the party. It was the perfect surprise to get everyone excited to dance the night away!
At Emerson Fields, we see many couples come to us from Columbia, St. Louis, or Kansas City. But this was our first wedding with a Missouri celebrity like Truman the Tiger. It’s always a joy to see our couples embrace the weekend wedding where they can relax, cut loose, and enjoy some time with family and friends. We see many Mizzou alum come through our venue like Brock and Amanda and always welcome these Missouri neighbors to celebrate their wedding weekends at Emerson Fields.
Want to see more Mizzou alum weddings? Check out either of these blogs!
Vendor Team
Guest Count: 175
Venue | Emerson Fields
Photography | Amanda Musselman Photography
Wedding Coordinator | D-Zines Weddings
Florist | D-Zines Weddings
Wedding Cake | Cakes by Kristina
Reception Dinner Catering | Belly Market & Rotisserie
Bar Service | Vertigo Event Services
DJ | DJ Shark Attack
Wedding Gown Boutique | Breeze Bridal
Wedding Decor Rentals | D-Zines Weddings
Bridesmaids Gowns | Azazie
Menswear Rentals | Men’s Warehouse
Rings | KT Diamond Jewelers
Hair Stylist | Alexa Jones
Makeup Artist | Makeup by Maggie
Rehearsal Dinner Catering | Marceline Pizza Company
12/19/2023 - Gabrielle Isom