Courtship: Megan Wamser and Jake Dahl were bound to be friends in college: They were two of just 20 students selected for a five-year combined Bachelor’s and Master’s program in accounting at Truman State University. Come year five, most of their other college friends had graduated, and the program entailed their enrollment in all the same classes. “I didn’t buy any of the required textbooks,” Jake says, “so I’d borrow Megan’s, and we got together often to do homework.”
So often, in fact, that Megan thought nothing of it when Jake started asking her to hang out—no schoolwork involved. “I totally missed his subtle hints,” she says, “since I figured we were strictly platonic. He’d ask me to watch a movie, and I’d be like, ‘Great, can I invite this other person?’” Megan says, laughing. So eventually, Jake had to be a bit more blunt, asking her explicitly if she’d like to go on a date. They settled on dinner at Ruby Tuesday in Kirksville—and although things got off to a rocky start (icy roads prompted a near-car accident on the way there), the two felt the first sparks of romance fly on a quiet after-dinner walk.
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Proposal: In September of last year, Megan and Jake took a trip to Las Vegas, where they spent a night before heading to Zion National Park for a weekend of hiking. On their second day there, they’d planned to hike Angel’s Landing, a strenuous five-mile trail that involves a series of steep drop-offs and narrow passages—but ends with jaw-dropping views of the Zion Canyon. “On the morning of,” Megan says, “I realized what this hike involves and was like ‘No way.’” But Jacob, unbeknownst to Megan, was planning to propose at the peak of the hike and insisted that they go.
Arriving at the top, however, they were surrounded by other hikers, and Jake couldn’t find a great spot to pop the big question. It was on their hike back down when they spotted a closed trail that offered the seclusion Jake had hoped for. A few steps in, Megan saw a decorative plaque that said, “You Make the Picture,” against a backdrop of rocks that changed colors in the sunlight. “I was like, ‘Jake, let’s take a picture in front of this,’” she says, “and when I turned around, he was down on one knee.’”
Ceremony & Reception: Megan and Jake wed on September 2, 2017 with a ceremony at St. Paul’s Evangelical Church in Creve Coeur—the church where Jake is a parishioner—and a reception at Syberg’s Dorsett. “Although we checked out a few more traditional reception venues first,” Megan says, “my dad suggested Syberg’s because it has a giant banquet and outdoor space. Plus, I grew up going to the Syberg’s in Arnold near my childhood home, so he knew it would be the food I love.”
The space was decorated with an abundance of candles and glitter, along with bright gold accents. “The room itself has a lot of black with black chairs and tables,” Megan says, “so I thought the black-and-gold glitzy feel would make for a fun party vibe.” Floral arrangements added a splash of color, each one bursting with bright wild roses and large eucalyptus leaves.
The Details:
Ceremony venue: St. Paul’s Evangelical Church
Reception venue: Syberg’s Dorsett
Photography: Zoe Life Photography
Catering: Syberg’s
Cake: Celebrating Life Cake Boutique
Flowers: Wildflowers
DJ: Complete DJ
Hair & Makeup: Heritage Salon and Spa
Dress: Clarice’s Bridal
Shoes: Badgley Mischka
Jewelry: Blue Nile
Tux: The Black Tux
Bridesmaid dresses: Clarice’s Bridal
Stationery: Hobby Lobby
