Courtship: For Rinita Anand and Jonathan Roddy, there was no pause. Rinita moved from India to Iowa to pursue a master’s degree before landing a construction management job in St. Louis, where she met Jon, a Wildwood native and geospatial analyst. Both members of young adult group Anima Christi, the two met in 2016 at an adoration event at the Carmelite Monastery. Afterward, the group grabbed dinner at Lester’s, and, when she sat down next to him, “That was it.” The next Anima get together, Shakespeare in the Park, the two spent the entire time talking to each other. As if they had known each other for years, each had found in the other exactly the person with whom they could be their weirdest selves. Jon asked Rinita to dinner at The Fountain on Locust and a movie to see Finding Dory.
Proposal: In the spring of 2017, Jon recovered from a near-spoiler and proposed to an unsuspecting Rinita on Art Hill. He shared the elaborate proposal plan with her father during one of their Skype sessions, their main means of communication, since Rinita’s folks live in India. Unbeknownst to Jon, there is a traditional Indian engagement ceremony, a very open engagement plan, so when he did not specify that the proposal was a secret, Rinita’s father shared the news with her. He told Rinita he would propose within three months and managed to surprise her a couple of weeks later on Art Hill with a picnic of champagne and roses at the statue of King Louis IX of France.
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Ceremony: The couple married on a crisp fall day, surrounded by 120 friends and family, at St. Alban Roe, Jon’s youth church. The traditional Catholic ceremony featured a full mass officiated by a dear friend. Jonathan’s Aunt Marilyn delivered a reading from Corinthians about the nature of love, one of the most heartening, meaningful moments of their wedding day. Although she was not permitted as an aisle escort inside the church, “dog of honor” Holly joined everyone for the reception, including the dance floor.
Reception: Searching for a rustic, charming winery venue without an inconvenient drive, Jon and Rinita found St. Alban’s Old Barn Inn. The beautiful garden, white fairy lights, and architectural features like high wooden ceilings and ample windows created a naturalist atmosphere. Guests enjoyed the vibrant, changing leaves and mingled outside after dinner on a rain-soaked evening. The Inn was accented in aubergine and white, including centerpieces overflowing with roses and eucalyptus, and golden candelabras.
If there was a common thread to their best moments, dancing had to be it. Decked out in custom sunglasses, Rinita and Jonathan and the wedding party grooved their way into the reception to Pharrell’s “Happy.” Dog of honor Holly joined Jonathan and his mother for their dance, and after six weeks of practice, the pair’s first dance could not have been any smoother. In November, Jon and Rinita traveled to India for a second celebration, a ballroom reception of 350 family and friends.
The Details:
Photographer: Zoe Life Photography
Ceremony: St. Alban Roe
Reception: Old Barn Inn at The Inns at St. Albans
Wedding Coordinator & Caterer: Catering St. Louis, Rhonda Wineinger
Dresses: Clarice’s Bridal
Bride’s Dress: Maggie Sottero
Tuxes: Stallone’s Formal Wear
Rings: David Kodner Personal Jewelers
Hair: Pat Stewart of Govern Salons
Makeup: Looks by Lisa & Co.
Flowers: Walter Knoll Florist
Cake: Celebrating Life Cake Boutique
DJ: Elite Pro DJ
