After their wedding in the U.K., this couple celebrated their nuptials in St. Louis

Courtship: Amy Schwarz and James Reynolds celebrated their wedding in the spirit of its start: a magical and unexpected whirlwind. A proud Brentwood native by way of South City, Amy met Londoner James online in 2010. Now an actress, writer, and producer, she moved to London to attend drama school. Having lived her entire life in St. Louis, Amy decided, after graduating from Washington University with a degree in vocal performance, to find new friends through one of our best tools: the internet. She did not expect to meet her future husband, software developer, James. He invited Amy to the London Aquarium and surprised her with a speedboat tour of the Thames. After hitting Greenwich, they realized they had spent the whole day together.

Proposal: Six and a half incredible years passed before James proposed to Amy. The couple traveled to a Kentucky lake for the August 2017 eclipse. Near totality, he surprised her with a first date throwback: a pontoon boat ride to the Land Between the Lakes. Eyes fixed on the sky, Amy turned back to find James on one knee. The next day’s second surprise included a trip to St. Louis where they held the first STL-style celebration: an Italian family feast at Pasta House, complete with toasted ravioli and Prosecco.

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Ceremony: Fatefully (and thankfully), the week’s storms cleared in time for the ceremony at Notting Hill’s Sunbeam Studio. The 95 guests in attendance trekked to the U.K. from the States and Singapore. Amy and James discovered the venue through a Google search of “best U.K. wedding spots,” and chose the first one they scoped. The car showroom-turned-photography studio boasts Art Deco architecture. They were sold on its sparse elegance, exuberant light, and lovely garden—which was perfect for cocktail hour. The wedding parties featured six groomsmen, five bridesmaids, and two men of honor. A dear friend, Doris, Amy’s former drama school colleague and roommate, dubbed the “High Priestess,” officiated the nonreligious ceremony. James and Amy created the script, which Doris delivered expertly, completely from memory. The couple and the best man delivered toasts and shout-outs to the friends and family who had traveled from all across the globe for the event. It was a blast venturing around London with St. Louis family and friends, but it was time to cross the pond and swap the show.

Reception: Amy’s mother, in conjunction with local vendors including friend Meg of Garden Party Florists, organized the St. Louis reception at Washington University’s Whittemore House the weekend before Thanksgiving of 2018. Bride and groom confirm: No one throws a party like Amy’s mom, a master hostess. Seasonal centerpieces included candle-lit lanterns and greenery bound by red bow ornamented tables, and the Webster University quartet performed. Amy and James excitedly donned their wedding dress and tux. Amy’s parents toasted the happy couple with about 100 guests in attendance. They recall introducing the Brits to sacred Ted Drewes and toasted ravioli at the reception and hitting a Blues game that week, as amusing, memorable moments. Cultural collisions among friends delighted everyone. Amy and James are honored that their reception brought friends like Amy’s choirmates from Ladue Presbyterian Chapel and family who had never met together for such a joyful experience. Their presence created an unforgettably dazzling evening, and, still, in its glow, the newlyweds set off for a seven-week honeymoon around the globe.