Colorful-Spring-Wedding-Flowers-at-Bogey-Hills-Country-Club-st-louis

A Wedding Industry Professional's Dream Wedding Comes to Life

When you've spent years helping other couples celebrate their wedding day, planning your own comes with a unique perspective.

There is something truly special that happens in the wedding and event industry when one of our own gets engaged! The Team at Belli Fiori was thrilled when we heard that Courtney and Matt were starting to plan their wedding. We’ve adored working with Courtney for years at the Missouri Athletic Club, and we were beyond excited to be part of their special day!

As a venue manager and wedding industry professional, Courtney has witnessed hundreds of weddings firsthand. She's seen the trends, worked alongside countless vendors, and knows exactly what it takes to create an unforgettable guest experience. Yet when it came time to plan her own wedding to Matt at Bogey Hills Country Club, she discovered that being the bride is an entirely different experience.

Filled with vibrant spring-inspired florals, meaningful vendor relationships, and a room reveal that left her in tears, Courtney and Matt's wedding was a beautiful reflection of their love story and the joy they bring to everyone around them.

Modern Love Story Built on Travel, Laughter, and Family

Like many modern couples, Courtney and Matt's story began online.

Matt sent Courtney a rose on Bumble, and after exchanging a few messages, they quickly planned their first date. By their third date, Matt made things official. Their shared love of travel, sense of humor, and deep commitment to family and friends helped their relationship flourish.

"We make each other better," Courtney shares. "And we're excited to share the rest of our lives together."

Finding Wedding Inspiration Through Years in the Industry

Having worked in the wedding industry for years, Courtney has seen countless beautiful celebrations. But one particular wedding changed the vision for her own day.

Growing up, she remembers weddings often featuring traditional black-and-white palettes with a single accent color. Choosing just one color never felt right.

Then one weekend while working at the Missouri Athletic Club, she watched a wedding come to life with an explosion of colorful florals designed by Belli Fiori (pictured above).

From that moment, she knew exactly what she wanted.

"I didn't just want one accent color," she says. "I wanted many."

The result was a vibrant floral palette bursting with joyful spring colors that perfectly reflected her personality and created an unforgettable atmosphere inside Bogey Hills Country Club.

Planning a Wedding as a Venue Manager

While many couples begin planning without insider knowledge, Courtney entered the process with years of experience behind the scenes.

Still, even wedding professionals face surprises.

"The expense of stationery!" Courtney laughs. "I never thought I would be spending so much money on paper."

While her industry experience helped her quickly identify trusted vendors, it also introduced unexpected pressure.

"I found it nearly impossible not to put a ton of pressure on myself to make sure this was the best wedding my friends and family had ever attended."

As someone known for delivering extraordinary events professionally, she wanted guests to experience exceptional service, incredible food, and a seamless celebration without feeling like they were simply attending an event at her workplace.

Ultimately, she learned one of the most important lessons every couple needs to hear: trust your vendors and focus on creating a day that feels authentic to you.

Wedding reception room with floral centerpieces by Belli Fiori in St. Louis.

Choosing Bogey Hills Country Club for Their Wedding Venue

Like many engaged couples, Courtney and Matt toured multiple venues before making their final decision.

For Courtney, however, the process was especially challenging.

After years of managing events, she found herself comparing every venue to her own workplace. At one point, she even considered hosting the wedding there.

But deep down, she knew she needed a venue where she could fully embrace being the bride rather than feeling tempted to jump into event manager mode.

With guidance from trusted hospitality professionals, they narrowed their options and ultimately selected Bogey Hills Country Club—a venue that offered both a beautiful setting and a culinary team they felt confident entrusting with their celebration.

What Felt Easy—and What Was Surprisingly Difficult

Some aspects of wedding planning came naturally.

Creating timelines, organizing reception layouts, and planning food and beverage details were second nature thanks to Courtney's professional background.

The biggest challenge wasn't logistics—it was making decisions.

"When you see beautiful weddings every weekend, narrowing down what you want for your own day becomes much harder than you imagine."

Even selecting music proved difficult, as she hoped to find songs that felt fresh after hearing so many wedding playlists throughout her career.

Yet in the end, every detail came together beautifully to create a celebration that felt distinctly theirs.

Why Choosing the Right Wedding Vendors Matters

One advantage of working in the wedding industry is developing relationships with talented professionals.

For Courtney, several vendor choices were immediate decisions.

She selected a planner whose calm demeanor and problem-solving mindset mirrored her own. She chose a photographer known for bringing positivity and energy into every room.

And when it came to flowers, the decision was easy.

"I chose Belli Fiori because they are truly the best in the business. The deliberate thought and attention to detail put into every display is incomparable."

One surprise standout was their DJ—a professional Courtney had never previously worked with. Recommended by trusted planners and the venue, he quickly became one of their favorite vendor decisions.

Why Wedding Flowers Were One of the Most Important Elements

For Courtney, flowers aren't simply décor.

As a venue manager, they're one of the first things she notices when entering a reception space.

"Wedding flowers make or break the room for me," she says. "They bring life to the room and joy to those around them."

Her colorful floral vision was designed to make guests feel the warmth and excitement of an approaching spring season while creating an immersive atmosphere filled with energy and personality.

The result was exactly what she hoped for.

"I wanted everyone to be blown away by the florals."

Perhaps even more meaningful was what happened after the wedding.

The couple donated their flowers to Joy Petalers a local organization that repurposes floral arrangements for hospitals, senior care facilities, and veteran communities, extending the joy of their celebration to others experiencing loneliness or isolation.

Advice from a Wedding Industry Professional

After helping countless couples navigate wedding planning and experiencing the process herself, Courtney offers simple but valuable advice.

Be honest with your vendors.

The more clearly couples communicate their vision, priorities, and expectations, the better vendors can serve them.

At the same time, trust the professionals you've hired.

"Not all ideas are the best ideas," Courtney explains. "Many have been tried before and refined through experience."

Her recommendation is simple: choose vendors you genuinely connect with, lean on their expertise, and allow them to guide you toward the best possible version of your vision.

Bride and groom's first dance at wedding reception in St. Louis.

Seeing the Wedding Day Come to Life

After months of planning, designing, and decision-making, there was one moment Courtney will never forget.

Their room reveal!

As the doors opened and she saw the colorful floral designs, carefully curated details, and the vision she had carried in her mind finally brought to life, emotions took over.

"If you can't tell from my tearful room reveal," she says, "it was absolutely perfection."

"It felt like a dream that I never wanted to wake up from."

For a wedding pro who has spent years creating memorable wedding experiences for others, finally experiencing that magic as the bride herself made the moment even more meaningful.

And for everyone fortunate enough to celebrate alongside Courtney and Matt, it was a wedding day filled with joy, beauty, and flowers that perfectly reflected the vibrant love story at the center of it all.

Congratulations Courtney and Matt! Thank you for sharing your wedding day with us!

Start Planning with Belli Fiori