The Gardens Wedding Center

10/20/2026

10/19/2026

Before “I do,” there is this.

The breath you take.
The hand you hold a little tighter.
The moment you find your person at the end of the aisle.

For a few seconds, all the planning becomes something wonderfully simple:

There you are.

10/19/2026

"We loved getting married at the Gardens!
We were looking for an outdoor garden venue and knew this was the one after touring and seeing all the different settings that are available to you (Stunning garden, outdoor tent, and beautiful historic chapel). In the case of bad weather, Plan B is an equally stunning option - which we ended up needing and felt very grateful to have had this venue when rain rolled in! The team is lovely and very much down to earth and real. Many people told us it was also the best wedding food they've ever had!
We highly recommend the Gardens and will remember our great experience for a lifetime."

10/18/2026

Why is there a first dance at a wedding and how did the tradition start in the first place?

Well, the common reason is that, just like the formal balls of days gone by, the guests of honour would open the dance. In this case, at a wedding, it’s the married couple. But actually, sources date back further to the days when the groom used to steal his bride and would show off his new wife to his friends by dancing her around the fire before the celebrations could begin. This evolved into the era when brides were bought from their fathers and the first dance would be a sort of fertility ceremony. Whereas now it’s generally considered a romantic moment, a continuation of a couple’s marriage vows to one another.

📸 Panorama Studio - Photography and Video

10/18/2026

Looking for ideas on how to utilize the space in front of the carriage bar? Here is a fun one from tonight.

10/17/2026

Congrats to the Duricas!

10/17/2026

One of our favorite things to do on your day is give our original from 1876 church bells a ring when you are pronounced married so the whole countryside can hear that this day belongs to you. We are often asked if they are real or just a recording as can often be found elsewhere. We are proud to still have the original bells that the Hefter family donated to archdiocese once upon a time a couple centuries ago. Below you will see photos of the bells and the view as well as a history of the foundry built by some dude named Johann.

This foundry was built in 1855 by the 30 year old Johann Gerhard Stuckstede. It was operated for several years as J.G.Stuckstede & Co. with an unknown partner. The foundry cast fairly ornate bells and bell equipment. The bells had a different shape then the traditional “American” shape. The bottom of the bells had a square shaped “German Lip” which was different than the traditional rounded lip that other American bell foundries were casting.

In 1863 Johann brought in his younger brother, 28 year old Henry and changed the company name to J.G. Stuckstede & Brother. With the help of Henry the foundry began to grow and later ended up being the largest bell foundry west of Cincinnati.

The foundry at this time was mostly shipping bells to the north and south of the St. Louis area with single bells being the most popular but also some peals being made. In 1881 the foundry was contracted to cast a very large bell for St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in St. Louis. This bell was 6,000 Lbs. and was the largest bell ever cast in the foundry. In fact, it still remains the largest bronze bell in the state of Missouri.

J. G. Stuckstede retired from the foundry in 1883 and the following year the foundry was renamed Henry Stuckstede & Company. Under the new leadership of Henry, the foundry began changing the shape of their bells, apparently to try to improve the sound. In 1885 the foundry cast its first chime, a very large 17 bell chime with the largest bell being a 4,000 Lb. C #1. This chime was installed at St. Mary of the Assumption Church in Iowa City, Iowa where it still remains today. This was a major accomplishment, first being their very first attempt at creating a musical instrument, but also that is was 17 bells. This was both larger in number of bells and heavier than most other bell foundries were attempting at this time.

Henry would cast another 5 chimes over the next 11 years but just as suddenly as he entered the chime market, the foundry didn’t cast any others after 1896.

In 1888 the foundry changed names again, this time becoming The Henry Stuckstede Bell Foundry Company.

Henry died in 1911 but the foundry continued operating until about 1931. The foundry cast thousands of bells over a period of about 75 years as well as hundreds of peals and 5 chimes of bells.

10/15/2026

10/15/2026

The Gardens: where the setting is magical, the celebrations are unforgettable and the people behind them genuinely care.

Photographer: Schmitt Photo Co.
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