Some love stories are just fate. For Shelby Ringdahl and Taylor Cox, theirs began when they were only 5 years old.

Cut to March 2019. Taylor’s back in Missouri. Shelby sees a picture on Instagram of Taylor with his dad and younger brother, Carter, from a recent family vacation. She messages Taylor, about how grown-up Carter is and no longer has white-blond hair worn in the distinctive bowl cut she remembers. (Both agree losing that bowl cut was a good thing!) They laugh and continue to message. Suddenly, three hours go by. Taylor knows Shelby’s living in New York City, but even so, asks if she’d like to have dinner the next time she’s in town. Little does he know she’s doing a show at the Arrow Rock Lyceum Theatre! She agrees to dinner the next night.

They continue to talk every day. Then Shelby’s Lyceum run comes to an end. After just 15 days of talking, they decide to embark on a long-distance relationship. A little over a year later, Taylor proposes.

Which brings us back to their big day. With Pastor Fred Leist officiating, the couple exchanged traditional vows. The church didn’t require much decoration, small hanging arrangements on every fourth pew and two large ones on the altar.

With the bride’s background in music and theater, music played a large part. One bridesmaid, Lauren Wright (whom the bride met on tour), started the ceremony walking down the aisle playing two of the couple’s best-loved hymns on the violin. The bride’s college vocal professor and renowned soprano, Angela Turner Wilson, sang a rendition of “This Day” with Craig Datz on the organ. Shelby entered to “Beautiful Savior,” the same hymn her grandparents and parents used at their weddings.

     She wore a strapless floor-length ivory/nude “Juliette” wedding gown from Elyssee by Enzonami. It featured a plunging neckline and delicate, organic floral laces with hand-embroidered mini paillettes on its elegant, fitted bodice that flared into a dramatic ballgown skirt. She accessorized with her great grandmother’s drop crystal earrings, a handkerchief with her Grandmother Joan’s name on it and a silver and crystal hair comb.

   Her bridal bouquet was made up of white hydrangeas, Nikita, garden, stock and spray roses, and alstroemeria, with eucalyptus gunnii and ruscus, tied with white ribbon. She attached her late Grandma Joan’s hummingbird pin to it. The bridesmaids wore gold, floor-length Hayley Paige dresses and carried smaller similar bouquets. Taylor and his groomsmen wore Men’s Warehouse Black Tuxedos with a white rose for a boutonniere.

A reception at the Atrium on 10th followed. The newlyweds chose the venue because its exposed brick and concrete floors reminded them of New York City. The Big Apple holds a special place in their hearts, since Taylor spent a lot of weekends visiting Shelby there. They wanted their guests to feel romance and elegance, but also fun when entering. Uplighting was added around the room with a custom monogram by Blue Diamond Events on the dance floor. A floral instillation hung above it.

The bride’s dearest childhood friend, talented artist Karis Briscoe of twolaceshoes.com was unable to attend (she was expecting her fourth child) but painted a custom family crest which included special elements and places meaningful to the couple, as well as their new monogram. It graced the cocktail napkins and other items. Highlight moments included when Shelby and her New York theatre friends surprised Taylor with an arrangement of “Can’t Help Fallin’ in Love.” It’s a favorite of Taylor’s who’s a huge Elvis fan.

Since Taylor played D1 golf at Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville, his groom’s cake featured a golf hole complete with tee box, sand traps, cart path, and green. Mickey Mouse tee markers honored his late Grandpa Crandall, while the flag atop the hole sported an Iowa Hawkeye emblem.

The four-tiered vanilla wedding cake with white buttercream frosting was classic and simple with small texture and piping details and hydrangeas scaling the layers.

The new Mr. and Mrs. Cox honeymooned in Maui and now reside in St. Louis. The bride’s a professional performer in New York City and owner of her own pageant, talent and interview coaching business. The groom’s a medical sales consultant for Depuy Synthes.

The bride’s parents are Bruce and Erika Ringdahl of Columbia. The groom’s parents are Art and Jill Cox of Columbia.