Whitney Benns
Sam Straus
Whitney Benns
Sam Straus
October 11, 2025
Our wedding purpose
The purpose of our wedding is to enjoy and celebrate the loving connections we've built with each other and our friends and family. We intend it to be a beautiful disruption of the day-to-day and a chance for us all to be grateful, playful, and tender out loud and in community. We hope you can join us!
Schedule
Saturday, October 11, 2025
Ceremony & Reception
4:30 pm - 10:30 pm
12580 Rott Rd, Saint Louis, MO 63127
Fancy Attire (tuxes, gowns, suits, cocktail dresses, anything celebratory and chic)
For parents to little ones (0-20 yrs): While we love your kiddos, the reception portion will be adult-only and not a kid-friendly space. Please make arrangements. If you have questions, reach out!
Sunday, October 12, 2025
Brunch
10:00 am - 1:00 pm
Cute Casual Attire
RSVP
Please enter the first and last name of one member of your party below.
If you're responding for you and a guest (or your family), you'll be able to RSVP for your entire group on the next page.
Travel
Travel Note
We can't wait to see you! (And for you to see St. Louis!)
For folks joining from out of town, you can find a flight into Lambert Airport (STL). Getting from the airport to your hotel is as easy as calling an Uber or Lyft (there are cabs, too). Unless you are planning an extended stay, we recommend that you just use ride shares to get around rather than renting a car. (Both hotels have a daily parking fee.) We've secured two hotel blocks below for accommodations.
Hotel
21c Museum Hotel St Louis
This is our favorite local hotel that is located downtown (near many attractions). It will be close to our Sunday brunch and activities. Valet parking is available for a fee (and necessary - there is limited parking downtown). Both hotels here are an Uber ride away to the Ceremony & Reception venue. We've secured a block - please use the link above to book for a discounted rate.
Discount Code - Included in link below:
Hotel
Element St. Louis Midtown
This is a great hotel that is centrally located and close to a ton of the "Things to Do" we've listed. This hotel has a cool rooftop bar and breakfast is included in the rate. It will be close to our Sunday brunch and activities. Both hotels here are an Uber ride away to the Ceremony & Reception venue. Onsite parking (with in and out access) is available for a fee. This hotel is pet friendly (though, our wedding events will not be!). We've secured a block - please use the link below to book for a discounted rate.
Discount Code - Included in link below:
Gallery
Things To Do
The Gateway Arch
The image you probably associate with STL... It is cool though. The museum is interesting, the park is beautiful, and you can actually go up to the top if you buy a ticket. Near the 21c Museum Hotel.
Tower Grove Park
Our favorite park! Amazing for a walk or picnic (or, to find a basketball game on the south side of the park). Great to wander around after picking up a coffee at MoKaBe's or Road Crew. They often have cool free events - check out what's happening on the website linked.
Forest Park
St. Louis's biggest park! Complete with a great museums, a zoo, an outdoor theater, and so much more. You can spend the whole day exploring, or an afternoon hanging out on Art Hill (just below the art museum).
Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis
Our favorite art museum. Cool, local exhibits that rotate. Free. And right next to the Pulitzer Arts Foundation (another great art museum). Very close the Element Hotel.
Pulitzer Arts Foundation
Another great contemporary art museum. Free. And right next to CAM (Contemporary Art Museum STL). Very close the Element Hotel.
Saint Louis Art Museum
STL's fine arts museum. Huge. Great exhibits. Free. And in the middle of Forest Park. Highly recommend!
Brick City Yoga
Our yoga studio! Classes are 10 bucks. Instructors are great. Some of our favorite instructors are Carolyn, Devin, and Grace. They have all of the gear you need (including mats). Show up on time though - they will lock you out if you are late.
Yes Honey Studio
Whitney's dance fitness studio! It's a blast. Take a class, have some fun, work on your moves for the wedding reception.
Left Bank Books
Our go-to local lefty book shop. Get super smart so you can impress everyone at your wedding table.
City Foundry STL
Across the street for those staying at the Element Hotel. This entertainment center has a great food hall, a fun movie theater, shops, a wine bar, a speakeasy, exercise classes... whatever your little heart desires.
Pharaohs Donuts
The best donuts in STL. Not the spot to look too long - know your order before you step up to the counter! Near 21c Museum Hotel.
The Biscuit Joint
Delicious biscuit sandwiches, from scratch. Black-owned. Near the 21c Museum Hotel.
La Pâtisserie Chouquette
Black-owned bakery. If you want sweets, a great option. They regularly sell out so get in early.
Damn Fine Hand Pies
Pastries. Sandwiches. Donuts. Coffee. All VERY good.
Louie
A favorite fancy-ish restaurant. You'll need to stake out Resy for a reservation - if you can get one, it's excellent. One of our favorite restaurants. Get the polenta. (Polenta!? What!?) Seriously. Get it.
Little Fox
Another favorite (fancy-ish) restaurant. This gem is right by our house! Also does a great brunch.
iNDO
Another favorite fancy-ish restaurant. Amazing drinks, too. You probably need a reservation. Check this out on your way to night out in The Grove. (It's also near The Vandy and a few popular breweries.)
Press Pizza and Pasta
Stuffed pizza. No, it's not calzone! It's totally different! How? Uh... there's stuff on top? It's extra good?? Don't fall for locals telling you Imo's Pizza is amazing (sorry, not sorry, locals). This is our go-to pizza spot with great gluten free options. Check out Confluence Kombucha just a few doors down.
Union Loafers Café and Bread Bakery
The best pizza in STL (that Sam can't eat). Nothing else to say.
Eat DuckBill
One of our favorite dive dinners in one of our favorite bars (called Platypus). Popcorn chicken (they'll make it gluten free if you ask!). Brussel Sprouts and Cauliflower. Vegan options, too. And the cocktails at Platypus are super creative and top notch.
Tacos la Jefa STL
The best birria in STL. Just do it. (But if you do, plan for a nap before the wedding.)
Blues City Deli
Whitney's favorite deli. Cheap. Delicious. Awesome selection.
Pappy's Smokehouse
Our favorite BBQ in the city. The ribs are awesome. Prepare for a line if you want to dine in. Pro tip: you can order to-go at the curb and you can eat outside on their benches.
Rasoi
Feeling more like a hermit? Want to eat in your room? Order Rasoi. Our favorite Indian food in STL. Everything is amazing.
The Vandy
Speakeasy cocktail bar. The best drinks (we think) in STL. Located in The Grove neighborhood and near lots of other bars / breweries / restaurants / spots. If you think you might be entering an abandoned building, you're there! (Ok, but that also might be an real abandoned building - double check the address and stay safe!)
New Society
Our favorite speakeasy with culinary-inspired cocktails you've definitely never had before. For folks coming into town early (they are only open Th/Fr). Reservations are required.
Narwhal's Crafted
Hot day? In the mood for a boozy slushy? These are our favorite. Very close to the Element Hotel.
Small Change STL
Favorite queer neighborhood dive bar with excellent cocktails and a cute outdoor patio.
Sophie's Artist Lounge
One of our favorite bars connected to an art gallery. Enjoy a good drink, some art, and a DJ set. Near the Element Hotel.
Rehab Bar And Grill
STLs iconic gay bar and likely afterparty following the reception for the night owls. Drag shows on Saturday and cheap drinks all the time.
Confluence Kombucha
Do you like Kombucha? Do you respect craft? Do you want to spend time in the presence of a man whose 23&Me results included 42% wizard? Our wonky kombucha shop is run by a delightful sober sage who has made hundreds of flavors of kombucha and will be thrilled to let you try what's on tap. There is also a ping pong table in there. And trinkets? Check it out for yourself.
Northwest Coffee Roasting
Tasty Black-owned coffee shop near the Element Hotel. Great indoor/outdoor space and place to work (though we hope you don't have to!).
Road Crew Coffee & Cycles
Best espresso in STL. Nostalgic hipster vibe for millennials and the people who love them. Near Tower Grove Park.
MoKaBe's Coffeehouse
A cute coffee and breakfast shop. A staple meetup spot for folks trying to find a safe place to meet during the uprising in 2014. Right by Tower Grove Park.
Fiddlehead Fern Cafe
Pretty pretentious. Damn good. If you want a small bite that won't fill you up and to risk your life by asking for a splenda packet (or, even sugar, really) we highly recommend this place. The homemade cashew mylk and cold brew limeades will have your eyes rolling back in your head (for all the reasons).