Elizabeth Cunningham and Scott Wente

Elizabeth Cunningham and Scott Wente’s relationship dates all the way back to high school, where the two met. Their friendship eventually budded into a long-distance love story with Scott working in Springfield and Elizabeth working in Dallas. Despite having to travel hundreds of miles to see each other, Elizabeth and Scott managed the distance. After two years of dating, the couple was engaged.

Scott popped the question while on a bike ride through Dogwood Canyon Nature Park. The two had planned a weekend getaway at Big Cedar Lodge during one of Elizabeth’s visits, and the bike ride took them past a picturesque chapel. Fitting in with the too-cute-for-words setting, Scott dropped to one knee and proposed. “He definitely caught me off-guard,” Elizabeth says. “We were both in workout clothes and had been riding bikes for about an hour.”

One year later, Elizabeth and Scott were walking down the aisle at First and Calvary Presbyterian. The reception was held at the Cunningham Family Farm, which belonged to Elizabeth’s grandfather and where as a child, Elizabeth and her cousins played. Scott and Elizabeth spent a lot of time fixing up the barn, rebuilding the stairs and fixing the flooring. When the big day arrived, the couple had a truly personal reception space.

Today, the happy couple lives in Springfield. Elizabeth is an attorney at Husch Blackwell LLP, and Scott owns Clean Air Heating and Cooling LLC.

The Details

Photographer: Jeffrey Sweet
Planner: Martha Wright, Gracious Occasions
Dress: Town and Country Bridal in St. Louis
Rings: Cornerstone Fine Jewelry 
Food: Jennifer Smith with The Traveling Chef
Flowers: Ron Johnson
Entertainment/Music: Almost Famous
Cake: Cakes by Darlene
Tuxedos: Karl’s Tuxedos