This is an UNPLUGGED WEDDING
What does it mean to be an "Unplugged Wedding"?
It means that we ask that you please do not use your phones, tablets, cameras, etc during the ceremony. We hired a really great photographer, Malena, to take photos for us. We know you guys will want to capture the moment and we promise, there will be time for that but please not during the ceremony. We want you to just live in the moment with us and let Malena do her job (trust us, she is AMAZING at her job).
Where is the ceremony/reception?
Both will be held at The Meadows Event Venue in Dexter, MO.
11049 State Hwy ZZ Dexter, MO 63841
What's the wedding itinerary?
Our wedding will take place at The Meadows in Dexter, MO on October 24th, 2026. The ceremony will begin at 3:00pm (central) sharp, followed by cocktail hour and the reception, which is anticipated to wrap around TBD.
What time should I arrive at your wedding ceremony?
We recommend arriving at the ceremony venue at least 30 minutes ahead of ceremony start time to allow for parking (located close to the ceremony spot), small talk, finding your seat, admiring the decor, etc. Try to be no later than 10 minutes before the ceremony start time.
When is the deadline for RSVPs?
The deadline to RSVP for the wedding is September 3rd, 2026. Please fill out the card and mail it back, whether you are coming or not. If we do not get a card, we will assume that you are not coming and we may not have enough food or seating for you.
Can I RSVP online or do I have to mail in an RSVP card?
Please RSVP by mailing in the RSVP card sent with your invitation. Courtney worked really hard to design those. She is really proud of them and the invitations.
Can I bring a Plus one and/or kids?
Your RSVP card has your allotted number of plus-one(s). We tried to account for households. Absolutely, kids are welcomed but again check your RSVP card.
My RSVP card says X number of guests, can I bring more than what's on the card?
Please ask first. This is a small venue and while we want everyone who loves us there to support us, we have to follow the rules of the venue, fire marshal, etc. So we ask that you please just ask first.
Is there a dress code?
Technically, no but we would love it if you looked nice. We aren't asking for black tie level nice. Think high school boy on a date nice (jeans and a Columbia button down, if you will). For the most part, the area is pretty comfortable during the fall. You can get by in a dress, or jeans and a nice shirt. If you are someone who gets cold easily, a light jacket will be enough to keep the chill away.
Where are you registered?
We are registered at Amazon, Target and The Knot. All have been linked to the registry tab on this website.
Where will the ceremony be held at the venue?
Outside to the left of the parking lot (if you are standing facing the buildings) or inside if it is raining. There will be signs!
Will there be dinner?
Yes, of course! We are having a taco bar! And there will be snacks! (Have you met Courtney? She keeps snacks on her at all times. In her car, in her desk at work, purse, bra, etc.)
What about my dietary restrictions?
There is a place on your RSVP card for you to list any dietary restrictions (Another really good reason to RSVP ;) ). As a food allergy girlie, Courtney gets the importance of feeling safe about what you eat. You can also send a text to either Courtney or Colt but RSVP card first please.
What is the drink situation?
There will be two signature drinks, His and Hers, (alcoholic) and then there will be non alcoholic options as well.
BYOB?
No, there will be two signature alcoholic drinks to choose from. For legal reasons, we ask that you do NOT bring your own alcohol.
Can I post wedding photos on social media?
Yes, of course! Courtney will probably post a selfie while getting ready but not of her in her dress until AFTER the ceremony because she doesn't want Colt to see her in her dress before then (she likes to stick to some traditions).
Why Dexter, Missouri?
Courtney: I grew up in Sikeston, MO, which is 24 miles Northeast of Dexter. I have always known that I wanted to get married close to where I grew up as to me nothing beats the charm of a small Southern rural community. Plus things are cheaper down here.
What is the closest airport?
Saint Louis International is the closest and that is 2 hours north of Sikeston which is 28ish minutes (depending on how you drive, if you know, you know) northeast of Dexter.
Where should we bring/send our wedding gift?
Your presence at our wedding is the greatest gift we could ask for! If you would like to honor us with a gift, you can message one of us for an address as we are planning to move before the wedding. A wedding card box will be at our reception.
I have more questions about your wedding, who can I contact?
Before the wedding, you can contact Courtney at 573-703-5071. Day of the wedding, contact Colt because Courtney will be stressing, 520-243-0372.
Will there be a receiving line after the ceremony?
No. After the ceremony, the bridal party will go off into the surrounding tree line (so not creepy, murder vibes) and take photos. Guests will be directed to the reception building for cocktail hour, or hang out outside for a bit. We don't care. Whatever makes you happy (within reason).
A Little History of the Area
Dexter, MO
Dexter, MO began as a railroad town, platted in 1873 by the Cairo, Arkansas and Texas (CAT) Railroad, which connected to build a route. It was named after a settler's horse, "Dexter" and grew rapidly with the railroad's arrival in September 1873, attracting early settlers from nearby states and developing as a community with tree-named streets. Its history centers this rail development, with early residents like Andrew Neal and Levi Norman arriving as the wilderness was tamed. Terrible football team, though. (*cough, cough* GO BULLDOGS!)
Sikeston, MO
Sikeston, Missouri, grew from a small settlement into a significant regional hub in the Bootheel, driven by agriculture (especially cotton) and the railroad, experiencing rapid population booms in the early 20th century, marked by events like the historic Jaycee Bootheel rodeo, and the founding of the first Methodist chest west of the Mississippi, but also shadowed by a brutal 1942 lynching of Cleo Wright, a dark chapter in the town's history. Spanish explorers are said to have visited the Sikeston area in 1541. At the time, the region consisted of cypress swamps and forested prairies. In 1789, the King of Spain ordered an overland route be established between New Orleans and St Louis. This frontier road crossed through what is known as Sikeston. In 1829, the land was purchased by the Stallcup family. City founder, John Sikes, acquired control following his marriage to Catherine Stallcup Myers in 1859. Sikeston occupied both sides of the civil war as they sought to move men, artillery and supplies through area swamps. In 1907, the swampland was drained and revealed some of the most fertile farmland in the world. There is so much more to Sikeston's history but Courtney is already pretty biased, so gonna end it here.
Poplar Bluff, MO
Named for poplar trees on the bluff overlooking the Black River, Poplar Bluff began with early settlers in 1840s. It grew as the railroad developed.
Lake Wappapello
Lake Wappapello is a large reservoir in southeastern Missouri, created by the Army Corps of Engineers on the St Francis River for flood control, now a popular recreation area for boating, fishing, camping, hiking, and swimming. It is where Courtney went to Girl Scout Camp (Camp Latonka) for several summers. But it holds even more significance, as it is at Lake Wappapello, at Eagle Point overlooking the water, that Colt asking Courtney to marry him and she said yes.
