Shower

Top of the Marq

Rehearsal Dinner

Friday Welcome Mingle

Knollcrest

COCKTAILS, DINNER, DANCING, ICE CREAM & FUN

Courtyard by Marriott Cape Girardeau Downtown

Sunday Farewell

Knollcrest Chapel

Wedding

Ceremony

Home

Schedule

Our Story

Registry

Our Wedding

Lauren & Kyle Photo Timeline

THE BEGINNING, SUMMER 2015: DuQuoin Sonic. LAUREN Italy SUMMER STUDY ABROAD & Love Letters. LAUREN FAMILY REUNION TRIP TO DESTIN & BRINGS KYLE. Elkville-Boston-Long-Distance-Relationship BEGINS. Kyle beats lauren at board games.

2016: KYLE SIU & LAUREN HARVARD Undergrad & Long-Distance Continued. Kyle Preps for MCAT exam & applies to Med SchoolS. LOTS OF PAINFUL ESSAY WRITING. Lauren DOES California Summer Volunteer EXPERIENCE & KYLE VISITS.

2017: Kyle Graduates SIU Undergrad & Begins SIU Med School. Elson Family Disney Trip. Lauren preps for MCAT Exam. MOM & KYLE GET STRESS-VOMITING LAUREN TO MCAT EXAM. LAUREN Applies to Med Schools. Cape Coral, Fl VISIT FAM.

2018: Lauren Graduates Harvard Undergrad & Begins WashU Med School in St. LouiS. Kyle begins 2nd year OF SIU med school in springfield, IL. LAUREN HAS A SOCIAL LIFE W/FRIENDS. WHITTINGTON FAMILY FLORIDA TRIP. Kyle tears ACL playing basketbalL.

2019: Both in Med School (St. Louis, MO & Springfield, IL). BRING MED SCHOOL FRIENDS TO ELKVILLE FOR VACAY. Viva Las Vegas eLSON FAMILY TRIP. LAUREN BREAKS WRIST PLAYING SOCCER. Wild UK Belk Bowl.

2020: Pandemic Med School Students. Bald Head Island, NC wedding TRIP. Kyle begins research-year at WashU for Masters Degree SO THEY CAN GRADUATE MED SCHOOL SAME YEAR. Move-in together in St. Louis Apartment.

2021: Engagement. WHITTINGTON FAMILY JAMaiCA trip. Residency-Location-Couples-Match-Stress Begins. Nashville Wedding. Wild Purdue Music City Bowl.

2022: Couples-Match Success. Trips with friends. Med School Graduation. Willa Mae Whittington of Wyoming arrives. Residency Begins.

2023: Bachelor trip to New Orleans. Lauren is a bridesmaid in BFF Taylor's wedding. Bachelorette weekend. Lauren works 24 hours shifts and then passes out with Willa. Kyle & Lauren buy a house. Bridal Shower.

L & K Photo Timeline

Wedding Party

Jessica Elson

Eli Fennell

Maggie Elson

Joel Williams

Taylor Cogsil

Connor Vorreyer

Adrienne Visani

Brett Nelson

Emily Johnson

Ryan Bowman

Brooke Whittington

Tyler Burroughs

Allie Whittington

Kody Ellett

Camilla Trickett

Aubree Williams

Holden Trickett

Tristan Trickett

Maverick Trickett

Cooper Elson

Sophie Lesser

Knollcrest - Wedding Chapel & Reception Venue

Address: 3243 State Highway 34 Burfordville, MO 63739 Knollcrest is an event venue and chapel located approximately 30 minutes outside of Cape Girardeau, MO; 1.5 hours from Elkville, IL, and 1 hour 45 minutes from St. Louis, MO; situated on a beautiful area of Knowlan Family Farm with 100 acres of rolling pasture, 65 acres of woods, and a 12-acre lake. The farm has over 29 varieties of U-pick apples, as well as peaches, nectarines, pears, blueberries, blackberries, pumpkins, vegetables, grass-finished beef (Scottish Highland and Red Angus cattle), two large sheep dogs, and home to a variety of other wildlife. To access the venue, guests drive through a beautiful orchard of apple and peach trees.

Wedding Chapel & Reception Venue

Things to do in and around Cape Girardeau, Missouri

Cape Girardeau provided the main filming location for the fictional town of North Carthage for the movie, “Gone Girl.” The crew spent six weeks filming in Cape and a few of the major locations from the movie are right in town: the riverfront, The Bar that Ben Affleck’s character&nbsp;owned in the movie, and the courthouse gazebo where the candlelight vigil is held.Cape Girardeau’s downtown is brimming with charm. Stroll down quiet streets dotted with restaurants and bars, boutique and vintage shops, and ice cream, along the Mississippi River.&nbsp; &nbsp;“In 2015, Old Town Cape received the&nbsp;Great American Main Street Award®&nbsp;from the National Main Street Center. This recognition is bestowed on Accredited Main Street Communities that serve as the nation’s best examples of comprehensive commercial district revitalization.”

Visit Downtown Cape Girardeau: Eat, Shop, Drink, and look for Ben Affleck

It’s a beautiful park with a beach, hiking trails, fishing, camping and scenic bluff views overlooking the Mississippi River. Be sure to stop in the park’s visitor center to learn about the Cherokee’s forced removal during the 1800s. There are five popular hiking trails within Trail of Tears State Park:Peewah Trail – Red Loop: 6.2-mile moderate trail into a remote and rugged section of the park.Peewah Trail – Yellow Loop: 3.9-mile moderate trail that follows the ridgeline overlooking the Mississippi River.&nbsp;Sheppard Point Trail: 3-mile moderate trail that climbs to a bluff with an overlook of the river below.&nbsp;Lake Boutin Trail: 2.2-mile easy loop around the lake.&nbsp;Nature Trail: .7-mile easy loop trail behind the visitor center.

Trail of Tears State Park & Visitor Center

Another fun thing to do in Cape Girardeau for adults is to try your luck out at the Casino. It has slots, table games and live entertainment.

Century Casino Cape Girardeau

Free! Explore two miles of nature trails that wind through rolling river hills with sinkholes, ravines, and deep hollows. Enjoy our wildlife-viewing areas and see how native plants provide habitat for various wildlife species.

Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Center

Things to Do

Hotel Blocks & STL Airport Shuttle Service

We have reserved a block of rooms at three different hotels with three very different personalities. Scroll down for booking links and rate information. Brief summary of each hotel: Courtyard by Marriott Cape Girardeau Downtown: 3 Star Hotel with a 4.5 Star Rating on Trip Advisor. Free parking. The coolest hotel of the group located in a historical landmark building in downtown Cape Girardeau near the Mississippi River waterfront. Walking distance to a variety of eclectic local restaurants, bars, coffee shops, vintage stores, etc. One minute walk to our Welcome Party venue Top of the Marq and a 28 minute drive to our Wedding/Reception venue Knollcrest. Drury Plaza Hotel Cape Girardeau Conference Center: 3 Star Hotel with a 5 Star Trip Advisor Ranking. Complimentary Hot Breakfast, Complimentary Evening Drinks and Snacks 5:30-7pm, Free Parking, Indoor Pool. Large hotel with convenient location right off Interstate 55. Next to lots of chain restaurants/shopping - Olive Garden, Texas Roadhouse, Outback Steakhouse, Chick-fil-a, Starbucks, Cracker Barrel, Red Lobster, Target, T.J. Maxx. 10 minute drive to historic downtown Cape Girardeau and our Welcome Party location Top of the Marq, and a 22 minute drive to our Wedding/Reception venue Knollcrest. Drury Inn Jackson, Missouri: 3 Star Hotel with a 4.5 Star Ranking on Trip Advisor. Unique "Bavarian-style" decor - woohoo LOL! Complimentary Hot Breakfast, Complimentary Evening Drinks and Snacks 5:30-7pm, Free Parking, Indoor Pool. Kind of in the middle of nowhere and most "country/small-town" location. Closest hotel to our Wedding/Reception venue with a Dairy Queen and Pizza Inn next to hotel. 15 minute drive to our Wedding/Reception venue Knollcrest and 26 minute drive to downtown Cape Girardeau and Welcome Party location Top of the Marq.

Book by May 1, 2023. Free Cancellation up to 11:59pm the day before your arrival. Guests must use the booking link below or call the front desk (573/240.9420) and ask for the Elson Whittington Wedding Block rate.&nbsp;You cannot book this block or this rate through the Bonvoy App or on Marriott.com. Free Parking. Click on Direct Booking Link here:

Book by May 1st, 2023. Free Cancellation up to 12pm the day before your arrival. Complimentary Hot Breakfast, Complimentary Evening Drinks and Snacks 5:30-7pm, Free Parking, Indoor Pool. Click on Direct Booking Link here:

Drury Plaza Hotel Cape Girardeau Conference Center

Book by May 2nd, 2023. Free Cancellation up to 12pm the day before your arrival. Complimentary Hot Breakfast, Complimentary Evening Drinks and Snacks 5:30-7pm, Free Parking, Indoor Pool. Click on Direct Booking Link here:

Drury Inn & Suites Jackson

Shuttle service from St Louis Lambert International Airport to and from Cape Girardeau, Missouri

STL Shuttle Service 

Hotel Blocks & STL Airport Shuttle Info

Q + A