The Bellwether

Welcome Drinks

Wedding Day

Ceremony

St. Louis Union Station Hotel

Reception

Our Wedding

Memorial Day 2021 was a holiday for most, but for one self-proclaimed Mayor of the Marina, it would be a day that changed his life forever. While having beverages at a favorite local jaunt, Tipsy Pig in San Francisco, his fellow Uberetto and friend Lauren Demarco happened upon his gathering with a mysterious cutie from her days in St. Louis. Brennan was stunned by how her glowing smile twinkled in the sunlight, and that it always seemed to be on. Infectious, enrapturing, stunning…but he was too shy to act on it. Maybe such beauty was only to be admired from afar. He introduced himself to her as “Brennan” and she immediately lit up, because that is her mother’s maiden name. Fast forward a year later on the exact same weekend, Lauren was set to be hitched to Arun in St. Louis. Brennan was one of the invited guests, and low and behold this showstopper smile walked into the welcome drinks. Brennan pulled out every wedding dance move he had in his arsenal to try to impress Taylor, but that proved to be silly. She instead just said dance with me. They talked the night away chatting about how she wanted to visit New York, growing up in the midwest, and all the places they wanted to travel to. Over the next few months, Brennan found every excuse to call Taylor to talk and “learn about marketing” as he built his startup. Eventually, he decided to shoot his shot, and invited her to fly out to New York while he was out there teaching. “See New York through my eyes,” he said, thinking it was the coolest thing ever to say. Taylor contemplated whether she could put up with this guy's Dad jokes for a weekend, and finally took him up on his offer. They spent the weekend exploring all of Brennan’s favorite places in New York City, Levain Bakery, Buenos Aires, Lafayette, Mr. Purple, the Backroom, and of course they ordered Sticky Fingers chicken tenders. Best first date ever, Brennan left the weekend thinking. Taylor went back to St. Louis, Brennan returned to San Francisco, and that would be the beginning of it all. Brennan organized a covert ops mission with Emily to surprise Taylor for her 30th birthday at the Golden Hoosier, and to celebrate Taylor’s impending move to Chicago to work for Leo Burnett. Brennan asked Taylor to be his girlfriend that weekend, to which Taylor said yes! They did long distance for a bit, including other trips to New York, St. Louis, Mexico City, Wine Country and more. But Brennan knew that for this to last, they needed to be in the same place. When fate had a plan to bring Brennan back to the Midwest to help his parents, he knew it was the opportunity to move back and really give it a go with Taylor. He moved back to Chicago at the end of 2023, and they became roommates. With the help of Taylor’s friend Lily, Brennan schemed to learn Taylor’s ring size and purchase a ring while plotting a trip to Italy where he had very clearly stated “I will not be proposing on this trip.” The plan was perfect, a sunset vineyard picnic in Tuscany with a photographer ready to capture the most glorious photos. They stopped in Venice first, and after a few misplaced bags and wine-fueled waltzes through the tunnels and bridges of the city, they were set to arrive in Tuscany. Then fate decided to intervene and poured rain on Italian wine country on THE day. The perfect engagement plan was ruined, or was it? While the picnic was off, Brennan decided it was time, and persuaded Taylor to take a dip in the infinity pool overlooking the vineyard. What came next was a one of a kind on his belly proposal, much to the surprise of Taylor. The rest of the trip was a celebration of love, friends, and all the adventures they discussed that night in St Louis. Since then, Taylor has become a beloved part of the Woodruff family, Brennan’s dance partner, a maker of their home nest, and his life companion. Brennan has become the chef of the household, Taylor’s favorite DJ and a better brother, son and friend. Our wedding welcomes all the people we love to a place that brought us Taylor. We are so excited to celebrate our love with you all, and have you all in a place that is near and dear to our heart. We can’t want to celebrate with you at the beautiful St. Louis Union Station Great Hall on April 11, 2026!

Our Story

St. Louis Union Station Hotel, Curio Collection by Hilton

Travel

Q + A

Activities

- Enjoy a free trip to the St. Louis Zoo, Art Museum or the Science Center- Anheuser Busch Brewery tour- Visit Grant's Farm- Check out the St. Louis aquarium or ferris wheel at Union Station- Play a round of golf at Forest Park- Go up in the Arch

Food Recs

- City Foundry STL- Broadway Oyster Bar- Clover and the Bee- The Fountain on Locust- Olive &amp; Oak- Polite Society- Pappy's (Best BBQ) - Ted Drewes - A St. Louis must&nbsp;

Our Recs

Registry

The Bridesmaids

Val and Taylor met in grade school and ended up going to the same college with the same majors. She’s a powerhouse in every sense of the word: a devoted mom of three with a busy career and someone who somehow still manages to out-party just about anyone. Perfect maid-of-honor material. 

Valerie Miliken

Johnna and Taylor grew up side by side—literally. They played every sport together, had epic joint birthday parties and endless sleepovers. Johnna is a total goofball and also a friend you can come to with anything without judgement. If there is an animal in sight, Johnna is probably already befriending the creature. 

Johnna Randick

Emily and Taylor met in high school at Nerinx. She is the proud mom of seven koi fish and the ultimate girl’s girl. Emily shows up for every moment, always the best dressed, making everything more fun. When Brennan flew to St. Louis to surprise Taylor for her 30th birthday, Emily was the logistical mastermind planning the whole thing with Brennan. 

Emily Horner

Lauren met Taylor back in high school at Nerinx. They became quick friends when they took the trip of a lifetime to Greece with 40 fellow Nerinx Markers. She is the friend who always tells it like it is (with love, of course) and keeps Taylor honest. Lauren & Brennan worked together at Uber, and she is the one who introduced them (thank you, Lauren!)

Lauren DeMarco

Lily is the proud dog mom to two giant fluffballs and the low-key reason Taylor ended up in Chicago. The two met working at Paradowski and instantly bonded over their love of bad reality TV. When Lily announced her move to Chicago in 2022, Taylor decided to follow and the rest is history. They tried on engagement rings together “just for fun” in March 2024… and were both engaged by May. 

Lily Hirst

The Groomsmen

A born again Evansvillian, Ryan Marshall Smythe joins us from the great Bears hopeful township of Arlington Heights. Ryan and Brennan first met in the blocks area of the Kindergarten classroom at Evansville Day School, where Brennan refused to share his blocks. 32 years later, the friendship is still going strong with Brennan playing the role of Uncle B to the Smythe trio of kiddos. Ryan and Brennan were 1st place humorous duo speech team champions in 8th grade (still reigning), have summited Yosemite’s Half Dome, conquered Ultra Music Festival and Holy Ship and got Ryan through finite math and accounting 201. Perhaps the most admired moment was getting to see Ryan’s marriage to his wife Haley as his best man, confidant and master of mischief. 

Ryan Smythe 

Hailing from the great state of North Carolina via the BAY AREA, Robert Spooner O’Neill IV, better known as Bob, Bobbert, or the great Bobino, first met Brennan in the Buckingham apartment in the summer of 2012. They bonded over Family Guy, and Bob making his own music videos to Hillary Duff’s Smash hit Come Clean. When not cheering on his North Carolina Tarheels, Bob helps his clients build wealth at Merill Lynch. Bob and Brennan have traversed both coasts, got Bob married where Brennan served as his best man, and are even neighbors in Chicago’s Wicker Park. 

Robert O’Neill IV

The self-proclaimed Prince of Peoria, Narmar “Playmar” Doyle is a purveyor of style, class, and a great time no matter the occasion. Publisher of an Annual men’s gift list that even Deniro has praised, his gifts go far beyond the written word. Narmar was introduced to Brennan via Ryan’s time at Groupon and Bachelor party. Making fast friends, and appreciating one another’s taste for the finer things in life, Narmar and Brennan quickly grew close. Many of Brennan’s trips back to Chicago involved a trip or two to Queen Mary, a personal favorite of Playmars. When not closing deals, Narmar can be found cheering on his Illini in the second Assembly Hall in America, and sipping warm malort at Lonesome Rose in Logan Square.

Narmar Doyle

David “The Danger Man” Arias signed a 1 year prove it deal at the Evansville Day School for 8th grade. Little did he know the journey that would subscribe him to alongside Ryan and Brennan after they jointly decided to transfer to Memorial High School the following year. David went to Emory University, clearly the smartest of the 3, and spent his formative years in Jacksonville, FL before deciding he had enough of the Florida Man and took his talents to the Big Apple. This is when Brennan and he reconnected, eventually becoming roommates at the Vanderbilt. When not trading currencies, David enjoys reading, long walks on the beach, and being the second best FIFA player in NYC. He also enjoys checking Brennan’s half Spang-lish.

David Arias

Salman “Better call Sal” Shariat was Brennan’s first true friend he made in San Francisco (Salman may dispute this friendship). Brennan first met Salman on a FaceTime interview to see if he’d be a good roommate addition to the finest Bed and Breakfast that side of Bay St. Upon asking Brennan if he had seen the movie Step Brothers, Sal agreed to let him join the Bay St Brigade and the rest is history. Salman is owner of Sutro Properties in San Francisco, and is a 3-time Mayor of the Marina district. Member of the Olympic club, lover of Ace Wasabi sushi, and the first ZYN-fluencer, Salman enjoys the TRULY finer things life has to offer. Brennan counts his mother and his trip to the Shariats for Thanksgiving as one of the best memories of his time in San Francisco, and is lucky to have had such great luck with his SF roommates.

Salman Shariat

Erik “Ricky” Zentner, sometimes known as EZ Rider, Pretty Ricky, or Rick Von Ricktenstein, first met Brennan in KPMG’s Deal Advisory Orientation in fall 2013. Connor Houchins, Evansville guy, turned to Brennan and said “You guys will either hate each other, or be best friends”. Clearly the latter occurred, with Erik joining Brennan for football Sundays many weeks in the 1111 Dearborn apartment that year. Erik and Brennan coauthored a brief, but brilliant newspaper called the Unassigned Times during their associate years. Erik and Brennan have kept in touch over the years, where Erik has since married his wife Taylor, had two kids, and moved to Austin. Erik has always included Brennan as a Zentner brother alongside his other blood brothers Bert and Alex. Brennan always had a crossfit workout to look forward to when he joined EZ rider in the gym to make sure he’s staying fit.

Erik Zentner

Sam “Candy Apple” Spickelmier is another roommate of Brennan’s, sharing at least 15 different room configurations as Brennan’s roommate in the Theta Chi house. True innovators, they were the first to find a way to fit a sectional in one of the Theta Chi bunkrooms. Sam was part of Brennan’s pledge class, and was always good for great song recommendations, a dose of wisdom to not overthink, and going the distance. Sam is responsible for Brennan’s basketball nickname “Psycho B” after the long washed Tyler Handsbrough. Sam resides in Carmel, Indiana with his wife Chelsea, two kids and two fur babies. A Manchester City fan, he was always the ruler of the Mario Kart 64 track, and the most ruthless teammate for FIFA online. Brennan served as best man in Sam’s wedding fresh out of college, and counts that as one of his proudest moments. 

Taylor & Brennan

Taylor & Brennan

Travel

St. Louis Union Station Hotel, Curio Collection by Hilton