Miles and Kara: 'The only thing that matters is celebrating your love'

Squares helped Kara Baldus and Miles Vandiver shape their wedding reception May 8 at Caseyville Community Center.

"My husband (Miles) and I are both musicians," said Kara, 28, who grew up in Belleville. Miles, 31, is from the Wood River-East Alton area.

"We were trying to watch our budgets. The community center is right near us in Caseyville. We figured, 'Let's check it out.'"

The 60-by-100-foot rectangular hall inspired them to make squares their theme. With help from designer friend Hera Gerber -- and other friends --they hosted a reception for 320 for less than $8,000.

They rented square plates (from A-1 Rental, along with mugs and linens) and scoured T.J. Maxx, HomeGoods and Marshalls for square vases.

They found square votives at Pier 1. An artist friend got them 500 square tiles for $38. "We arranged them on tables in a pattern."

Their square four-tiered ivory wedding cake looked like a skyscraper. Its little green squares resembled windows.

Flowers and greenery softened the hall's edges. Oranges and kumquats added color."We found lovely tall flowers at the wholesale flower mart (off Chouteau in St. Louis) and at Trader Joe's and Whole Foods."

Kara snipped willow branches from her dad's field to use in the decor. Twigs and attractive weeds worked their way into the room's design. A friend in Georgia supplied Spanish moss as a finishing touch in flower arrangements.

Friends helped them set up.

Forty guest tables were arranged in a diagonal manner to give a sense of movement and to ensure that everyone had a view.

Caterer Fema, of Benld, served fried chicken, tortellini and roast beef.

Maybe best of all, fellow musicians played for free. What they do: Kara, who has a master's in jazz performance from SIUE, teaches jazz piano at Washington University. Miles teaches drums at SIUE and UMSL. They are also freelance musicians, performing with Lenny Klinger's Galaxy. "Miles has been with Lennie since he was 11. His mom would drive him to gigs." Later this summer, they'll be part of the ELCA Youth Gathering in New Orleans. "We'll both be playing in the house band with guitarist/vocalist Peter Mayer."

Advice for engaged couples: Don't fret over details. "The only thing that really matters is celebrating your love and your lives together."

Favorite wedding memory: "The overall feeling of creating a great celebration with everyone we love."

Most played reception songs: "Brown-Eyed Girl" and "My Girl"

Their first dance: "If Ever I Saw Your Face" by Roberta Flack. "My brother sang the Beatles song 'In My Life,' and my niece?? got up in front of 320 people and sang 'Love Song' by Sara Bareilles

Where they married: Zion Lutheran Church in Belleville

Where they live: "We bought a house in Fairview off Bunkum Road."