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Katherine Loves Local

Katherine Hessel, the new Communications Manager for the City of Kirkwood, shares some of the local things she loves.

Meet Katherine Hessel, the new Communications Manager for the City of Kirkwood. She has been busy stepping into her new role, but not too busy to spend some time sharing a few of her favorite things with us. 

Katherine excludes so much love for this city. So, when it came time to select a venue for her wedding, The Kirkwood Performing Arts Center was a natural choice for Katherine's dreamy day. Exceptionally talented wedding specialists transformed the entire building from top to bottom. Inside the space was lovely, bright and beautiful and the outside was actually sparkling. Love took center stage at the Kirkwood Performing Arts Center's very first wedding event. On a day like no other, in a venue like no other, Katherine shares her thoughts and her stunning pictures from her beautiful wedding day. 

Favorite Sweet or Savory Treat: I am usually a savory over sweets person. Chips are my weakness. Any kind, any time, any place. Cookies are my biggest sweets weakness, and I'll always choose a savory breakfast over sweets.

Favorite Place You Have Traveled: Africa! My husband and I went on a Safari for our honeymoon, which was absolutely amazing!

Favorite Thing You Are Listening To: I listen to country music, podcasts, and audiobooks. I usually listen to true crime podcasts, but right now, I am listening to one called Dr. Dante, which is blowing my mind.

Favorite Book You've Read: I tend to like crime mystery books, so I read a lot of James Patterson. I really enjoyed Verity by Colleen Hoover. Outside of the murder mystery category, I have recently read and liked, The Girl Who Wrote in Silk, Hidden Pictures, and The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell

Favorite Childhood Memory: I grew up in Kirkwood in a neighborhood full of kids. There were five of us girls, all the same age, on the streets, and we played all day! We would bounce from house to house playing outside and inside, and it was just perfect!

Favorite Thing About Being The Communications Manager for the City of Kirkwood: I have so much pride in Kirkwood and genuinely love the city. It is an honor to be the one in charge of communicating all of the wonderful things about the city to the citizens and community at large.

Favorite Thing About Your Wedding: I can't just pick one thing. Everything about it was absolutely amazing! It was all more than I could have ever dreamed of! The Kirkwood Performing Arts Center was stunning. The flowers were perfect, the food was fantastic, and the band was amazing! The amount of love in the room was palpable. I also gained the sweetest little four-year-old stepson that day, which is probably my favorite thing about my wedding. 

Wedding Vendors

Wedding Planner: Kristin Ashley Events

Photographer: Mike Cassimatis

Floral: The Special Event Florist

Décor: Exclusive Events

Venue: Kirkwood Performing Arts Center

Entertainment: Fat Pocket

Catering: Butler’s Pantry

Stationary: Courtney Winet Design

Videographer: Fat Productions