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Print this pageLarry and Melissa
When Melissa Britt and Larry Hillhouse planned their wedding, they were pretty clear about what they didn’t want. They passed on the engagement ring, said no to save-the-date announcements and left out the bridesmaids. What they did embrace was a simple celebration. “We got to enjoy our own wedding instead of having all the craziness going on,” says Larry, who owns Moda Salon in Springfield.
The April 5 sunset wedding took place on a secluded St. Thomas beach in the Virgin Islands in front of fi ve people, including the offi ciant who doubled as the wedding planner. The couple wrote their own vows and wore casual island attire. The couple originally met and briefl y dated in 2001, but it wasn’t until April of last year that they started seeing each other again. And although no family were present at the wedding, a June reception hosted by Melissa’s aunt and uncle–the Branson entertainer Jim Stafford and his wife, Ann–was one tradition the couple was happy to keep. “That’s the great thing about having our wedding done,” says Larry. “The reception can be a celebration—with lots of singing and dancing.”
