Minnesota Weddings

So I might be the most unpopular person in the the blogosphere for this…but I’m fully looking forward to winter. Because to be totally honest, I’m the kind of girl who’d prefer cozying up by the fireplace to laying out on the beach any day of the week. Crazy. I know. So when my favorites from Paper Antler sent over this elegant winter wedding in the dead of summer, it felt a little like Christmas morning. And if you happen to be a cold weather lover like me, I’m oh-so-certain you’ll be happy spending this August day right here.

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From the Bride… My family’s home holds some of my most precious memories so we chose its country setting to set the tone for our wedding.  We paired this country house inspiration with our reception’s formal lakeside ballroom to create our French Country Formal theme.  The colors were held together by warm cream tones mixed with muted gold, as well as greyed blues and pinks.  We incorporated rich fabrics – a grandmother’s fur, velvet seats in a family sleigh, and brocaded lace.  To bring the “country” into our ballroom setting, we found handcrafted wood farm tables and adorned them with loads of votive candles next to reflective pieces – silver candelabras, gold vases, and mercury glass.  To soften the tables, we introduced full florals – heirloom English garden roses, hydrangeas, peonies and hints of soft greens.

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Photography: Paper Antler | Wedding Venue + Catering: Lafayette Club | Floral Design: Katherine Bergman Floral Designs | Makeup: Shannon Darsow | Hair: Kristi Englemann of Beehive Salon | Wedding Dress: San Patrick via Always and Forever Bridal | Musician: Joel Bowers

Sometimes we read the bride’s story and just know. Know she and her husband were like two puzzle pieces made for each other. A perfect fit. And then it’s a race to get to the images to see how perfectly their wedding complimented them. This was one of those weddings. Every detail from the invites (courtesy of Lemon + Lavender) to the fab florals from Munster Rose to the parting shot of the lovebirds looking over their reception was captured brilliantly by Brandon Werth Photography, and as luck would have it, we’ve got a whole gallery dedicated to these sweeties. Click here to see it!

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From the stunning bride … I was a senior in college at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, MN and decided to sign up for a J-Term to Hawaii last minute. Rough, right? Like many other stories in my life, that decision happened for a reason. A pretty cute guy happened to be on that trip too. After a few casual walks on Waikiki and a flirty bus ride to Pearl Harbor, the rest is history. We dated for five years and he proposed under the arches at St. Thomas (a Tommie alum tradition) in December of 2012.

Much like our fateful trip to Hawaii, our relationship has always been filled with moments of meaning and purpose. We are both passionate people who believe in celebrating heritage and pieces of life that make us who we are – our own puzzle per say. We knew our wedding would have to reflect this. Our engagement photos were shot at a Minneapolis cafe where my grandparents met, my veil was crafted out of my moms veil (my something old) and I wore both of my grandmothers’ wedding rings on my wedding day (something borrowed). These are just a few examples how we infused meaning and ‘us’ into our day.

The Calhoun Beach Club has always topped my list of wedding venues.The high ceilings, contemporary decor and views of Lake Calhoun can’t be beat. It was perfect. We chose to have a traditional Catholic ceremony and Holy Cross was a church that also had meaning – my paternal great grandfather help build it in the early 1900s and it’s the largest Polish church in Minneapolis (I’m of Polish heritage). It provided a stunning setting for our simple yet gorgeous ceremony.

Another priority for us was music. We literally wanted our guests to dance the night away and we knew a live band was the way to make this happen. The R Factor kept most of our 220 guests on their feet all night. The food was another highlight. D’Amico is notorious for delicious eats and impeccable service – and they met every expectation. From the professional staff to the details on every handmade cupcake, they were absolutely delightful.

Ben and I made it a priority to make every single guest feel welcome, comfortable and at ease. All day. My girls selected dresses that they felt best in, shuttles provided worry-free transportation for 80+ out of town guests and every hand-selected vendor made us feel like we were their only wedding of the year. Our priority was to ensure every decision felt like us – not our parents or friends. The pieces of life we value most are family, friends, purpose and love. Looking back, we know our wedding encompassed all of these. And that made it perfect.

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Photography: Brandon Werth Photography | Ceremony Location: Church of the Holy Cross | Venue + Catering: Calhoun Beach Club | Floral Design: Munster Rose | Invitations: Lemon + Lavender | Wedding Stationary: Elissa Braun | Decor + Reception Design: Janet Garnaas, Twirl Events | Linens: Apres Party Rental | Band: The R Factor | Wedding Dress: Monique Lhuillier | Bride’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo | Bride’s Hairpiece: Tara LaTour | Bride’s Veil: L’Atelier Couture | Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Amsale, Flutter Boutique | Groom’s + Groomsmens’ Formalwear: Heimie’s Haberdashery | Day-of Coordination: Katelyn Nelson | Bridal Party Transportation: Renee’s Royal Valet

I’ve never ever tire of pouring over a gorgeous, well-planned wedding. And when one such wedding is captured through the lens of Brandon Werth, you can bet it’s going to be crazy beautiful. Crafted with an urban influence and subtle nod to European design, this Minneapolis affair encompasses everything I love in one stunning swoop. The full gallery is bursting at the seams with pin-perfect inspiration and the heartfelt film by MyGuyMedia? Let’s just say it’s simply too good to miss.

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From the Bride…We wanted a wedding that fit the love that we share together complete with a traditional Catholic ceremony and fairytale ending.  When we started planning we laid out our priorities and our main focus was that we wanted a fall wedding with a weekend full of events to share with family and friends, all 175 of them.  Being that the groom’s mother is beyond amazing at what she does (floral artistry and overall design) we talked through the vision of the events and they were executed without a hitch!  Naming our theme as European inspired with an urban flair, I didn’t even see how the table decor was going to look before I walked into the room on the wedding night…I was speechless!  She worked around the clock (literally) to pull off these events that were truly perfection!
 
We kicked off the wedding weekend with a groom’s dinner on Thursday evening at a beautiful property in the country (Independence, MN).  Friday was a day to spend with our respective wedding parties.  On Saturday morning to kick off our wedding day, the girls got luxury treatment at l’atelier couture where I purchased my beautiful dress designed by Elizabeth Fillmore.  The “White Glove Service” as they call it was wonderful, the ladies prepared the boutique for our arrival and had our dresses steamed and a few surprises along the way.  We brought in hair and makeup for everyone complete with mimosas, coffee and bites.  One of the surprises they had in store for me was a sketch that Elizabeth Fillmore did herself of my gown, talk about amazing, I was shocked!  It was truly a luxury to get ready there, every girl’s dream! 

The ceremony was so meaningful to us because it was in the church that I grew up going to and we were able to say our vows in the religious setting that we wanted.  We wanted the focus to be around the ceremony without adding much flair to the church and did just this!  Our guests went to cocktail hour after the ceremony where they were greeted with drinks, h’orderves, and a vintage photo booth.  When we arrived at the reception we had a receiving line into the dinner room to greet everyone.  The venue is gorgeous and has so much character as a blank slate, but we dressed it up with up lighting and old world chandeliers over the head table.  There were three styles of tables (round, banquet, and square) along with three styles of linens, two styles of chargers, and different table centerpieces at each table.  Each table had a unique design and the asymmetrical tables made it feel less formal.   We also brought the outdoors in by placing trees around the room for a natural look.  We wanted guests to feel the love in the room by setting up an intimate feel with a soft palette of colors and a playlist of love songs that we picked out for dinner. 

The details of the evening were necessary to us so every guest felt important.  We did this by having each guest write an anniversary message in a wine bottle and walk away with CD souvenir filled with love songs we picked out.  One of my favorite details was the animal/carrot figurines we used on each guest’s plate to designate which meal they ordered.  When I look back, what really made our wedding special was the memories from our lives through a slideshow we created and the speeches from our loved ones.  After the tears, the band kicked off playing and the rest of the night is history!  For a couple that enjoys true nature as much as they do downtown living; this wedding event was one of a kind.
 
My favorite thing about our wedding is that it truly was a calibration of all our talents, a full family affair!  The love that was put in was felt in the outcome.  Bob’s mom was the mastermind behind all of the design elements and Bob and I filled in with the details.  We spent many weekends printing name tags and painting table décor.  A mother and her three sons made this day happen, and they really went above and beyond!

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Photography: Brandon Werth | Ceremony Venue: Holy Name of Jesus | Reception Venue: Aria | Floral + Event Design: Debbie Bradley | Linens: Linen Effects | Cinematography: MyGuyMedia | DJ: Prime Time DJ | Band: The R Factor | Lighting: Phos Event Design | Invitations + Programs: Paperlou | Wedding Dress: l’atelier couture, Elizabeth Filmore | Jewlery + Veil: l’atelier couture, Penny Larsen  | Bridesmaid Dresses: Bella Bridesmaid | Groom’s attire: Banana Republic | Groomsmen Attire: H&M + J.Crew | Transportation: MIK Transportation, Inc | Wedding Catering: D’Amico Catering | Hair+ Makeup: E-Salon

Orange and blue, polka dots and stripes, Lasting Impressions Weddings and Sadie’s Couture Floral & Event Styling. If this wedding has taught us anything, it’s given us a lesson on matches made in heaven. Starting with the most adorable bride and groom and finishing up with a design and florals that are, simply put, to die for. And we can’t forget the fab match that is Betsy Wall Photography and our gallery. It’s filled with even more from this perfectly perfect day, so click here for that!

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From Lasting Impressions… Erica and Ben were married on September 1, 2012  at the newly remodeled Weisman Museum in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The wedding for about 100 guests consisted mainly of out of town guests; so it was not only a fun weekend of events, it was nice to get to showcase some of Minnesota’s finest locations (and skylines!). Erica and Ben served a completely vegan menu that was prepared perfectly by D’Amico Catering and the vegan wedding cake prepared by Cakes by Jan. We had a lot of personal touches including “Jigger” favors with Erica and Ben’s favorite Margarita recipe attached, wines specially selected and shipped in by the bride’s parents who live in California and a stationery design that “branded the wedding”. 

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Wedding Photography: Betsy Wall Photography | Reception Venue: Weisman Museum | Wedding Coordinator: Lasting Impressions Weddings | Floral Design: Sadie’s Couture Floral & Event Styling | Catering: D’Amico Catering | Wedding Cake: Cakes by Jan | Lighting: Instant Request | Band: Synergy | Ceremony + Cocktail Hour Music: Dave Hudson | Rentals: Apres Party | Stationery: Paper Moxie | Transportation: Minnesota Coaches | Hair + Makeup: MN Bridal Makeup Artistry | Photobooth: Traveling Photobooth | Wedding Dress: Liancarlo via Bridal Accents Couture | Bridesmaid’s Dresses: Amsale via Flutter Boutique

From a morning that started off with a Wedding 5k around the lake to a full blown classic affair crafted by Lasting Impressions Weddings & Event Coordination, this is a Minneapolis version of garden fresh. Bridesmaids in pastel, the prettiest blooms by Violet’s Flowers; all with a great, open air feel. And the images by The McCartneys Photography do this wedding such beautiful justice. Click through the full gallery for so much more.

From the Bride… Everything about Joe and my relationship was an amazing whirlwind from our very first double date. We met four months before I moved from Minneapolis to New York City and quickly became experts in making long-distance love work. Six months after that, he surprised me at my parents’ home with several bouquets of flowers and a beautiful ring. Even as a little girl, I knew my only wedding requirement was an outdoor ceremony along the water. We chose Minneapolis because it’s home to so many of Joe’s family members and friends, and I wanted to show off to my friends and family the beauty of the city where we fell in love.

We were sold on the Nicollet Island Pavilion immediately, after visiting five spots in one cold, rainy, miserable Saturday in the spring. Planning a wedding from across the country required lots of jam-packed weekends, weekly tasks for my incredibly helpful fiancé and many, many, many hours on the phone. We booked NIP 14 months out because most of the summer weekends were already taken (a no-brainer for anyone who’s endured a Minnesota winter!). I loved the feel of the exposed brick and open space, as well as the white lanterns in the tent that turned out to be a back-up ceremony spot we didn’t need to use!

I started planning our wedding just as Pinterest hit it big. There were many nights I’d be up until 1, 2 (or even 3!) in the morning picking out the perfect details for what I hoped would be a classic, elegant, garden wedding. I also scoured Etsy for the small stuff, such as our personalized drink stirrers, the Joe’s Wife/Heather’s Husband signs and the “Our Love Story” chalkboard that chalkboard artist Carole Bersin beautifully designed. I went back and forth with amazing, Minneapolis-based A Milestone Paper Co. to design the programs, welcome booklet and table names – even a bathroom basket sign! – to match our pink/gray color scheme. And, thankfully, I had my mom to endlessly discuss the nitty-gritty of green table clothes, white lounge furniture and pale pink flowers sitting among floating candles. Jean at Violet’s Flowers put our vision together so well that even I, who knew every single detail, was happily stunned when I walked into our reception.

From afar, it was hard to DIY, but I did want everyone to feel welcome with a special, personalized treat when they arrived for the weekend. I wrote individual notes to each of our out-of-town guests, and my mother-in-law, father-in-law and sister-in-law built and created our welcome boxes. Inside were cookies from our favorite Minneapolis bakery, chips from a company with my Philadelphia roots, a welcome booklet of spots to check out, and a t-shirt for our Wedding Day 5K, which was held the morning of the wedding around our favorite of Minnesota’s 11,842 lakes. It was an exhausting, yet enriching, final few months of planning that I’m so happy we decided to do. Not only did we spend the best weekend of our lives surrounded, supported and loved by our closest family and friends, we made some great new friends with people who helped us make it all happen.

Wedding Photography: The McCartneys Photography / Wedding Venue: Nicollet Island Pavilion in Minneapolis, Minnesota / Event Design + Planning: Sarah Trotter of Lasting Impressions Weddings & Event Coordination / Floral Design: Violet’s Flowers / Wedding Cinematography: Viking Videos / Wedding Invitations: Bella Figura via Judy Paulen Designs / Programs, Place Cards + Table Names: Sarah Glad of A Milestone Paper Co. / Wedding Signs: Our Hobby to Your Home / Band: PopLuxe / Drink Stirrers: Beau Chic Prints / Chalkboard: Carole Bersin / Wedding Dress: Monique Lhuillier via Saks Fifth Avenue / Hair: Kathy O’Connor, A Friend of the Bride / Makeup: Emily J. Hair + Makeup / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Saks Fifth Avenue / Bridal Party Hangers: Delovely Details / Men’s Suits: Michael Kors

We first saw + fell in love with this couple (and their adorable pup) in their foodie engagement shoot and now we’re back with Amy Majors Photography for their big day – and if it’s possible we all love them a little more now. Not only was their wedding as beautiful as can be, but their pup played the role of Maid of Honor AND they carried the foodie notion through to the main event – resulting in a soiree that looks as delicious as it is chic. Click here for more!

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Being a couple that falls into the “opposites attract” category, one thing holds true all hours of the day: Mike and I are a match made in foodie heaven. While he likes to spend his time outdoors, biking, running and playing golf, I love spending as much time as possible in the kitchen, shopping and doing all things domestic. When we got engaged, there was one theme we knew that defined our common ground, and that was my love for cooking and Mike’s shared love of food.

I wanted our day to be as personal as possible, full of all of the little details that make a wedding memorable.

Each of my bridesmaids had fresh herbs incorporated into their bouquets. The age-old meaning behind the herbs reflected my relationship with each of the bridesmaids. Their groomsmen partners had the matching herb as greenery for their boutonnieres.

I put together our ceremony with readings that truly reflected Mike and I. Our favorite was a poem called “Love is Like a Dog,” by Taylor Mali, which was fitting, since our “furbaby,” Mali was my maid of honor and was walked down the aisle by my matron of honor. We did a wine ceremony instead of the overdone unity candle. We wrote love notes to each to be opened alongside the bottle of wine on our first anniversary, and to be repeated each year after.

The cooking theme started with our cooking engagement session with Amy Majors Photography. We used the photos for our save the dates, but more importantly for our favors…mini cookbooks filled with our original recipes, illustrated with our engagement pictures. Each cookbook had a mini whisk tied to it with kitchen twine and sat on the guest’s dinner plate as a warm welcome to the reception. It was our way of saying, thank you for “being part of the prefect recipe for our special day.”

The seating charts, menus and place cards all had forks, spoons and knives on them in our wedding colors. Our card box was adorned with an antique fork and spoon hand stamped with “Mr. Richter” and “Mrs. Richter,” And our table numbers were held up on antique forks turned into little easels. We had our guests sign pieces of my grandmother’s china for our guestbook, later to be displayed in our dining room for years to come…a way to remember our wedding day, and remember the meals that I used to eat off of that old china.

At the end of the night, after a seated dinner, lots of cocktails, a dessert buffet, dancing to our amazing live band and a late night snack of Mike’s favorite pizza in town, guests were sent off with another favor from our pup, Mali — two chocolate “milk bones” in a box sealed with a picture of her sitting on our counter with a mixing bowl and spoon that read, “It was a treat to have you share mommy and daddy’s special day. Love and Licks, Mali.”

Photography: Amy Majors Photography / Videography: John Hoel / Flowers: Donatos Floral / Stationary: Paper Rock Scissor / Day-of Planning: Meredith Meyer / Ceremony and Reception Venue: The Depot Minneapolis

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Anything inspired by chocolate and France is a sign us up kind of affair. It’s bonjours and bisous mixed with the prettiest blush pinks and blooms that add a layer of gorgeous to this chocolate infused shoot. Conceptualized and styled by Tara of A Day in Provence along with a team of fabby vendors that prove brown can be oh so glamorous and chocolate filled dessert tables are where it’s at. Get your bums over to the gallery for so, so much more captured by Canary Grey Photography.

From A Day in Provence… There is such beauty in simplicity, and few places illustrate this more perfectly than the sun-drenched hilltop villages of southern France. The slower pace of life is purposeful and soothing, allowing locals and visitors alike to appreciate the artful presentation of the market foods, flowers and pottery, as well as savor each delightful bite of the scrumptious cuisine and decadent desserts that abound. Drawing on inspiration reminiscent of my personal experience living in France, along with my love of the film and soundtrack “Chocolat,” I set out to collaborate with a highly creative group of vendors to transform the lovely outdoor courtyard at the Van Dusen Mansion in Minneapolis into the setting of a quaint little French wedding town. 

The darling bride wore ivory and blush throughout the day, which was complemented by her rich bouquet of chocolate dahlias and mocha-colored Queen Anne’s lace. The handsome groom was outfitted in a dark chocolate pin stripe suit. Little French girls welcomed guests with fleur-de-lis flower cones filled with flowers and chocolates. For the reception, our bride wore a shorter lace dress to set a more relaxed tone for the evening. Guests mingled in a courtyard surrounded by French and bohemian-inspired furniture. Sarah from A Milestone Paper Co did a lovely job giving the invitation and paper designs an antique look, and that feeling was reflected throughout the day with the vintage jewelry pieces, handbags, lace, tea-stained doilies and candelabras.

And, it goes without saying that the dessert table would be a focal piece. Patisserie 46 provided several chocolate showpieces, including an exquisite cake, chocolate croissants, a macaron tower, and chocolate-covered orange peels to name a few. A chocolat chaud (hot cocoa) bar was another must, complete with homemade marshmallows, whipped cream and dark chocolate squares with hazelnut praline crunch. Wing from Canary Grey Photography did a fabulous job capturing the details and essence of this very charming French day. 

Photography: Canary Grey Photography / Photo Shoot Venue: Van Dusen Mansion in Minneapolis, Minnesota / Styling, Concept, Event + Floral Design: Tara of A Day in Provence / Desserts: Patisserie 46 /  Invitations + Paper Goods: A Milestone Paper Co. / Vintage Furniture Rental: Lime Canary Vintage Rentals / Wardrobe + Prop Styling: Style-Architects / Fashion + Jewelry: Nelle, Anne M Cramer + Zara / Makeup + Hair: Mici O’Grady of Make-Up by Mici / Models: Mykala Holtz + Nate Schwarz

Who would have thought that warehouses would make for such crazy beautiful weddings? But really, it makes complete sense. The old, brick walls set against the sparkle of pretty chandeliers, sky high ceilings and wide open spaces for dancing the night away. Aria at The Jeune Lune has this combo down to a pretty science, made even more so with details by Park Place Planning & Events, mossy, organic florals by Martha’s Gardens and the most perfect of photographs by Jeff Loves Jessica. See the night unfold in the overflowing gallery of images right here.

From the Bride… Jake and I met at the University of Minnesota, where he was getting his MFA in creative writing and I was getting my BA in English. I took a class that Jake was teaching and immediately had a crush on him. (Don’t worry — we didn’t start seeing each other socially until the class was over!) Although neither one of us is native to Minneapolis (Jake’s from Iowa and I’m from Georgia), we wanted to have the wedding in the city that brought us together and is now our home.

A few months before the wedding, our initial venue fell through, but we were really fortunate to be working with Stephanie Johnson of Park Place Planning, who found The Jeune Lune in Minneapolis’ warehouse district. Jake and I loved the “abandoned warehouse” quality of the space, with its towering ceiling, exposed brick and jagged concrete walls. I knew that we wouldn’t have to do much decorating since the building already had so much character. My sister Meredith, a very talented graphic designer, helped us create an invitation suite matching The Jeune Lune’s rustic, elegant style. Meredith also designed the programs, menus and shipping tags that we used as escort cards.When Jake and I started planning, I didn’t have a clear vision of what I wanted — I only knew that I wanted to somehow make the huge space seem intimate for our 140 guests. I loved the look of candles, terrariums, succulents and other greenery instead of traditional centerpieces made exclusively of flowers. When I first met with Martha Lunde at Martha’s Gardens, she helped me pull all of my ideas together. Martha had endless amounts of candelabras, glass jars, vintage tea cups, and everything else a girl who loves single-bud vases could want. Our only special requests were that Martha use local and in-season plants and flowers wherever possible, and that she include gardenias in the bridal bouquet since my grandmother, mother and three sisters all carried gardenias down the aisle. It was exciting, not knowing the exact details of the centerpieces until the day of the wedding, but I knew I could trust Martha. We added small toy animals that we spray-painted white to the centerpieces for a whimsical touch that would surprise our guests.

Jake and I really wanted to entertain our guests beyond the typical dinner and dancing, so we included surprises wherever we could. Instead of a single wedding cake, we ordered four unique cakes and cobblers from Café Latte, which we set up on a buffet table on vintage cake stands that we rented from Lime Canary Vintage Rentals. Serving the dessert this way allowed our guests to try each different type of cake, which made dessert its own event rather than just another course. Another bit of entertainment that we provided for our guests was the reunion of Jake’s old high school band, Speed of Sauce, who played together for the first time in eleven years. This helped break up the ceremony, gave the younger guests a burst of energy and Jake’s old friends a trip down memory lane. Jake and I are avid bike riders, so at the end of the night we made our getaway in a pedicab from Twin Town Pedicabs. They provided a “Just Married” sign and a dapper man in a white suit to drive us. It was fun and refreshing to be out in the summer night air, wearing our formal wear and riding around downtown Minneapolis after such a wonderful evening. We’re incredibly grateful to our photographers, Jeff and Jessica from Jeff Loves Jessica Photography, for their creativity in capturing every moment and providing us with gorgeous detailed memories of our wedding that we’ll cherish for the rest of our lives.

Wedding Photography: Jeff Loves Jessica / Wedding Venue: Aria at The Jeune Lune in Minneapolis, Minnesota / Wedding Planning: Park Place Planning & Events / Floral Design: Martha’s Gardens / Catering: Fabulous Catering / Wedding Cakes: Cafe Latte / Wedding Stationery: el y ella Paper Designs / DJ: Instant Request / Vintage Rentals: Lime Canary Vintage Rentals / Rentals: Apres Party and Tent Rental / Photo Booth: Traveling Photo Booth / Guest Transportation: Premier Transportation / Getaway Transportation: Twin Town Pedicabs / Hair + Makeup: The Hive / Wedding Dress: Theia

The Dutchess of Cambride is a favorite style icon around the SMP offices, but if we had to pick the one, most significant fashion trend she has started, it HAS to be the white bridesmaid dress. It’s fabulous. Especially when paired with a super chic winter soiree from Park Place Planning & Events. Double especially when Spencer Combs Photography brings his camera to the party. And triple especially when the gallery is good enough for a full day (or week) or perusing!

Click here to see the full image gallery!

After having crossed paths for many years, growing up and going to school near each other our entire lives, we finally met through my childhood best friend about 6 years ago.  After 4 years of enjoying and getting to know each other, Teddy proposed at my family’s cabin on the 4th of July – a special day for Teddy as that was when his grandfather proposed to his grandmother years before.  An added perk, the beautiful fireworks that lasted all weekend!

Choosing Minikahda for our reception venue was easy – we wanted our guests to feel comfortable and relaxed, yet not have too casual of a setting and found that this was the perfect fit.  Minikahda’s views provided a beautiful backdrop and the classic style perfectly complimented our personal taste.  The men wore suits to align with our casual formality theme while the natural light, lanterns and flowers worked to incorporate the mood of the season and environment.  The fire pit overlooking the lake and cityscape was the perfect finish on a crisp fall night.

Teddy’s family is Italian, and at every family wedding we have a grand march – a tradition that connects us back to the village where his Grandfather was born. Essentially, his aunts and uncles lead the wedding party followed by all our guests through out the reception space to traditional Italian music. It was such a fun way to get everyone at the wedding involved and on the dance floor! We also wanted to honor the many examples of love that have touched our lives so we had a display with original pictures of our parents, grandparents and great-grandparents’ weddings.

It would be difficult to isolate just one memory from such an incredible day, but having that many good friends and family members by your side is something that would be impossible to forget.

Photography: Spencer Combs Photography / Flowers: Floral Logic / Event Planning: Park Place Planning & Events / Ceremony Location: Christ the King Church / Reception Location: The Minikahda Club / Invitations: Oblation for Paperista, packaging by Paperista / Wedding Stationery: Paperista / Shoes: Jimmy Choo / Dress Designer: Priscilla of Boston / Bridesmaid Dress Designer: Watters & Watters / Entertainment: PopLuxe

If you loved this wedding like we did (A LOT) you’ve got to meet Park Place Planning & Events – the lady behind the planning. We kind of big time heart Stephanie, and we know you will too…

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A Bride in glasses, loads of balloons, streamers and a palette that leans towards the hot pink side… pinch me, I must be dreaming. But no, this baby is a full blown reality made fabulous at the hands of Mi Mi Design + The Photography Shoppe. And it’s too colorful and fun to be missed. Check out the gallery for so much more.

From the Bride… The wedding took place at Aria at The Jeune Lune in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The event space just opened this year, and we were one of the first weddings there. It is an old theater that they renovated (just a little!) and turned into an event space.  The minute I saw the space, I completely fell in love. We really didn’t want anything fussy or too fancy – we just wanted it to be FUN!

We got engaged in September 2011 and knew we wanted a winter/spring wedding as I really hate the hot summer weather! We met with Mi Mi Design early on, and I knew it was a perfect fit. Luckily for me, Luke was comfortable with my mom and me planning the majority of the wedding (what a great fiancé!). Once we had Mimi on board, we really didn’t get stressed out with the planning and in the end we were able to really enjoy the day. I knew I wanted the day to be a mix of high fashion/glamorous and laid-back – just like our lives! I liked the juxtaposition of a raw space with very glam details — a true modern rustic feel. Amy and Amy were great at helping us make my vision a reality. We chose to have the girls carry balloons and incorporate them in a big way because the space was so big that flowers would not have made an impact. I have also always loved ribbons (and have them hanging from my childhood bed) and wanted those to be a part of the décor as well — we ended up using them on the wood structure for the ceremony and then using that as the backdrop for the photo booth later in the night. We also incorporated the ribbon streamers onto the giant balloons and the centerpieces of streamers from Confetti System (something I have always loved!).

The “chandelier” hanging in the main room (where we had the ceremony and the dinner) was created so we had some more lighting, but not just string lights. I wanted something unique. We really let the space speak for itself – I loved all of the details that a raw old theater could provide, with the details being the true icing on the cake – sparkly and special. The sayings in vintage letters on the walls were another great element. They were already part of the space and I loved what they said: “Let’s get lost” and “the world is ours.”  I have always loved quotes and lettering, so this was a perfect fit! 

My favorite part was all the little things – I tried hard to think of as many things as possible that would make it feel more special and I think it worked – the one thing we have heard most from our guests is that it was one of the most unique and heartfelt weddings.  You could really feel the love in the room and every detail had some meaning. My bouquet was tied with two necklaces that are very special to me – one of my late grandmother’s and the other a gift from my best friend. My engagement ring was worn by both my mother and grandmother. I have had a blankie since I was a few weeks old and its still my most prized possession – not only did I have a portion of it sewn into my dress, but my dad talked about it in his speech. I also had a necklace made that incorporated lace from the wedding dress both my grandma and mom wore.   y something borrowed was my mom’s diamond earrings that match my engagement ring. Our photographer is out of Sioux Falls, South Dakota and someone that I went to kindergarten with. We loved having her at our day and photographing it as well! Our officiant was a longtime family friend and a federal judge out of South Dakota. Like I said, we tried to incorporate people and things very special to us! It definitely made the day that much more special and full of love.

Wedding Photography: Anne Mantz of The Photography Shoppe / Wedding Venue: Aria at The Jeune Lune in Minneapolis, Minnesota / Wedding Planning, Coordination, Stationery, Floral Design + Decor: Mi Mi Design / Catering: Fabulous Catering / Desserts: Cocoa & Fig / Ceremony + Cocktail Hour Music: Lake String Quartet / Dinner + Dancing Music: Instant Request / Place Settings, Linens, Lighting + Chandelier Decor: Apres Party & Tent Rental / Wedding Dress: Vera Wang via Priscilla of Boston (Now Closed) / Bride’s Necklace: Courtney of Doloris Petunia / Hair: Jonica Reed / Makeup: Anne Marie Roe / Bridesmaid Dresses: Viereck Hot Sake Dress via Covered in Minneapolis + Styled by Bridget O’Brien / Groom’s Suit: Marty Mathis Clothiers

Where oh where to begin – how does one even start to discuss all the inspiration packed into this oh so stylish soiree? The custom invitations and screen prints by the new Mr. and Mrs. SURELY deserve a standing ovation, and i’ll keep the applause going for those show-stopping DIY wire orbs. Ah-mazing. Let’s not forget to mention the perfectly paired florals by Just Bloomed with those pretty patterned bridesmaid dresses – it’s a match made in style heaven. That is just the beginning of all the styled-to-perfection inspiration in this fabulous fête, so make sure you take some time to see it all the full gallery of images!

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From Jackie of Just Bloomed… Laura and Cameron were married and celebrated with friends at the venue Spill the Wine in downtown Minneapolis, MN. They made careful consideration when planning their event in order to incorporate all the lovely things they enjoy about the other. With Cameron’s design aesthetic and Laura’s romantic side, their vision was to combine their likenesses into all the decor and ambiance. To announce the event, invitations were designed by the groom, including the custom fonts, and printed with the help of Paperista. While much of this event was non-traditional, Laura and Cameron invited a bit of tradition by not seeing each other before the ceremony, which was officiated by Laura’s 86-year old grandfather. The bride walked down the isle to My Fair Lady’s “On The Streets Where You Live,” as this is a favorite movie of the bride.  

With the help of day-of coordinator Laura Mullen the event flowed seamlessly from one floor to another. Laura Mullen and her team hung one-of-a-kind screen prints that were designed and hand-screen-printed by the bride and groom with the help of Miles and Lucy at Faux Poco. The graphic panels featured lyrics from My Fair Lady. Additionally, the bride and her friends created much of the rest of the decor, including wire orbs and magnetic bow ties the bride made for each guest to wear. Florals were designed by Jackie Just of Just Bloomed and consisted of a bridal bouquet to compliment the distinct colors in the printed J.Crew bridesmaids dresses. For centerpieces, Jackie used a pastel palette of hydrangea to compliment the custom printed graphic vase wraps. The bride was stunning in a one-of-a-kind custom couture gown made by local designer Tara LaTour, along with a handmade ribbon belt studded with gold foil-brushed leaves beaded by the bride’s mother. Laura is the brainchild behind Nelle Handbags and created a Petersham ribbon handbag for each bridesmaid to carry in lieu of traditional bridesmaid bouquets. The talented Julie Swenson of Julie Swenson Beauty, did the bride’s hair and makeup, and the team from Smart & Chic Bride took care of the Bridal Party.

After a dinner of panzanella salad, chicken spiedini and creamy polenta with gorgonzola, which was inspired by Laura’s Italian heritage and love of Mediterranean food, guests were given the options of a cake designed by 3 Tiers as well as an array of delicious goodies from Cocoa & Fig, including miniature pies, artisan cheeses and mini dessert shooters, which sat beneath three silk and ribbon chandlers made by the bride using hand-dyed silk habotai and black ribbon. After their honeymoon, Laura and Cameron began fulfilling their promise to volunteer one hour of their time in honor of each wedding guest at the Minnesota Literary Council. Such a perfect idea from this creative duo. 

Wedding Photography: Erica Loeks Photography / Wedding Venue: Spill The Wine in Minneapolis, Minnesota / Flowers: Jackie of Just Bloomed / Wedding Planning: Laura Mullen Event Design / Desserts: Cocoa & Fig / Wedding Cake: 3 Tiers Bakery Bistro / Wedding Invitations + Paper Goods: PAPERISTA / Bride’s Hair + Makeup: Julie Swenson Beauty / Bridal Party Hair + Makeup: Smart & Chic Bride / Bride’s + Bridesmaids’ Clutches: Nelle Handbags (The Bride’s Company) / Custom Wedding Gown: Tara LaTour / Bride’s Belt: DIY by the Bride’s Mother / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: J.Crew / Silk Screens: Miles and Lucy of Faux Poco / Rings: Style by Max + Covet NYC / Rentals: Midway Party Rental / Groom’s Attire: Heimie’s Haberdashery + J.Hilburn / Wire Orbs + Magnetic Bow Ties: DIY / Typographical Elements + Decor: The Groom

Let me preface this by saying outright that I have a complete couple-crush on this pair. The bride is hopelessly gorgeous with a killer sense of style and the groom is just ALL cuteness. So although I might be a bit biased, I am going to put it all out there and say that this wedding is a total keeper. From the stunning letterpress stationery to the gown whose gorgeousness literally makes me blush, captured all to utter perfection by Matt Blum, well…I heart you lovely wedding, I heart you. Click here to see even more.

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And a beautiful film by Capture Studios to wrap up the day…

From the bride… I have to admit that I imagined our wedding day long before we were actually engaged. I wasn’t exactly the little girl planning her wedding at 10 years old, but I do professionally plan events for a bridal magazine, so ever since I began working for the magazine, I paged through issue after issue of Minnesota Bride, collected pages of inspiration and naturally envisioned what my wedding day would look like. I’m somewhat of a perfectionist, so I like to think that a good amount of thought and planning went into every single detail. As most brides do, I spent countless hours online looking at wedding blogs for inspiration and ideas that would really wow guests, but also reflect David and I as a couple. Although we didn’t really have a wedding theme in mind, the decor and overall design elements had sort of a vintage-glamour look, from the lace, linen and vintage vanity mirrors used for table numbers to the all white floral and candlelight. In terms of colors we went with timeless classics: black, white, silver and gray. We knew we wanted a formal wedding, but what we didn’t want our guests to think it was going to be so formal that it wasn’t going to be a good time. So in order to set a fun tone for the event, we worked with the amazing Gretchen Berry of Watermark Stationery to create the perfect wedding suite, which added a whimsical element with an accordion fold-out invitation placed in a mini envelope and custom calligraphy from a local talent, Crystal Kluge.

David and I were married at Lake of the Isles Lutheran Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota on a beautiful, sunny, 75 degree day. Our 215 guests filled the small, 75-year-old church perfectly. And, as I had heard from several brides before me, the whole ceremony was a blur, but a perfect blur. I wore the wedding dress of my dreams, an ivory Vera Wang gown made with layers of silk organza and tulle. Following the ceremony, David and I drove around the Minneapolis uptown lakes area in a vintage white Bentley and upon arriving at the reception, were greeted by our closest family and friends who had started the party for us. From the food, lighting, decor, floral and music to our amazing family and friends who have loved and supported us from day 1, it was truly a dream come true. I can’t thank our incredible wedding vendors enough for helping us create the wedding of our dreams. Matt Blum Photography and Matt Brue of Capture Studios, you documented our wedding day perfectly.

The most important piece of advice I would give to any brides-to-be is to hire a day-of coordinator. We worked with an absolutely wonderful wedding planner, Mi Mi Design, run by the talented Amy Red and Amy Blonde. David and I were able to enjoy every moment of the day and didn’t worry about a thing. Everything came together perfectly and I have all of our vendors to thank for that.

Wedding Photography: Matt Blum Photography / Videographer: Capture Studios / Floral: Floral Logic / Wedding Coordination: Mi Mi Design / Ceremony: Lake of the Isles Lutheran Church / Reception: Calhoun Beach Club / Wedding Gown & Veil: Vera Wang “Diana” via L’atelier Couture / Bride’s Shoes: Christian Louboutin / Bridesmaid Dresses: Melissa Sweet via Priscilla of Boston / Groom’s Tuxedo: Hugo Boss / Groomsmen Apparel: JoS. A. Bank / Hair: Smart & Chic Bride / Makeup: Jamie Holly of Brett Dorrian Artistry Studios / Ceremony Quartet: Alpine String Quartet / Ceremony Soloist: Angela Bobick / Cocktail Hour Band: Café Accordion Orchestra / Reception Band: Synergy / Lighting & DJ: Instant Request / Linen & Décor: Linen Effects / Rentals: Après + Ultimate Events / Wedding Invitations + Printed Pieces: Watermark Stationery / Calligraphy: Crystal Kluge / Catering, Dessert Table + Wedding Cake: D’Amico Catering / French Macaron + Sugar Peony Favors: Cocoa & Fig / 1951 Bentley Getaway Car: Twin City Trolleys & Classic Cars / Transportation: Star Transportation

This modern Minneapolis DIY wedding, captured by Natalie Champa Jennings, has a little something for everyone. The clean, contemporary venue is perfect for those of you who love a little glam. The DIY details provide so much inspiration for those of you who want to create for your own big day. The gray and yellow color palette adds a little whimsy for you romantic LBBers. But my favorite was definitely the floral design by the lovely La Petite Fleur – modern, clean, and chic, chic, chic. Click here for more of this lovely couple!

Kyle and I met in college our senior year through mutual friends.  Upon graduation we both moved to Minneapolis and continued our friendship by spending more and more time together until we began dating in 2007.  After two and a half years together, Kyle proposed.  On Valentine’s day, Kyle took me ice skating at our favorite outdoor Minnesota ice rink.  I didn’t think too much of it because we didn’t have any other plans that day and had decided to go ice skating last minute. Kyle’s skating skills have never been impressive; so I was not surprised when he fell to the ground after an aggressive turn.  However, words cannot describe my surprise when rather than crawling to his feet, Kyle instead stayed on one knee and asked me to marry him.  Much to Kyle’s relief, I said yes after spending a few stunned moments on the ice.

We were looking for a venue that was modern, simplistic and had a lot of light. We also planned to have the ceremony outdoors and needed a great space. The Burnsville Performing Arts Center had that modern sleek vibe in the building and also had a beautiful outdoor garden area and amphitheater.   We immediately fell in love with the place.

My inspiration for the wedding was really the colors: yellow and gray. I had seen a gorgeous yellow and gray wedding on Style Me Pretty and fell in love with the color scheme.  I wanted to DIY a lot of items, but also wanted to keep the décor simple and colorful to let the venue shine.  I made chalkboard signs from mirrors, table numbers from scrap wood, made my own hair piece, hand stamped cocktail napkins and spray painted votives gray for the tables. I also found some funky yellow jug and white circle vases on craigslist and used them as my centerpieces.  The florist, Carra Otten, did a beautiful job of seeing my inspiration and putting together amazing arrangements that complimented my DIY projects.

We incorporated a Dutch love letter ritual into our ceremony.  We wrote each other love letters and sealed them in a trunk with a bottle of wine and two glasses.   The trunk will remain sealed until our 5th anniversary when we will drink the wine and read our letters to each other.

I had a brooch added to my bouquet.  It was a gift I had given my grandmother when I was 5 years old. She had held onto it for many years so I wanted to show her how important she is to me. I also had some of my mom’s lace from her wedding dress wrapped around my bouquet.

My most vivid memories are of my first look with my husband and when we released butterflies.  Natalie did a beautiful job of capturing our emotions in the first look.  It was so reassuring to see my future husband and have a few private moments with him before the wedding.  I also loved the butterflies.  The venue had several butterflies flying around and my bridesmaids grabbed a couple for us to release.  It was so much fun, even though I look quite scared in the photos.  My favorite photos also included the ceremony photos. The amphitheater was so beautiful and there is so much emotion in everyone’s faces.

We had frosted sugar cookies from a local non-profit bakery in North Minneapolis that teaches young people employment and interpersonal works skills to prepare them to enter the workforce. I felt it was a great way to support a cause that is important to me (I’m a Recruiter for a living) and the cookies are absolutely delicious.  We did simple gray frosted and yellow frosted cookies.

Photographer: Natalie Champa Jennings / Floral Designer: La Petite Fleur / Event Designer & Planner: Bride / Invitation Designer: Bride / Cake & Desserts: The Baker’s Wife & Cookie Cart / Wedding Gown Designer: San Patrick, from Raffine Bridal / Bridesmaid’s Dress Designer: J.Crew / Hair: Jess Pratt from Pixie Salon / Make-up: Mariah Herndon from Mariah’s Beauty Marks / Venue: Burnsville Performing Arts Center

We are going to end today’s pretty parade with a modern Minneapolis wedding captured by La De Da Photography. If we have to end all the prettiness, might as end with a bang, right? Well this Midwest destination wedding is just that – a big bang of beyond fab images to send you off into the evening. There is so much to love, and lucky for all of us – it’s all in the full gallery of images for safekeeping! Enjoy!

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From the Bride, owner of Nearly Newlywed… Patrick and I grew up in the same small town in Iowa, attending the same small school but never really noticed one another until years later. Both home for the summer (I was going to college in NY and he in Illinois) we met at a bonfire, and years later, he asked me to marry him with cupcakes at my favorite NY Bakery, Billy’s.

Both living in Brooklyn, we decided to have a “destination” wedding in Minneapolis because of its close proximity to family and our Midwest roots. It is also such a fun city, we knew that our NY friends would enjoy it as well. We selected the Mill City Museum, an old flour mill converted into a historic museum, for our ceremony and reception because of its industrial and unique feel.

The wedding planning and design was something that I did with the help of my mom, mother-in-law, and groom, Patrick. We wanted the wedding to be a fun affair, with classic and warm DIY touches and enjoyed planning it together. My mom made the veil to match my dress and Patrick constructed a homemade photo booth, complete with a backdrop and a screen that showcased the photos throughout the evening as they were being taken of the guests. We also made the wishing tree where guests could sign their names and hang their wishes for us, the rock seat cards, and the hand-tied floral plate garnishes. Patrick and I picked the ceremony music together, opting for sentimental songs that held personal meaning for us both including “Such Great Heights” by Iron & Wine and “The Book of Love” by the Magnetic Fields.

The wedding was everything that we could have hoped for. When I walked down the aisle with my father and saw Patrick standing there waiting for me, it was the happiest moment of my life. Reciting the vows that we had chosen and listening to our friends recite readings and tell stories about us, the ceremony was intimate and warm, exactly what we had wanted it to be. We followed the ceremony with an informal cocktail reception in the courtyard, where guests sipped cocktails and immediately got to mingle, while Patrick and I ran off to get a few photos taken outside in the grass. When we walked back in and they announced us as Mr. & Mrs. Courtney, everyone cheered and the party began! We went inside and listened to our parents and friends say a few words about us and enjoyed dinner & dancing until late into the evening. Celebrating with all of our friends and family that had traveled from all over to our “destination Minneapolis wedding” we both felt that all of the waiting, planning, and anticipation had been well worth it.

Wedding Photography: Melissa Mlejneck of La De Da Photography / Floral Design: Sadie’s Couture Floral & Design / Caterer: D’Amico / Event Design + Planning: The Bride / Ceremony + Reception Location: Mill City Museum / Bride’s Shoes: J.Crew / Veil: Bride’s Mother / Place Settings + Favors: Bride’s Mother + Mother-in-Law / Make-up + Hair: Brett Dorian Artistry / Bridesmaid Dresses, Groom’s Suit + Groomsmen Attire: J.Crew / Officiant: Jim Albani / DJ: Mark King, Instant Request / Photo Booth: The Groom

Up next is this super sweet, love bird themed Minneapolis wedding and we are loving the orchids and hydrangeas that are peeking out around each and every adorable corner. Liz Banfield was on hand to capture all the pretty details from the fab blue Manolos to the yummy blue and white ribbon adorned cake. We’re loving each and every inch of this gorgeous fete and know you will too, especially when you see what’s waiting for you in the full gallery!

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From Liz Banfield…Ann & Jonathan were married in a one-of-a-kind space, dubbed “The Amber Box” on the top floor of the Guthrie Theatre with dramatic views of the Mississippi River and historic Stone Arch Bridge.

The lovebird motif was used throughout the wedding, including stylish cakes and beautiful 2-sided letterpress invitations.  A blue and warm copper color theme was carried throughout the wedding, including the bride’s blue satin Manolo Blahniks.

After the intimate ceremony among close friends and family, the bride and groom stopped at a local lake on their way to the reception to take pictures in the warm fall afternoon light. A larger reception followed at her parents’ country club just a few blocks from her childhood home.

Wedding Photography: Liz Banfield / Wedding Gown: Monique Lhullier / Ceremony Location: Guthrie Theatre / Floral Design: Arts & Flowers / Wedding Cakes: Robin Martin Gateaux, Inc. / Invitations: Gateaux, Inc. + Spark Letterpress / Coordination: Kate Kerfoot, Event Marketing & Management

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Liz Banfield

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Alright, ladies, get ready to embrace your inner nerd.  As a self-proclaimed dork, I am absolutely enamored with this library-inspired wedding shoot by Jeff Loves Jessica.  Of course, this adorkable photo session is crammed with chic, modern details and glamorous-meets-geek genius ideas.  The color combination is totally perfect and every last element is effortlessly pulled together.  So get out your library card and head on over to the full gallery to see all the geek-chic inspiration!

It was definitely love at first site with this next little number. Although we couldn’t figure out what we loved the very most. The drop dead gorgeous bride in her darling specs? The crazy cool cake? The billy ball extravaganza? The total unabashed party that seemed to jump out of each and every image? Or the perfectly adorable groom and his giddy, love struck smile? I guess we kind of loved it all. Every last silly, pretty, totally fun bit of it. All designed to wedding perfection by Mi Mi Design with photographs by Olive Juice Studios. Oh and when we kicked up our heels to watch the video that IQvideography crafted? Well, another level of obsession. Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

nicole & jim | destination wedding minneapolis from IQvideography on Vimeo.

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From IQvideography…Nicole and Jim chose the Walker Art Center because they both like modern art and architecture, and they loved that the location captured the energy of Minneapolis (plus, it was a mile from where they lived during most of their dating relationship). The ceremony and cocktail hour were outside on the terraces, and then they moved inside for the dinner and dance overlooking the Minneapolis skyline.

Wedding Videography: IQvideography / Wedding Photography: Olive Juice Studios / Coordination, Floral + Stationery: Mi Mi Design / Wedding Cake + Dessert Buffet: Gateaux, Inc. / Wedding Gown: Jenny Lee / Shoes: Cole Haan / Hair + Make-up: Salon Stella / Wedding Party Attire: J.Crew / Venue: Walker Art Center

I’m totally in love with this next wedding and its fresh, modern aesthetic, thanks to the genius that is Silvercocoon/Tia Keobounpheng who designed this gorgeous wedding and coordinated the dream team that brought it to life. The centerpieces by Flora Bella of white peonies and green dianthus make for such a dramatic yet understated focal point that I literally can’t stop staring at them. They are total perfection. I’m also loving the super cool Minneapolis skyline stand up invites and the amazing light steaming in through the windows of the Walker Art Center, my new favorite venue. Ingman Photography was there to capture all the details that were coordinated perfectly by Premier Planning Services. Click here for the full party.

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From Ingman Photography…We approached each element of the design with a modern aesthetic that utilized the Walker Art Center and the Minneapolis skyline. We made simple, modern, and intentional choices that resulted in a consistent visual thread, allowing one main element to shine and secondary elements to support and enhance its features.

The invitation, response card and envelopes were clean, formal and understated to allow the silver laser-cut city wrap to be the bold element. The bride’s bouquet was viewed as her primary accessory and its design encompassed the theme of the wedding – simple, classic, and modern. There were no formal decorations for the ceremony with the intention that the skyline would be the main backdrop. The seating chart for dinner was simplified into a single map with an alphabetized guest-table list. At the table, each menu touted the handwritten name of each guest, doubling as the place card for their meticulously-planned assigned seat.

The majority of the wedding guests were coming to Minnesota from the coasts, so the invitations were designed to be the first glimpse of Minneapolis and the wedding. As a stand-alone element, the city-wrap could remain at each guest’s home and would be a reminder of their weekend in Minneapolis with Katharine and Garnet. The other print materials pulled the silhouette of the Walker Art Center from the invitation and became a ‘logo’ of sorts, which was carried throughout the printed materials from the welcoming package for their hotel guests (schedule of wedding events, food and beverage recommendations and welcome note), to the program, and the menu.

The flower arrangements, from bridal party bouquets to reception centerpieces, were conceived as a pairing of two types of flowers, peonies and green dianthus. They were pulled together in mono-culture-clumps so that their distinct features, textures, and colors would contrast and compliment each other. For the ceremony, the bridesmaids carried pure peonies bouquets, the groomsmen and woman displayed pure green dianthus, and the bride and groom had a blend of both flowers. The centerpieces for the reception featured three peonies blossoms in a round field of green dianthus – with the round table-name cards coming out of the center of the arrangement. Bridesmaids’ bouquets doubled as centerpieces for cocktail tables immediately following ceremony and during the dance.

Wedding Photography: Ingman Photography / Floral Design: Lisa Roy at Flora Bella / Ceremony + Reception Location: Walker Art Center / Design Coordinator, Invitations + Paper Materials: Silvercocoon, Tia Salmela Keobounpheng / Wedding Dress: Monique L’hullier / Bride’s Shoes: Kate Spade / Bride’s Accessories: Toni Federici / Hair + Make-up: Denny Kemp Salon, Kari + Lauren / Bridesmaid Jewelry: Silvercocoon, Tia Salmela Keobounpheng / Bridesmaid Dresses: J.Crew / Groom’s Attire: DKNY + Thomas Pink / Event Coordinator: Premier Planning Services / Wedding Cupcakes: The Bulldog Northeast / Wedding Rings: Tiffany & Co. / Caterer: D’Amico Catering

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Perfect pink drinks with gray striped straws, the most CRAZY beautiful venue I’ve ever seen and guests that literally add to the gorgeous decor? Oh wait. Add to that a glowly gorgeous bride, flowers that are off the charts and a sense of style that is as modern as it is timeless and you basically have SMP perfection in this next little soiree. Photographed by Emma Freeman with florals and styling by Mi Mi Design, this Minneapolis wedding is the definition of gorg. Click here to see so much more!

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From the Bride…Cherry blossoms have always held a special place in my heart.  It probably stemmed from years of studying Japanese and living and working in Japan.  It could also have something to do with the fact that I fell in love with my husband through Skype dates, emails, and letters while I was studying abroad in Sapporo, Japan in 2006.  When we got engaged I knew that I wanted to incorporate a cherry blossom theme into the design of the wedding.

We only looked at two venues and when we saw the Mill City Museum’s amazing exterior, we knew it was the place.  Because of numerous fires, the brick structure is destroyed in many areas, leaving an incredible open courtyard.  We chose to have the wedding ceremony and cocktail hour in the “ruins” and the reception inside.  I decided pretty quickly that it would be interesting to match the building’s rough facade with soft, almost girly decor and flowers. From there I decided on blush pink and ivory but wanted a third color for the color scheme.  I noticed a lot of brides were doing cherry blossoms with pink and brown but wanted something different.  I stumbled upon a photo of a reception done in blush pink, ivory, and gray and I was in love.  Enter the fabulous Mi Mi Design.  I brought in some pictures, described the color scheme, and told them that I wanted to do a cherry blossom pattern on the invitation suite and they ran with it.

For the ceremony, we chose to do the programs as a fan in case it was hot that day.  Every paper item from the save-the-dates to the table names coordinated and were patterns that Amy Blonde at Mi Mi Design created – including the programs.  We were married under a cedar structure that was draped with yards and yards of beautiful white fabric. From the back of the structure there were crystals and orchids hanging all the way down.

The reception was filled with all kinds of unique details.  As guests walked into the reception, they gathered their escort cards from beneath a massive silver manzanita tree dripping with crystals.  At the tables, we did two types of centerpieces, both with mounds of blush pink roses, white roses, peonies and hydrangea.  One version of the centerpiece had large white branches springing from the flowers.  The tables had blush pink satin tablecloths and we brought in silver chiavari chairs.  For the head table Mi Mi Design came up with a raised “bridge” of various flowers with silver stems and leaves and crystals hanging from below.  I had never seen anything like it! My husband is a car guy, so I thought it would be fun to have tables named after his favorites cars rather than the normal table numbers.  We had everything from super cars to the car he drove around in high school.  It was nice to have some special things just for him.

Wedding Photography: Emma Freeman Photography / Floral Design, Event Design, Invitations + Planning: Mi Mi Design / Location: Mill City Museum

Right off the bat I’m gonna go ahead and tell you that you have to check out the full gallery of images from this next wedding! It’s styled to perfection in gorgeous hues of amethyst, creamy whites, and silver for a touch of glam and don’t even get me started on the insanely beautiful florals designed by the bride’s stepmom and the bouquets from Just Bloomed! Lucky for us, Photogen Inc. was there to capture all the modern details and we just can not get enough of this one! Join us in the gallery, won’t you?

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From Photogen Inc.…Allison is a fashion designer for Target, so when it came to planning her wedding – the design and details were at the top of her list! She had inspiration boards galore to help this vision come to life and it was simply stunning! Her color pallet was centered around Platinum and Amethyst tones. Allison and Jason’s wedding took place at two of Minneapolis’s best venues. Their ceremony was held at the Basillica of St. Mary, which is one of the biggest cathedrals in the city, and their reception was at the uber posh Calhoun Beach Club. One of my favorite details of the day was the bride’s dress! The color was ‘pearl’ and it had an a-symmetrical, beaded strap on just one shoulder. It was modern and fresh, yet gorgeous and fashion forward. The bride’s step father also brought out his Vintage Chevrolet for the big event, which was the perfect getaway car for the couple! Overall, Allison and Jason are a beautiful couple who are undoubtedly perfect together! Their wedding was simply gorgeous!

Wedding Photography: Photogen Inc. / Floral Design: Patti Quinnell / Bouquet, Corsage, & Boutonniere Designs: Just Bloomed / Event Design: The Bride / Event Planning: Fab.You.Lous Event and Design / Ceremony Location: Basillica of St. Mary / Reception Location: Calhoun Beach Club / Bride’s Shoes: Nina / Wedding Dress: Maggie Soterro / Bridesmaid Dresses: Watters and Watters / Groom’s Attire: Calvin Klein / Wedding Cake: Penny Steele