Minnesota Weddings

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!

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

Simple weddings are true gems in my book. They’re paired down to the most intimate, heart-warming details. The same details that we adore about big, grandiose affairs can be found in these images by Randi Jorgensen of 1012 photo. A whole lot of love and celebrating with your nearest and dearest… that’s what really makes this backyard wedding shine bright. See even more right here in the full gallery.

From Gretchen of Rocket Science Weddings & Events… I fell in love with Bailey and Kyle from the moment I met them, however they have been in love for a long time. They met in 2005 while in medical school in Minneapolis, MN and after two kids and a four year engagement they decided they were ready to tie the knot, finally! The inspiration for their wedding day was “family” and they had the perfect place to have such a gathering – Bailey’s parent’s large, sprawling property (that is lovingly referred to as “shantytown”) in Pelican Rapids, MN. The ceremony site was an open clearing in the woods that created an intimate, almost magical space. Hay bales covered with burlap were arranged in a semi-circle in front of the trees for seating and guests were greeted with a signature cocktail while they waited for the ceremony to start. Bailey’s aunt officiated a personal and moving service that included a singalong to one of the couple’s favorite songs, You’re My Best Friend by Queen. The wedding party was small, just their two children Dexter and Rowan.

After the ceremony it was time to party! Guests moved from the ceremony site to the barn for dinner and dancing, and along the way were greeted with beverages, food, games and a bouncy house. Guests were also encouraged to take part in a special scavenger hunt made by the bride and groom. In the barn, we arranged three long tables for family style food service. Each table was named after an important city: where the bride grew up, where the groom grew up, and where the couple lives now. For the decor, Bailey wanted to keep it simple and rustic, like she threw the party together with items she owned, so we brought in farm tables, vintage plates, lanterns and crates. Bailey’s mom provided vintage linens for some of the tables as well. Mason jars filled with peach, pink and green floral and lots of candles made up the centerpieces for the adult tables, and in the kid’s tent (also known as the “fun tent”) the centerpieces were mason jars filled with crayons and paper runners for the kids to draw on.

No detail was overlooked, from the welcome bags and letter in the hotel rooms, to the flashlight stations so guests could get from place to place at night around the property and the vintage blankets for sitting around the campfire. The stationery pieces complemented the peach, pink and green color palate and tied all the little details together. Some of my favorite personal touches were the “just married” ATV that the bride and groom hopped on after the ceremony to get to the reception and the chalkboard signs we used as the welcome to the ceremony and the seating chart for dinner. To top it all off, at the end the night, we surprised the groom with a fireworks show!

Wedding Photography: Randi Jorgensen of 1012 photo / Wedding Venue: Woods/Barn in Pelican Rapids Minnesota /  Wedding Planning, Design, Wooden Signage + Floral Design: Rocket Science Weddings & Events / Ceremony Music + Reception Band: Rick Blomquist of Trick / DJ: Bellagala / Catering: Heidi Andermack of Chowgirls Killer Catering / Wedding Stationery (Invitations + Signage): Gretchen Berry Design Co. / Farm Tables: Alyson Newquist of Juliane James Place / Vintage Plates: Vicki Higgins of Revived Tableware / Tent + Misc. Rentals: Katiee Wandemacher of Apres Party & Tent Rental / Photo Booth: Bride’s Brother Mark / Wedding Dress: Monique Lhuillier /Bride’s Shoes: Stuart Weitzman + TOMS /  Bride’s Bracelet: Vintage from Antique Shop / Rowan’s Dress (Child’s Dress): J.Crew / Hair + Makeup: Bride’s Friends / Groom’s Suit: Z Zenga / Dexter’s Suit: J Crew

This whimsical, magical, do-it-yourself outdoor dinner party is exactly everything I wanted it to be and more. Colorful lanterns and string lights float up above this family gathering, and the go-with-the-flow spirit of the Bride and Groom, the lovely faces behind Luke Goodman Cinematography. I am simply loving the images churned out by Tanja Lippert with sun-infused backdrops and sweet-as-pie moments. And speaking of pie, the homemade desserts look down right sinful! If these images don’t stop your hankering, there are more juicy morsels over in the gallery.

From the Bride… Luke and I are incredibly blessed to have some of our closest friends and family be a part of our wedding celebration. From the beginning we both wanted our wedding to be intimate, yet fun… like a big family dinner party outdoors. A little rustic, a little whimsical… and with lots of DIY elements. We chose the Plummer House in Rochester, Minnesota (near Luke’s home where he grew up), a rustic Tudor style Mansion which has the most beautiful grounds and charming interior. It has such a fairy tale feeling. I should first say that to have an outdoor wedding in a Minnesota summer is a complete gamble! Most of the summer can be hot, muggy and overcast with frequent summer storms. Having never lived in Minnesota I was pretty optimistic that we would have sunshine (haha), though I was ready to move indoors in case it rained. TaDa! We woke up to bright blue skies and the most GORGEOUS day imaginable!

Another thing Luke and I both wanted was to make as many things as we could ourselves, with the help of others. It truly was a group effort! I did all the flowers with the help of my Mom, sisters, and friends (the vintage blue jars are Luke’s Mom, Linda’s personal collection). I also painted and designed our invitations, signs, and programs, which included a Marauders Map of the grounds (we love Harry Potter!) The animal table markers are a nod to our love of fantasy and children’s books, made with the help of our cousin Donna. Luke brewed his own beers, and our Dads made the wine. Luke’s Aunt Jeanie baked all the pies and desserts, as well as made our flower girl Aurora’s dress! Our friends did our lighting and decorating not to mention hours of setting up.

And we could not have been happier and excited to have our friend Tanja Lippert photograph the day (as well as helped me do my hair!) and Andrew Hsu of Studio MSV captured our day on film. These two are incredible talented and creative people, and to have them there enjoy the day with us was an honor, and so much fun! One element that we knew we had to have on our wedding day was music! Luke and I are both music (we play the piano) and we were blessed to have Luke’s friend Megan play piano, and his sister Audrey and her boyfriend Carlo sing during our ceremony. For our reception we wanted lively gypsy jazz music, and found the Twin Cities Hot Club who were simply amazing! Everyone danced! They even did an acoustic arrangement of “The Way You Are” by Ingrid Michaelson, for our first dance.

Sheila Walsh, a family friend did an amazing job of coordinating the entire day for us. Looking back there is no way we could not have had a coordinator, and we are grateful to her! The list goes on, and we are so grateful for all the talent and help we received. It turned out beautifully and better than we imagined. But the best part of the day was being surrounded by the people who love us most and support us. No matter how our wedding turned out, it wouldn’t have mattered because we were so overflowing to the brim surrounded by love! Thank you to all our family and friends for being there, and celebrating with us!!

Wedding Photography: Tanja Lippert Photography / Film Scans: Indie Film Lab/ Wedding Venue: Plummer House of the Arts in Rochester, Minnesota / Floral Design: The Bride + Bride’s Mom, (Dahlias grown by Groom’s Mom) / Day of Coordinator: Sheila Walsh (Family Friend) / Officiant: Mark Litzow (Family Friend) / Wedding Cinematography: Studio MSV / Catering: Nupa Mediterranean / Wedding Cake: Daube’s Bakery  / Pies + Desserts: The Groom’s Aunt / Homemade Beer & Wine: The Groom, and Bride & Groom’s Fathers / Wedding Invitations + Programs: Pamela Goodman Illustration (The Bride) / Envelopes: Paper Source / Gypsy Jazz Band: Twin Cities Hot Club / Pianist: Groom’s friend Megan Eagen / Vocalists: Groom’s Sister Audrey Goodman, Carlo Olmos / Lighting: Bride + Groom’s Friends / Ring Bearer Nest: The Bride / Table Number Animals & Escort Cards: The Bride, Groom’s Cousin, Bride’s Sister /  Place Card Scrolls: The Bride and Bride’s Mom / Chalkboard Signs: Handmade by the Bride and Groom’s Sister / Bride + Groom Chair Signs: Bride’s Friend / Table Number Animals, Escort Cards + Dessert Table Banner: The Epicurean Crafter / Wedding Dress: Alfred Angelo / Bride’s Shoes: Audrey Brooke / Bride’s Hairpiece + Bridal Sash: Handmade by the Bride / Hair: Tanja Lippert / Groom’s Suit: Kenneth Cole / Groom’s Shoes: Rockport / Flower Girl’s Dress: Groom’s Aunt

Libraries have always screamed romance to me. Perhaps it’s the history or the architecture or maybe it’s the sweet smell of an old book – but I am pretty sure it’s being able to take all those things in while being surrounded by a thousands upon thousands of stories. I couldn’t think of anything more romantic, other than perhaps saying I do right smack dab in the middle of it all. From the looks of the gorgeous images captured by Laura Ivanova Photography, that was precisely the case for this couple. The James J. Hill Reference Library set the perfect stage for this new (gorgeous) chapter in their love story…complete with happy ending. See it all here.

From the Bride… Our wedding was absolutely the most love-filled and glorious day of our lives. From the minute Joe and I met in Debate class at age 15, I had dreamed of walking down the aisle toward a man like him with such a love for God and family. After 7 years of developing a precious friendship, respect, and true love through high school dances, college study dates, and the overwhelming support of our family and friends, our first day of marriage could not come fast enough! As both Joe and I grew up in large, auditorium sized churches, we wanted to find a wedding venue that would reflect our passion for history and literature…and our “old souls”. The James J. Hill Library in St. Paul was the perfect fit of everything we had desired for the ambiance and simple majesty of our day. We wanted our day to reflect our style and creativity, so it meant a lot of long hours of planning, DIY-ing, garage sale-ing, and organizing to reflect the vintage elegance I had dreamed of since I was a young girl looking through wedding magazines with my mom for fun.

Planning a wedding had many unexpected stresses, and doing everything ourselves came with the hope that every detail would come together; from my personal collection of vintage books and vintage milk glass on each table, to our typewriter and postcard “guest book,” to the photos of our ancestors on their wedding days, to the tablecloths I gathered from Target after Christmas, to the chandeliers we decorated with flowers, to the vintage frames I restyled by stamping my favorite love quotes from literature and the vintage library cards and pockets I filled with bookplates and bookmarks for our guests, every detail was more perfect than I could have ever anticipated. Even more impressive was the love that was poured into each part of the process, especially from my mother and father who helped every step of the way and made our wildest dreams come true. The most beautiful accents of our wedding weren’t the decorations; they were the hugs of our guests, the strength of my parent’s arms holding me down the aisle, the uncontrollable tears of my groom throughout our ceremony, our best friends standing by our sides, worshiping and giving thanks for our blessings, the dancing with our families that erased every jitter, and the beautiful moment of becoming my best friend’s wife and companion for all time. To every engaged couple or hopeless romantic-know that not everything will run smoothly, but know that the beauty lies in the love, hope, joy and faith that cannot be planned, created, or purchased.

Wedding Photography: Laura Ivanova Photography / Venue: James J. Hill Reference Library in St. Paul, Minnesota / Event Design + Decor: DIY by the Bride / Floral Design: Fleur De Lis / Wedding Cake: Taste of Scandinavia + IKEA Princess Torte / Music: First Class Dances / Invitations: Robin Bellomy of 0 Names Left / Drinks: Mintahoe / Tablecloths: Target / Wedding Dress: Allure Bridals via The Wedding Shoppe, Inc. / Bride’s Shoes: Angela Nuran via Che Bella / Bride’s Veil: BCGirls of Bridal Couture Girls / Bride’s Earrings: Macy’s / Bride’s Necklace: From Bride’s Mother / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Maurices / Bridesmaid’s Jewelry + Accessories: Kate Spade (bracelets) + Forever 21 + Maurices (Custom Redesigned by the Bride) / Groom + Groomsmen’s’ Attire: Heimie’s Haberdashery / Hair + Makeup: Mani Mela

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

Let me say first that I am the biggest fan ever of a bride in boots.  EVER.  And even though I’ve never actually owned my own pair (I know, I know), I do a happy dance every time I see a newly betrothed Mrs. kickin’ it country.  Needless to say, this fab Minnesota affair had my heart the very second I spotted the uber-stunning bride, not to mention the plethora of darling DIY details (here’s looking at you, farm tables), beautiful blooms from Sadie’s Couture Floral & Event Styling and gorgeous images from Lauren Kirkbride Photography.  Rustic romance and a whole lot of pretty?  Yes, please.  Click here for more.

And a gorgeous film from Capture Studios that will seriously take your breath away…

From the Bride… As Jesse and I began planning our wedding, only one word came to mind: country. We both grew up in small farm towns, and we knew we wanted a day that celebrated our heritage along with our marriage. An outdoor setting was a must for our style, so we chose my favorite childhood park, surrounded by gravel roads and corn fields, to share in our special day. Bringing the rest of our visions to life was truly a community affair. Friends and family gathered to help with all the touches, from homemade invitations and programs to flower arrangements and favors. The county pork producers grilled for our guests, and we even recruited the local eighth grade shop class to make 50 farm tables for our reception.

On the day of our wedding, we were blessed by the beautiful summer sunshine. My bridesmaids and I got ready at my home, following a breakfast tea put on by my grandmother. The ceremony itself was the highlight of our day, as we were united in marriage under tall oak trees with our loved ones seated amongst rows of hay bales. Antique items, scavenged from my family’s abandoned farm house, provided rustic décor.

After a social hour of popcorn and lemonade, we were ushered into our reception tent. An assortment of purple wildflowers filled vintage vases along the tables, complementing our laid-back style. Illuminating the room was a large wooden backdrop, constructed by my husband and brothers from wood torn off our old corn crib. The rest of the night was filled with dancing, campfires and s’mores, with late-night ice cream sundaes providing the perfect ending to our day. A sparkler farewell ushered us off as we rode away in a friend’s vintage pickup truck. We were so grateful for the many friends and family who shared in our wedding and helped turn our country romance into the start of our lifetime together.

Wedding Photography: Lauren Kirkbride Photography / Wedding Venue: Cedar-Hanson Park near Trimont, Minnesota / Floral Design: Sadie’s Couture Floral & Event Styling  / Wedding Coordination: Lasting Impressions / Wedding Cinematography: Capture Studios / Catering: Gerhardt’s Catering / Wedding Cake: Hy-Vee / DJ: Sota Sound Entertainment / Rentals: Apres Party and Tent Rental / Wedding Dress: Allure Bridals via Bella Bridal Boutique

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!

Click here to see the rest in the gallery!

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

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

We’re sending you off into your weekends our very favorite way – with an adorable couple and their love-filled engagement shoot. There is just something so wonderful about a last little burst of love before you hit the ground running on your weekend and Adrienne Page Photography has sent over an adorable couple with an adorable dog that has set our spirits high for the next few days – at least. And just when you might be needing a little more, we’ll be back with a gorgeous wedding to start the week bright and early Monday! xoxo

Photography courtesy of Adrienne Page Photography.

All the fabulous fêtes from the last pretty, pretty week:

a romantic French chateau highlight film filled with goosebumps
a contemporary soiree in Virginia with the most amazing decor and a bride to match
a Texas Hill Country affair with the slightest edge of fabulous France
an elegant, simple, and oh-so-fabulous soiree in Singapore
a capital STUNNING Philadelphia wedding we capital LOVE
a soft, romantic fête in Austin that is simply beyond
a wedding that takes the fabulous cake in Houston
a classic Washington D.C. soiree that is all wonderful
a New York Wedding we love more and more each time we visit
a Scottish-inspired, tartan clad fabulous New Hampshire fête
a French Countryside, thrifting inspired shoot in New Jersey

A few things we’re totally, head over heels, loving and just have to share:

a recipe for the perfect piñata cookies for the upcoming Cinco de Mayo via She Knows
a list of fab DIY seating cards + displays via Martha Stewart Weddings
an oyster shell votive candle holder DIY we LOVE via Once Wed

An adorable flower girl, pretty in pink ‘maids, luscious flowers from Flora Bella, Cotton Candy. This wedding has it all, and then some. It has a beautiful couple, so sweetly in love, at the center. It has a DIY candy buffet. And it has charm in every adorably doily-covered corner. Paul Vincent has perfectly captured every one of those sweet corners and graciously put them all in one place for us – the full image gallery!

Michael and I met through a church youth group outing to an amusement park in high school. By the end of the trip, our friends teased us as we were “walking very close”. Throughout high school, we continued to develop our friendship and spent many late nights talking on the phone to one another. However, we never dated and I remember going on to separate colleges and reflecting back that he was “the boy I should have dated”. Over holiday and summer breaks, we would still get together to catch up and enjoy our favorite pepperoni and black olive pizza. We eventually got together less and less until on my 22nd birthday I received an email from him wishing me a happy birthday and asking if he could take me out for a birthday dinner. Immediately on that first date we both felt the same connection we had always had and this time was able to appreciate it as something more. We continued dating until, on our one year anniversary, he proposed to me in a horse-drawn carriage.

I have always been a hopeless romantic and therefore wanted the feel of our wedding to reflect as such. As I have always been a girly-girl, light pastel pink was a necessary color. To add a vintage feel, I also incorporated antique gold and white as my accent colors. Finding the perfect venue to hold our reception was an easy decision once I had toured the Lafayette Club in Minnetonka Beach. The Grand Ballroom was perfect with it’s veranda overlooking the lake, the elegant feel created by the soft lighting and colors, and the magnificent chandelier that creates a sparkling and timeless ambience. The hardwood floors and overall feel transport you to a time of gentlemen in top hats and ladies in white gloves. It was perfect.

To add to the beauty, I consulted Lisa Roy of Flora Bella to provide all of the floral arrangements. After our first meeting, I knew she had captured the exact feel I was hoping for. Using spheres of baby’s breath in tall crystal risers we created a whimsical feel that was instantly noticed upon arrival. The arrangements of soft pink and white flowers in collected milk glass pedestals on top of ruffled glass cake stands as well as milk glass vases and glass candle votives completed the look. To further soften the feel, we put doilies on each table for each of the centerpieces to be placed upon.

To add some personal touches, we included a candy buffet that featured my love of cotton candy. The soft fluffy treat was not only perfect for my wedding, but is also one of my absolute favorite treats. We also had each of our guests sign the guest book by writing on a doily and then adding it to the pages of an antique book about love. Guests were seated by finding their escort cards that we created using two doilies folded in half that held their name card. The guest book table featured antique frames in various shades of gold that I had found on Etsy as well as more cake stands.

We had created our dream wedding and were finally able to begin our happily ever after. I am so blessed by the support of my family and friends as we prepared for this day and as we have continued our marriage. Though everything was exactly as I had dreamed, the part that I could never have dreamed of was the amazing man that God had planned for me to share it all with.

Photography: Paul Vincent / Flowers: Flora Bella / Ceremony Location: Southtown Baptist Church / Reception and Catering: Lafayette Club / Cake: Queen of Cakes / Dress: Symphony from The Wedding Shoppe / Bridesmaid dresses: Bari Jay / Rings: Custom from Schmidt’s Jewelry / Shoes: Enzo Angiolini / Shoe clips: Bpoetic on Etsy / Tuxedos: The Wedding Shoppe / Candy Buffet: DIY  / Additional Jewelry: Che Bella / DJ: Instant Request

This next little number captured by Red Bird Hills just warmed my heart right up this morning. It never fails, Vow Renewals make me gush every time. Maybe it’s this couple’s tutu-wearing little girl and sweater vest-wearing little boy or maybe it’s the homemade pie the Mister baked with love or perhaps it’s the gorgeous florals by Ashley Fox Designs – but I am pretty sure it’s the way you can tell this family could not be more thrilled to be in this life together. How can you not gush a little bit when you see that? Click here for more!

Click here for the FULL vow renewal!

From the bride… We were married at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum in 2001 in front of 150 friends and family but chose to have a vow renewal at our home in our gardens. The ceremony and celebration was small and very personal. Our best man 10 years ago, Brian C.P. Harvey, who is now Evelyn’s godfather, created and officiated a heartwarming, nostalgic and emotional ceremony. We could not imagine celebrating that day without him. Leah Vestermark, my creative, beautiful and funny college buddy, designed a ‘commemorate the day’ program. It captured the spirit of our family and the home, gardens and backyard chicken coop (complete with five laying hens) Tom and I have built together. She also videotaped the event for our later amusement and posterity.

My husband Tom, an excellent baker, made the “Perfect 10” apple pie and everyone said it was the best apple pie ever. He also built the arbor from branches sourced from his parent’s 40-acre woods in Wisconsin. Our children, 5-year-old Evelyn and 4-year-old Lucas, had a great time running around and enjoying the beautiful autumn day, and they couldn’t wait to eat the pie, of course. Also, I grew the echuveria/succulent in my own garden this summer and sprayed it a gold metallic for the bouquet to echo the metallic theme of the event. Tom surprised me earlier in August with a diamond anniversary band to celebrate our 10 years of marriage — “I couldn’t wait,” he said. We used our cake cutter, server and the crystal champagne glasses from our first wedding day, but this time with a much more toned-down drink of cider instead of champagne. Our wedding was beautiful and special 10 years ago, but the vows we spoke at our renewal meant so much more, and we had fun with them too. “Ashley, I promise to love you even though you drive too fast,” and “Tom, I promise to love you even though you could not point the direction North if your life depended on it.”

Photography: Tasha of Red Bird Hills / Venue: The Couple’s Home in Chaska, Minnesota / Flowers: Ashley Fox Designs / Bride’s Dress: Alexia Admor / Garden Arbor + Pie: Tom Fox, The Groom / Coat + Boots: Local Thrift Shops / Groom’s Suit: Joseph Abboud / Program Design + Cinematography: Leah Vestermark, Friend of the Couple / Flower Girl’s (Daughter’s) Skirt: DIY / Officiant: Brian C.P. Harvey, Friend of the Couple

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!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

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.

Click here for the FULL wedding!

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

Something about this wedding makes me smile. Could be the crazy adorable bridesmaids or the super cute boys all in a row. Could be the whimsical and yet completely lovely style. Or the pure joy radiating out of each image. Might be the little tidbits of fun that are infused into every last detail or the sense of coziness and total love. But I’m pretty sure it’s more than that. I’m pretty sure it’s the ridiculously adorable bride and groom who are so madly in love you simply can’t help but smile. Photographed by Emily Steffen, this wedding is a reminder that at the end of the day…having someone to love is the most important part of your wedding style. Click here to see even more.

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From the Bride…Nate and I got engaged 7 years after we started dating and I had definitely spent a good portion of the years leading up to the proposal day-dreaming about our future wedding. We always knew we wanted to have an informal wedding that really reflected us as a couple. Some of our favorite memories included hosting dinner parties and playing lawn games with friends in the backyard. We thought that replicating that casual setting on a larger scale with our all-time favorite people would be the perfect way to celebrate our marriage.

We set out searching for an outdoor venue in the Twin Cities, where Nate and I had lived together for almost 5 years before moving west to San Francisco. We ended up taking a gamble and chose a venue sight unseen and are so happy we did! Our venue, Camrose Hill Farm in Stillwater, MN was an absolute stunner. A historic dairy farm owned by florist Cindie Sinclair, Camrose had the picture-perfect rustic charm we were searching for. The venue had an outdoor space for the ceremony, an area to play lawn games, a covered pavilion for the reception and a rustic cabin for the wedding party to get ready in. The property even had a bonfire pit so we could roast s’mores. We were sold!

For dinner, we knew for quite a while that we wanted to serve pizza. Our favorite restaurant in Minneapolis serves wood-fired neapolitan pizzas and we were lucky to find a wonderful caterer, Nate Lane of Thyme to Entertain, to make delicious pizzas just like them for our big day. Farmington Bakery made fantastic pies and cookies and Nate’s mom made “our” pie. (We couldn’t imagine our wedding without one of her creations.)

After a lot of the big pieces were taken care of, we could focus on the little details. Our tastes tend to skew a bit more modern/graphic yet we had chosen a very charming, shabby-chic venue so my challenge was to find a way to merge these aesthetics. (I think our theme ended up being “modern + rustic” if that makes any sense at all!) The Invitations and Save The Dates I’d designed essentially set the stage for our color palette: a simplistic combo of black, grey and a pop of red. From there, everything started to fall into place. (We ultimately had to scrap a lot of my big décor plans due to a limited budget, but thankfully the venue had so much built-in charm that it really didn’t need any decorating. Score!)

We were very lucky to have lots of help, support and participation from good friends and family members in order to pull everything together. Our families put a great deal of effort into assembling decorations and helping with logistics. One of our close friends officiated the ceremony which made it extremely special and personal. (The ceremony ended up being our favorite part of the day!) Another close friend, Caleb Hawley is a talented musician and he and his band totally rocked the reception.

Our laid-back affair came together better than we could have predicted. It was full of emotion, lots of laughter, our favorite people and a number of happy surprises. We never wanted to have a traditional, cookie-cutter day and I’ve been told we were successful. We’re so glad that the fabulous photographer Emily Steffen and videographer Matt Brue of Capture Studios were there to capture the day from beginning to end. Nate and I are excited to be able to relive our big day through images for many, many years to come.

Wedding Photography: Emily Steffen Photography / Wedding Cinematography: Capture Studios / Flowers: Camrose Hill Flowers / Ceremony + Reception Location: Camrose Hill Flower Farm / Wedding Dress: Nicole Miller / Hair + Make-up: Erin Dennison / Caterer: Thyme to Entertain / Dessert: Farmington Bakery

This much we know, a photograph taken by Anda Marie Photography is like a romantic window into a couple’s Big Day and one that we could stare at for hours upon hours. And this window is boasting a view of garden nuptials mixed with the perfect vintage details in a knock-our-socks-off affair held at Camrose Hill Flower Farm. A flower farm! Does it get any sweeter? We think not. Head over to the gallery for more gorgeous images from this Minnesota wedding.

Click here to see the FULL wedding gallery!

From the Bride… Kohler and I met in college  when we sat next to each other in English class. He pursued me until I said yes to a date. We spent the next 12 years in and out of each others lives. I think we both knew we were sole mates and were destined to live our lives together! We both knew we wanted to get married somewhere close to OUR home of Minneapolis. We chose the city of Stillwater for the beautiful and historic charm. Kohler and I both wanted something classy, timeless, beautiful, elegant and most IMPORTANTLY something for our guests to simply ENJOY. It’s not hard to see why we chose Camrose Hill Farm as our venue. The first step you take onto this beautiful piece of property is simply magical! We  knew we wanted Anda Marie to shoot our wedding and all of the other vendors fell into place perfectly. With help from family and friends we planned and designed this wedding in 6 months. Having a  love for fashion and anything related to design, I loved every minute of the  planning and designing of every last detail!

My favorite moment was at the end of the ceremony when our pastor announced us as husband and wife …. a.k.a  Mr. And  Mrs. Brandon while “At Last” played in the background and Kohler and I did a swanky little dance down the aisle. It was the moment I’ve waited for my whole life!

Photography: Anda Marie Photography / Flowers: Camrose Hill Flower Farm / Ceremony and Reception Location: Camrose Hill Flower Farm / Shoes: Nina / Bride’s Dress & Flower Girl Dresses: Nicole Miller from Che Bella / Bride’s Jewelry: A. Michele Boutique / Bride’s blue prep robe: Plum Pretty Sugar / Bridesmaids attire: (chose their own): BCBG, H &M, Max Studio, Cynthia Vincent, Only Hearts/ Makeup: Ashlea VanLiere of MAC cosmetics Orange county / Hair: Theo Nguyen / Groom attire: Banana Republic Shirt / Pants, Bow Tie: Nordstrom / Programs, Hair Flower, bean bags: Chelsea Petaja of Oh My Deer / Caterer: The Deco Catering / Event Rental: Ultimate Events /Candy Bar: bought candy at A Candy Store /Band: Midnight Moxy, midnightmoxy@gmail.com 

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

Despite the rain, this adorable orchard wedding by Amanda Nicole Photography is so bright and cheerful!  Maybe it’s the candy apple red bridesmaids dresses, the vibrant wildflower centerpieces, the thousand handmade paper cranes or the beaming grins on the happy bride and groom.  Whatever it is the result is nothing but pure happiness and sweet, pretty-as-can-be homemade style. Check out all the details in the full gallery!

Click here to see the entire gallery of images!

From Amanda Nichole Photography…One of the design themes of the wedding was a paper crane that I’m told symbolizes peace and that if you fold 1000 of them you will receive your wish.  I’m not sure how many cranes Leah folded for the big day but hopefully I’m doing my part to make her wish come true by submitting her wedding to the blog.

Leah and Jess were married in May at the Minnetonka Orchards.  It had been a rainy week and had promised to be a rainy day so the ceremony was moved inside of a tent where Leah was quick to find amazing places to hang the paper cranes that she had carefully crafted herself.  Leah also wore a beautiful crane necklace that matched with the theme of the wedding.  I loved all of the details from the apples running alongside the aisle to the colorful poofs throughout the tent.

The best part of the entire day though was the fact that the bride and groom were not afraid to go out into the rain and muck to capture some amazing shots.  Leah had thought before hand to have some practical clear umbrellas for the bridesmaids as well as a pretty, pink umbrella for herself.  The ceremony was simple and elegant and was followed by a relaxed and fun pig roast.  They had a non-traditional wedding dessert, many different types of cheesecake with different toppings. The day was all about friends and family including the conclusion with a bonfire and s’mores to end the evening.

Location: Minnetonka Orchards / Wedding Photographer: Amanda Nichole Photography / Salon: Dean Gray Salon + Spa / Florist: Ashley Fox Designs / Tables, Linens, and Setup: Ultimate Events / Caterer: Divine Swine / Wedding Cake: Muddy Paws / Wedding Coordinator: Hailley Leverty of Evolution Events