Despite being thrown the curveball of 2020, Heather and Daniel’s wedding day was as smooth, beautiful and full of smiles. They had to modify their original wedding day plans, but were able to honor their initial June 20th date, tying the knot amongst a close circle of friends in Duluth before this larger celebration at Legacy Hill Farm.

Their whole day was bright and vibrant, mirroring the white barns and flowing fabric backdrops at the farm. I can’t believe we’ve never made it out to Legacy Hill Farm before! This stunning venue provided a great outdoor option for both the ceremony and reception. It’s hard to top the views in Heather and Daniel’s gorgeous engagement photos throughout the hills of Idaho, but Legacy Hill’s scenery certainly rivals them.

You could see lightning and the gorgeous power of a thunderstorm rolling in behind them while Heather and Daniel read their vows, and not 10 minutes after they said “I do,” we were in a downpour. The storm gave the couple the chance to take a needed rest before their reception, which featured a breezy, busy dance floor, and a fun sparkler exit.

Heather and Daniel, congratulations! Thank you for being willing to roll with the punches and keep a smile on your face the entire time.

Bethany and Andy’s wedding day was unique, personalized, and full of love. These are two people who you can look at a photo of and just see how much they love each other. This infectious, joyful energy radiated out to everyone present on their wedding day. Their individuality shone through in every aspect of their day, including their choice in vendors, their wedding attire, and their close circle of friends and family.

Bethany and Andy infused their personal touches throughout their wedding day, adding their own influence to an already awesome space. Kellerman’s is a unique location in and of itself, and it’s an added bonus that it’s located next to the picturesque Big Wood Brewery. The combination of Kellerman’s plant-filled alleyway and nearby industrial spots in downtown White Bear Lake made for an infinite number of cool spots within a few short blocks. This couple’s wedding attire was charming and detail-oriented, which perfectly mirrored their venue choice. Bethany’s bouquet coordinated not only with her husband’s tie and pocket square, but with her hair color as well!

On their wedding day, Bethany and Andy were truly surrounded by their people. If they weren’t laughing with their wedding party, they were sharing a sweet moment of introspection together. Having a friend officiate their ceremony, it was sprinkled with inside jokes, and even a selfie-stick moment. In addition to the traditional vows and readings, the two also tucked away their favorite beers in a time capsule marked by their names and the date of their wedding day. 

Despite how well these two lovebirds coordinated their wedding, there was one aspect that they didn’t see eye to eye on: Christmas decorations. Luckily, Bethany’s friends pulled through and brought a light up Santa to the reception, presented to her during her maid of honor’s speech before taking its rightful place near the dance floor. What are bridesmaids for if not adding that extra special touch to your reception?

Bethany and Andy, you two are an absolute joy to spend a day with! We are so grateful to have been a part of your wedding.

Wedding planner — Kristin Cranmer, Kellerman’s Event Center — White Bear Lake, MN
Ceremony venue — Kellerman’s Event Center — White Bear Lake, MN
Reception venue — Kellerman’s Event Center — White Bear Lake, MN
Hair stylist — Blushing Room —
Makeup artist — Blushing Room — St. Paul, MN
Caterer — Kane’s — St. Paul, MN
Cake designer — Nothing Bundt Cakes
Florist — Toni’s Flowers — Anoka, MN
Dress shop/designer — Bridal Accents Couture — Burnsville, MN
Tuxedos — Atmosfere — Minneapolis, MN
DJ/Band/musicians — Celebrate! Entertainment — Woodbury, MN
Stationer — Shutterfly
Stationer — Epitome Papers — Excelsior, MN
Jeweler — Helzberg & Manly Bands

Almquist Farm has a beautiful property, with so many unique spots for wedding prep, ceremony and reception space, and, of course, photography backgrounds. For their wedding day, Zachary and Delaney were allowed the ease of getting ready and having their ceremony and reception all in the same spot, but from the photos you’d think they spent the entire day traveling to different locations. It’s obvious that these two are right at home in nature, as evidenced by their Minnehaha Falls engagement photos as well!

Deciding to forgo a first look prior to their ceremony, the first time that Zachary saw the bride was as she walked down the aisle, arm-in-arm with her father.  The pay-off of his emotion when Delaney came down the aisle was well worth the wait! We also got plenty of sweet first look moments between Delaney and her dad, as she came down the stairs to greet him after getting ready. Family and friends played an important role in Delaney and Zachary’s day, their tight-knit circle ready for everything from helping the couple prepare for the day, to posing for goofy photos, to egging each other on on the dance floor. 

We could not have asked for a more beautiful space, a more beautiful couple, or a more beautiful day! Thank you for having us capture your wedding day, Delaney and Zachary!

Ceremony and Reception venue — Almquist Farm — Hastings, MN
Hair stylist — Angela Leach — Apple Valley, MN
Officiant — Cat Couper — Twin Cities, MN
Singer for Ceremony — Ally Novak
Caterer — Cannon River Catering — Cannon Falls, MN
Cake designer — Cream of the Cakes — Lakeville, MN
Florist — Becky Hoffman 
Dress shop — Davids Bridal 
Tuxedos — Mens Warehouse 
DJ/Band/musicians — Mark Krinhop 
Jeweler — Kay Jewelers

You might remember a little bit of Sarah and Chris’s story if you’ve read their engagement blog post, but we’ll refresh you here! After spotting Sarah at a cubing event on April 16th, 2016 in Missouri (of course he recalls the exact day and location), he found her on a forum, reached out, and the two have been inseparable since. 

Their wedding was sweet and classic, following the traditional formula of a first look, ceremony, and reception. Starting off the day in South Minneapolis and ending in Stillwater, they hit some of our favorite spots in Minnesota. Upon reaching the Heights Hall and Club for their reception, the tables were decked out with flowers, candles, and Rubik’s cubes! After speeches, Sarah and Chris were joined by their friends for a speedcubing competition. It isn’t often that you get so many people with such a specific talent in one room together, and it was an absolute blast to watch. We won’t spoil whether the bride or groom won, you’ll have to scroll down to see for yourself!

Weddings are always a happy occasion, but we are not exaggerating when we say that Sarah and Chris could not stop smiling on their wedding day. We had them running through alleyways in South Minneapolis and strolling along the Mississippi river, their smiles never leaving their faces. This kind of infectious joy makes for gorgeous photos, you can’t fake that kind of love for the camera. 

Sarah and Chris, you two are such an impeccable pair. Your shared interests give you two such a unique connection and we are overjoyed to have captured all of your laughs on your wedding day.

Wedding planner –  Becki Kobielush
Ceremony venue – First Evangelical Free Church – Minneapolis, MN
Reception venue – The Heights Hall and Club –  Stillwater, MN
Videographer – Adam Grumbo Films
Officiant – Jay Pound
Caterer – Aesops Table –  St. Paul, MN
DJ – Andrew Holliday, personal friend

Photographing Stephanie and Loren’s wedding felt more like celebrating a family reunion than photographing a client’s wedding. Their wedding at the Nicollet Island Pavilion marks the 4th Stillman family wedding that I’ve photographed! Knowing and photographing this family for over a decade made this day more memorable than any wedding from my recent past.

All of the Stillman weddings have been beautiful. Allie + Brian‘s wedding at the Loring Pasta bar, Lauren + Jason‘s wedding at the Sheraton Bloomington Hotel, and their Mom Penny‘s wedding in the tropical paradise of Hawaii! If you click on any of those names you’ll be taken to their respective blog posts!

Nicollet Island Pavilion is always one of my favorite wedding venues for its great views of Minneapolis, its close proximity to the beautiful Nicollet Island Inn, and its versatile ceremony and reception space. The long, winding path from the pavilion itself down to the water of the Mississippi River was perfect for Stephanie and Loren’s first look, the journey emphasizing the excitement that they both felt about seeing each other for the first time. Couples photos were a blast with the lingering exhilaration from their first look, and the beautiful fall leaves were worth braving the day’s chilly weather.

Following a Jewish ceremony in the tent adjacent to the pavilion, the rest of their evening was a whirlwind of speeches, dancing, and excitement. What made Stephanie’s wedding stand out the most was the pure, unobstructed joy she demonstrated the entire day, that seemed to encompass the whole event. You’d be hard pressed to find any photos where Stephanie, Loren, and their loved ones don’t have a smile on their face. Our Antibooth was a hit with this crowd, with everyone scurrying to gather their families for a long awaited group photo. I even got in on a photo with all of the Stillmans and their spouses, a great memento of the years I’ve spent with the group.

This celebration was bittersweet, knowing that it was the last time time I would be photographing one of the Stillman sisters on their wedding day. However, I know it won’t be long before I see them all again, whether it’s for maternity photos, a bat mitzvah, or a trip to Hawaii!

Wedding planner – Allie Markman
Ceremony venue – Nicollet Island Pavilion – Minneapolis, MN
Reception venue – Nicollet Island Pavilion – Minneapolis, MN
Videographer – Snowshoe Productions – Minneapolis, MN
Officiant – Andrea Lear, family friend
Makeup artist – Sarah Drews
Caterer – Mintahoe – Minneapolis, MN
Desserts – Buttercream
Florist – Richfield Floral – Eagan, MN
Dress shop – Bridal Aisle – Osseo, MN
Band – Bluewater Kings Band
Dog Walker –  Jenna Norton with PawPack Pet Services – Robbinsdale, MN