Lake Bride Magazine - Issue 17

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Your planning guide for the best adventure yet

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PRINT + ONLINE

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ove. It makes the world go ’round. It’s what flutters our heart and makes our palms sweat. It’s all encompassing and it can take our breath away.

PRODUCED BY

PUBLISHER

Megan Kellin EDITOR

Maria Hileman

Love is essential to living life to its fullest. And love can mean a great many things to many people, but one thing remains constant, at least in our minds – love is what drives life. Without it there is a void, an undeniable absence of feeling.

CONTRIBUTING EDITOR & EVENT PRODUCTION

You could think of love as romantic love, love of your family and friends, love of nature and other species, love of learning, etc. Love can be a universal feeling but takes shape in many different ways.

ART DIRECTOR & GRAPHIC DESIGN

Allison Schwindeman DIRECTOR OF RETAIL

Kelly Kabotoff CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Meg Heaton Meredith Berg AD DESIGN

Meg Heaton & Mark Dillon COPY EDITOR & PROOFREADER

At Lake Bride Magazine, we believe that a good love story makes the world go ’round. But it’s not limited to THE wedding day. It’s also the awkward first conversation and first date that follows. It’s when you meet their family and it’s the first time you realize you are IN love. It’s the engagement and all of the magical memories that will last a lifetime. It’s preparing for the big day and, of course, the big day itself. But it’s also the days, years, and decades that follow. It’s the life lessons you learn together. It’s the art of compromising and of fighting and coming out stronger – together. It’s learning each other’s family dynamics and adjusting expectations. It’s about professing your vows years later and celebrating anniversaries. It’s about a love that creates life and a love that lives long after we’re gone.

And it’s about everything in between.

Anne Kelley Conklin PROJECT MANAGER

Jennifer Gorman RETAIL STORYTELLERS

Allison Scott, Alen Kutincic, Kendall Messer, Aries Cogbill, Emma Zimmerman, Sara Scott, Ashleigh Hanson, Shay Villeneuve, Emma Meyer COVER IMAGE

Emily Theisen of Lite Creatives EDITORIAL & BUSINESS OFFICE

10 NW 3rd St. Grand Rapids, MN 55744 ADVERTISE

For a media kit, email: hello@lakebridemagazine.com

FIND US EVERYWHERE

ILLUSTRATED BY

Meredith Berg

It’s about learning to be the best version of yourself through your experiences with whomever or whatever you love.

We strive to bring that inspiration to you on the pages of each issue of Lake Bride Magazine. We love to tell people’s stories. Authentic stories focused on human emotion and destiny. YOUR stories … because they serve as great reminders of the true power of love.

T H E T E A M AT

LAKE BRIDE MAGAZINE

+ select grocers, convenience stores, and independent retailers 4 and 5 star hotels + resorts

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STOC EA ECO M

KIST

PrintReleaf guarantees every sheet of paper a customer consumes will be reforested. Lake and Company has reforested 9,285,913 sheets of copy paper. ©2022 Lake and Company. All rights reserved. No portion may be duplicated, in whole or in part, without the written consent of the publisher.

Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this publicatio; however, the publisher assumes no responsibility for accuracy of information or omissions from the material provided. Lake and Company cannot be held liable for the quality or performance of goods and services rendered by the advertisers published in the magazine.

Lake Bride Magazine is the ultimate bridal resource for couples and bridal professionals. A collection of style inspiration and chic celebrations, highlighting the lake region’s premier local vendors and resources.

— lakebridemagazine.com —

Askllison A with

PHOTO BY

Michelle Boyd Photography

ALLISON SCHWINDEMAN

Small vs.

Big Wedding

As a wedding and event planner, I have dealt with events both large and small — with guest counts into the several hundreds down to groups you could count on two hands.

While the big parties are always fun, I will always and forever be a proponent of a small celebration (my husband and I chose to celebrate our marriage with only 20 members of our immediate families). I know it’s not for everyone, and that’s OK! But hear me out.

unconventional location, then a smaller guest count might be your answer to getting it.

With a small guest list, you’re able to manage your budget much more easily. This is a pretty practical reason to have a small celebration, but if budget is a concern to you, then don’t be afraid to limit your list. I still wanted our wedding to feel unique, and our guests had traveled from all over the country to be with us, so we wanted them to feel a bit spoiled. Our small count enabled us to choose a gourmet menu for dinner, luxurious table linens and florals, and custom-designed invitations because we had so few to pay for. If you want the elements of an expensive wedding but don’t have the budget, a small guest list is the way to make that happen.

We had these notes tucked in envelopes and set at the place settings so the guests could read them when sitting down to dinner, and they doubled as place cards so they knew where to sit.

This small gesture of a handwritten note goes a long way in making your guests feel appreciated.

Some venues have limits to how many people they can accommodate, so a smaller list means your options are nearly endless when it comes to choosing where you want to get married. A beautiful overlook on the North Shore of Lake Superior probably would be out of the question for 200 guests, but with only 20 it’s a piece of cake. If you have your heart set on a unique or

Like I said, a small wedding isn’t for everyone. But if you’re struggling with how to fit everything you want into your budget, or stressing out about being the center of attention, or finding yourself having to compromise on the things you really want due to guest counts, then don’t be afraid to celebrate small. Just keep your marriage at the center of your planning decisions, and you can’t go wrong.♡

You can also consider including certain details that might be too overwhelming to tackle for a large guest list. For example, my husband and I wrote an individual note to each guest who was at our wedding thanking them for being there and telling them how much it meant to have them celebrate with us.

A bonus that I hadn’t even thought of before having a small wedding was that it meant I got to spend real quality time with each person who was there. I didn’t feel rushed to greet everyone and try to have a conversation or thank them for coming. My husband and I could sit and chat with our guests in a completely relaxed environment.

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Monthly

W EDDING TIMELINE 12+ 8-10 6-8 4-6 MONTHS

□ Create a budget and establish your priorities – where do you want to splurge/save? □ Create an inspiration board and identify your style and color palette □ Start planning a guest list – you’ll need that guest count! □ Choose a wedding date (keep a few options in mind and check with important guests and your venue) □ Select your ceremony and reception sites □ Optional: Have an engagement party

MONTHS

□ Ask friends and relatives to be in your wedding party □ Select and order your wedding gown □ Research your vendors: officiant, caterer, entertainment, photographer, videographer, florist, stationer (invitations, place cards, etc.), rental companies (chairs, tables, tent – if needed). Get details and contracts in writing! □ Arrange accommodations and transportation for out-of-town guests, if needed

□ Feeling overwhelmed?

Consider hiring a wedding planner.

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MONTHS

□ Make final selections and book your preferred vendors

MONTHS

3

MONTHS

□ Finalize guest list, compile current addresses

□ Select and order/ rent groom and groomsmen attire

□ Have engagement photos taken

□ Schedule tasting with caterer and finalize menu

□ Order wedding cake

□ Register for gifts

□ Order invitations

□ Select and order bridesmaid dresses

□ Order wedding rings

□ Send save-the-date announcements

□ Order guest favors

□ Research and book honeymoon (don’t forget to renew your passport!)

□ Attend prewedding counseling, if required □ Book a rehearsal dinner location □ Book rehearsal dinner vendors – entertainment, caterer, groom's cake

□ Hire your wedding day transportation □ Attend your bridal shower (host will determine actual date)

2

MONTHS

□ Mail your invitations □ Write your vows □ Choose ceremony readings and music □ Begin dress fittings and alterations □ Touch base with all vendors to confirm dates, details and deposits. If they have special requirements for setup, send these to your venue. □ Purchase gifts for parents, attendants and each other □ Purchase guest book, toasting flutes, cake servers, unity candle and any other miscellaneous accessories □ Book hair and makeup artists and schedule a trial run

Notes 1

MONTH

□ Apply for marriage license □ Have final bridal gown fitting □ Confirm bridesmaids have their gowns and alterations are complete □ Create your ceremony program □ Send rehearsal dinner invitations

2-3 WEEKS

□ Review RSVP list, call any guests who have not responded □ Send photographer and videographer your must-have shots □ Send your song list to your DJ or band leader. Include all special dances, schedule of speeches and your song requests/donot-play list □ Get your hair cut and colored □ Attend bachelor/ bachelorette parties

1

WEEK

□ Give reception venue/caterer final guest count □ Plan reception seating chart □ Print place cards and table number cards □ Create a vendor list with contact information. Give copies to your ceremony and reception site managers, as well as your maid/ matron of honor or personal attendant. □ Groom gets his hair cut

2 - 3 DAY B I G DAYS

BEFORE

DAY

□ Have bridal gown pressed or steamed, if necessary

□ Write checks for any balances due

□ Allow plenty of time to get ready

□ Enjoy a mani/pedi

□ Pick up groom and groomsmen attire

□ Rehearse ceremony. Include wedding party, readers, immediate family and officiant.

□ Give gifts to parents, wedding party and each other

□ Determine wedding party positions and order of processional and recessional □ Give place cards, table cards, menus, favors and any other items for table settings to the catering manager □ Reconfirm arrival times and final details with all vendors – give a copy of the details to your MOH

□ Bring ceremony accessories to the site: unity candle, aisle runner, yarmulkes □ Bring reception accessories to the site: décor, place cards, table number cards, guest book, cake server, favors □ Attend and enjoy the rehearsal dinner! □ Get your beauty sleep

□ Give wedding bands to best man to hold during ceremony □ Give best man the officiant’s fee envelope to be given after ceremony □ Relax and enjoy!

Aimee Jobe Photography

Dates still available for weddings and events 2022/2023. theandersonhousehotel.com | Wabasha, MN

Est. 1856 Minnesota's Oldest Historic Hotel

theandersonhousehotel.com | Wabasha, MN

How to:

Make your wedding unique to you Where did you two first meet? tip: consider getting married here

Where was your first date? tip: host your rehearsal dinner at the same restaurant

What did you eat during your first date? tip: re-create this meal for your wedding menu

You’re at the grocery store and on a whim you decide to get your fiancé/fiancée a surprise treat – what would the treat be? tip: assemble a welcome box for your out-of-town guests and include this treat inside

What is your favorite cocktail? What is your fiancé's favorite cocktail? tip: make these your signature craft cocktails for social hour

What is your favorite late-night snack? tip: have it brought in for a late-night snack at your reception

What is your favorite thing to do together? tip: consider basing your engagement photo shoot around this activity

What is your favorite band? tip: choose one of their songs as your first dance! Think outside the box – not all first dances have to be “traditional.”

What is your favorite food? tip: build your wedding menu around this

Do you have a favorite hot sauce or condiment that you put on everything? tip: put a bottle at each table for your guests to enjoy

What is one of your favorite vacation memories?

Do you and your fiancé/fiancée have a catch phrase or funny thing you say to each other all the time? tip: include it on custom cocktail napkins that you can use during cocktail hour and on your cake table

Do you and your fiancé/fiancée travel together? tip: instead of using numbers, think about naming the tables after places that you’ve traveled together or have special meaning to you

What are your favorite sweet treats? tip: eat dessert first! It’s your wedding – you can do what you want!

Do you and your fiancé/fiancée have a pet? tip: include your furry friend in your big day, at least in some photos!

Who is a friend or family member who has had a big impact on your relationship? tip: ask them to officiate your wedding

ILLUSTRATED BY

Did you and your fiancé/fiancée write love letters to each other? tip: pull from those letters and write your own vows or have excerpts included in your programs

Meredith Berg

tip: incorporate a taste of that into your reception

tips + trends

PHOTO Poly Mendes Photography VENUE Plummer House

PHOTO Jess Ekstrand | Rivets & Roses VENUE Wirth Chalet Fireplace Room

Unique Venues for your Small Wedding Have your heart set on exchanging your vows right on the shores of Lake Superior?

Or maybe in the backyard of your childhood home? A smaller guest count can open doors to many locations and venues that you may not have been able to consider for a bigger wedding. The opportunities are endless if you’re able to be flexible with your numbers.

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Here are some of our favorite spots that are just begging to be the backdrop for your small and intimate wedding celebration:

The Walker Art Center

The Walker Art Center and nearby Sculpture Garden are pretty iconic locations in Minneapolis, and we absolutely love their spaces for smaller gatherings. The Skyline Room inside the Walker provides a spectacular view of the downtown skyline, and the Garden Terrace is the perfect outdoor space to overlook the Sculpture Garden.

Wirth Chalet Fireplace Room

Part of Theodore Wirth Regional Park, the Wirth Chalet Fireplace Room provides a cozy Swiss chalet–style ambiance that would be perfect for a winter gathering.

Their bonus space of a stone terrace gives you the opportunity to enjoy the peaceful wilderness surrounding you.

North Shore of Lake Superior

We’re blessed with some pretty spectacular natural beauty in our state, especially Up North, so why not take advantage of it and find a special spot to set up a few chairs and embrace the surroundings?

tips + trends

PHOTO Robert Evans Imagery VENUE Walker Art Center

PHOTO Kimberly Williams Photography VENUE Little Lazy Lodge

Little Lazy Lodge

While they have a space for larger events, the lodge house is the perfect setting for your small gathering. With a cozy fireplace, warm and inviting details, and beautiful views of the surrounding woods and fields, we can’t imagine a cozier setting.

Round Barn Farm

A family-owned historic landmark, the Round Barn Farm in Red Wing boasts 35 acres of gorgeous fields, woodlands and bluffs. One of only 48 round barns remaining in Minnesota, it features reclaimed timbers and sophisticated country antiques, which deliver the comforts and charms of days gone by.

Plummer House

This English Tudor mansion is situated on an 11-acre estate full of lush greenery and beautifully landscaped gardens. You’ll have your choice of gardens for an intimate outdoor ceremony with a built-in backup of the mansion in case of bad weather. Embrace the original beauty of the interiors and furnishings — just add florals and you’re good to go!

When we say the opportunities are endless, we mean it!

Here are some nonspecific locations that we love seeing used to host smaller guest counts:

Your favorite restaurant

Some restaurants have designated event space to use for weddings and celebrations, although they often can’t accommodate hundreds of people. You can also inquire about renting out the restaurant in its entirety to truly have the place to yourselves.

Your family’s home or backyard

Hosting your wedding at your family home can bring an intimate sense of nostalgia to your wedding. Building upon years of memories you may already have at that home, you can add your wedding to that list to make it something you and your family will cherish for years to come.

An Airbnb rental

Choosing a beautiful private home from a home rental company will give you exclusive use of the space and plenty of flexibility to set where you want things to happen. However, some rentals don’t allow gatherings or events such as weddings, so be sure to check with the host before booking.

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tips + trends

Planning a Tented Wedding

By APRÈS EVENT DÉCOR AND TENT RENTAL

S

o you’re engaged and planning a wedding, imagining what your day will look like — and your dreams are leading to an outdoor wedding. Oh, the possibilities!

Read these tips on how to make it successful.

Weather can be unpredictable, and you never want to be caught in the rain without a plan B — a tent! You’ll need some land with a semi-flat area for one or more tents.

Some golf clubs allow tents for weddings, as do several other types of venues. Perhaps our favorite location for a tent? Your own backyard! (Or maybe you have a generous family friend with the perfect setting?)

Once the location is set, determine the size of tent needed. Although you may not know the exact number of guests, you’ll want to estimate how many you anticipate attending. This information, in addition to what you want to fit under the tent, will help determine the square footage needed. You want to be sure to accommodate all guest tables with room to move around, in addition to dance floors, stages, buffets or bars.

Something else to keep in mind when planning a wedding during COVID-19 is making sure you are allowing space for physical distancing and air flow to keep guests feeling comfortable. Adding bars or a second buffet line is a great option. Keeping tents open on the sides or dancing under the

stars are some other easy solutions to keep the air moving.

Next it’s time to select the type of tent, as there are several styles to choose from depending on size needed and desired look. Tents can have sides added, tops that can be clear, or ceilings that are high peaked or free of framework.

Consider if you’ll need to add a floor to the tent, complete with faux hardwood, and whether you’ll need heating or cooling. Also think about what kind of lighting you will need.

Perhaps the most fun part of planning a tented wedding — the décor! You will want to be sure the tent you are ordering is a wedding-grade tent.

Tents offer many options when it comes to décor and installations. You have choices such as draping it with fabric and using lights throughout the tent — including chandeliers! Either way, it’s important to decide on what décor elements are most important to you for accomplishing your desired look for the wedding.

It’s vital to have a good team of vendors in place when you are essentially building your own venue. In addition to a reputable tent company (hello, Après Event Décor and Tent Rental), we encourage you to hire a wedding coordinator to assist with keeping track of all the elements and vendors involved in the planning. Outdoor weddings may be a lot of work, but it’s always worth it!

PHOTO Sewell Photography

PHOTO Janelle Elise Photography

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tips + trends

PHOTO Russell Heeter Photography

PHOTO Cameron and Tia Photography

PHOTO Sewell Photography

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er gg i B e v o L a For Than Lake Superior Imagine your dream wedding along the breathtaking coast of Lake Superior’s North Shore! With several lake-side lodging establishments specializing in event planning and large groups, you can count on your magical day becoming nothing less than Superior.

Superior Shores Resort in Two Harbors, MN. LAKE BRIDE MAGAZINE

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OSCAR WILDE

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Locally Grown Floral Design HAWLEY HILL GARDENS Photography AIMEE JOBE PHOTOGRAPHY

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ore and more brides and floral designers are turning their focus toward using locally grown blooms in their wedding designs. And with more weddings being held outdoors due to health and safety concerns, we think that embracing and appreciating the natural beauty that is surrounding you will pay off in big ways. No sense in competing with Mother Nature!

Aside from some potential cost-saving benefits (no expensive shipping fees!) and minimizing negative environmental impacts (fewer harmful chemicals used to grow and preserve!), there are many other reasons to consider sourcing your blooms from a local grower. Abra Hawley, owner of Hawley Hill Gardens, is one such grower, located in the Brainerd Lakes area. Emotional connections and aesthetic appeal are two benefits of locally grown flowers that she highlights in her floral design work.

“

Locally grown floral materials have many benefits in terms of environmental factors and carbon footprint, but also in terms of aesthetics,” Hawley says.

“Many flowers that are incredibly gorgeous and useful in event design can be difficult to find through traditional wholesale sources, either because they are too delicate to hold up in shipping, don’t like cold storage, or are not desirable for mass production for some other reason.

When you work with local floral ingredients, you’re likely to find a whole new world of flowers and foliage that simply aren’t available as imports.”

It’s important to be flexible, considering a shorter growing season this far north, but don’t let that deter you. That’s where working with a professional can help, as they’ll be able to educate you on what is in season when, and what substitutes can be made when necessary.

RESOURCES FOR LOCAL FLOWERS TWIN CITIES FLOWER EXCHANGE tcflowerexchange.com ASCFG.ORG A directory sponsored by the Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers SLOW FLOWERS slowflowers.com MINNEAPOLIS FARMERS MARKET mplsfarmersmarket.com

“It does require a degree of flexibility in the planning and design process, but the payoff, to me, is worth it,” says Hawley. “When you are able to add those special touches of local and seasonal flowers, they are a tangible piece of a moment in time, that day in that year when that couple chose to marry, and it’s a beautiful thing.

When you source more unique locally grown ingredients for your wedding day, the results are bespoke floral pieces that are individual works of art and seasonality, a beautiful tribute to the time and place two people chose to unite in marriage.”

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inspiration

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Considering your own floral design for your wedding?

Use these broken-down and then reconstructed arrangements and bouquets by Hawley Hill Gardens as inspiration for creating your own floral stunners focusing on seasonal, locally grown blooms.

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1 | Wild fern 2 | Acidanthera 3 | Figwort 4 | Sunflower, “Sun-Fill”

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5 | Delphinium 6 | Dahlia, “Orsett Beauty” 8

7 | Celosia

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8 | Zinnia, “Golden Hour” 9 | Scabiosa, “Fama White” 10 | Zinnia, “Oklahoma Ivory” 11 | Dahlia, “Sugar Daddy”

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12 | Snapdragon, “Costa Apricot”

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13 | Calendula, “Ivory Princess” 10

14 | Scented geranium

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1 | Hibiscus foliage, “Mahogany Splendor” 2 | Eucalyptus, “Silver Drop” 3 | Zinnia, “Oklahoma Salmon” 4 | Peony foliage 5 | Jewels-of-Opar 6 | Dahlia, “Appleblossom” 7 | Cosmos, “Apricotta” 7

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8 | Celosia 9 | Zinnia, “Benary’s Giant Salmon Rose” 10 | Dahlia, “Foxy Lady”

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11 | Celosia 12 | Dahlia, “Jowey Winnie” 13 | Eucalyptus, “Silver Dollar” 14 | Amaranthus, “Hot Biscuits”

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1 | Baptisia foliage

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2 | Hanging amaranthus 3 | Gomphrena

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4 | Baptisia seed pod

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5 | Chocolate Queen Anne’s lace seed head 6 | Dusty miller 7 | Chocolate Queen Anne’s lace 10 7

8 | Foxglove, “Dalmatian Peach” 9 | Dahlia, “Cornel Bronze”

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10 | Dahlia 11 | Ornamental kale, “Crane Pink” 12 | Dahlia, “Jowey Winnie” 15

13 | Dahlia

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14 | Hydrangea paniculata 15 | Dahlia, “Iced Tea” 16 | Nicotiana, “Marshmallow” 17 | Salvia, “Lancelot”

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18 | Ornamental oregano, “Kirigami”

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19 | Dahlia, “Koko Puff”

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20 + 21 | Zinnia, “Little Flower Girl” 22 | Peony foliage 23 | Gomphrena

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24 | Wild raspberry foliage 19

25 | Salvia, “Lancelot”

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Your Wedding Day Style

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his season is all about the perfect blend of sultry and classy — the corset bodice.

Taking cues from the Regency era, this reimagined corset signifies what it means to be a modern bride. This trend is making its way down the aisle with exposed

boning that sits beneath delicate laces, 3-D floral embellishments, and sheer panels. It is often paired with a strapless neckline and A-line skirt, but we love to see brides go for a ballgown or add detachable sleeves for some serious glamour.

Shop LET’S

Matthew Trettel The Wedding Guys®

The Perfect Gown...

Finding the perfect gown goes beyond the latest trends. It’s all about discovering your personal style. Let’s face it. We don’t dress up in yards of diamond white tulle on an everyday basis and most of us don’t don lace, bows and feathers all that often.

So when it comes to finding the perfect gown, it is often a game of trial and error.

Biggest mistake? Bringing an entourage with you on your shopping trip. Instead, take one or two trusted helpers that can assist in finding the dress that defines your bridal style. Any more than that will provide conflicting options and make the search all that more daunting.

The best news is, with all the dress options available, you are sure to find something absolutely perfect for your day.

Our Blog Photos by Anna Grinets

DEEP PLUNGING NECKLINES How low will you go? Deep plunging

Stay up to date on all the latest fashion trends and wedding ideas.

Each week The Wedding Guys also publish a trends newsletter to bring

necklines are hot this season! Some

you everything you need to create

even feature sheer illusion fabric to

your own special day. Sign up now

help hold everything together.

at: www.TheWeddingGuys.com

Did You Know...

The use of floral prints makes for a very romantic and sweet style.

Statement sleeves are having a moment, and bridal designers are soaking it up.

Taking cues from the ‘80s, this trend ranges from structural and voluminous to delicate and flowy, like the ones at left. Sleeves will glam up really any look.

e n i l e d a nd MIsla At

artbar

coffee | wine | beer | small plates

gallery

paintings | jewelry | pottery | cards

B_E LL

STREET

g&aalrltebrayr

madeline island | lake superior

bellstgallery.com LAKE BRIDE MAGAZINE

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Cotton and Pearls

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his lakeside elopement’s design was inspired by the pureness of cotton and pearls. Pearls are timelessly elegant with a nod to a nautical element perfect for your lakeside wedding day. Cotton adds a delicate softness and a touch of whimsy to the florals that perfectly complements the natural characteristics of the pearl. Hues of soft blues balanced with neutrals create a backdrop that’s easy to build upon with your own unique touches.

PLANNING AND COORDINATING Lakeside Weddings + Events | PHOTOGRAPHY Alexandra Robyn Photo + Design | RENTALS AND STYLING A Family Affair Event Styling FLORALS Daisy Co. Floral Boutique and Hey There, Cupcake | BRIDAL DRESS Che Bella | BOUTIQUE STATIONERY Epitome Papers HAIR Michelle Dunlap | MAKEUP Blend Beauty by Natalie | CAKE Sugardust & Sprinkles | VENUE Hotel Landing | RING BOX The Mrs. Box

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Autumnal Elegance

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nspired by Marie Antoinette’s hamlet at the Château de Versailles, this wedding brings together the natural beauty of fall with the effortless elegance of the French countryside. Textural elements in the venue and details like the terrace’s ironwork, blush velvet vow books and long wooden table ground the design while the romantic and playful florals provide the perfect final touches to the day.

STYLING, FLORALS AND CREATIVE DIRECTION A Day in Provence | PHOTOGRAPHY Anna Grinets Photography | VENUE Bavaria Down DAY OF COORDINATION Joyful Day Weddings | INVITATION SUITE Jill Elaine Designs | CALLIGRAPHY AND ILLUSTRATION Love Letters | CATERING Host a Toast CAKE Cocoa & Fig | HAIR AND MAKEUP Cristina Ziemer Beauty | VIDEOGRAPHY Curtis Kennedy Films | MODELING AGENCY Meredith Model & Talent Agency TABLE NUMBERS, VOW BOOKS AND ALBUM Velvet Raptor | RENTALS Rudy’s Event Rentals | BRIDAL GOWN BOUTIQUE BHLDN BRIDAL GOWN DESIGNER Tadashi Shoji | BRIDE’S SHOES Jimmy Choo | MEN’S BOUTIQUE Martin Patrick 3 | GROOM’S BLAZER ISAIA | BOW TIE Brackish RINGS, EARRINGS AND ANTIQUE POCKET WATCH JB Hudson Jewelers | VEHICLE 2020 Bentley Continental GT Convertible, Morrie’s Ultra Luxury Auto

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Farmhouse Fresh

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he Redeemed Farm is the perfect backdrop for an elevated and elegant wedding, proving that farm weddings don’t have to be rustic. This wedding showcases unique details such as a floral wall for displaying name cards and a pleated veil for a gorgeous bride. The stunning combination of soft pinks and bold burgundy were featured in the florals, the stationery and other details to highlight a nontraditional, sophisticated color inspiration.

All of this is proof that a farm wedding can be over-the-top gorgeous if the venue is thoughtfully chosen and the details are beautifully executed.

PHOTOGRAPHY Jennifer Maren Photography | FLORALS Nalias Flora | VENUE Redeemed Farm & Vineyard | HOST Styled Shoots Across America PLANNING Heather Benge Events | ASSISTANT A Modern Fête | HAIR AND MAKEUP Sunkissed & Made Up | STATIONERY Art by Ashley Triggiano CAKE Profile Cake | STUDIO LINENS Nüage Designs | RENTALS Intemporelle Rentals | WHITE GOWN The White Room Minneapolis | RING BOXES Lovely Ring Boxes

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Velvet Romantic

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ith its sumptuously moody theme and touches of different classic styles, this winter wedding lays out what it means to be “romantically sophisticated.” The combination of timeless luxury touches and bold, modern design creates an atmosphere that is intimate yet welcoming, mature yet contemporary, and dark yet debonair.

PLANNER AND COORDINATOR New Paige Planning | PHOTOGRAPHER Lindsay Elaine Photography | VENUE Pinewood Weddings & Events CINEMATOGRAPHER Wildwood Films | RENTALS The Fond Collective | FLORIST 651 Studio Floral Design | HAIR AND MAKEUP Pure Beauty Hair & Makeup BAKER Hey There, Cupcake! | COFFEE CART She Brews | CALLIGRAPHER Penned by K | ACRYLIC SIGN DESIGNER Kulgra BRIDAL GOWN Annika Bridal | TUX RENTAL Stitch & Tie | COUPLE Lexi & Kevin Johnston | JR. BRIDESMAID Emi Smith

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Urban Elopement

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his eclectic and modern shoot shows that a simple and understated elopement in the city can still be classy and romantic.

All it takes is a vintage dress, neutral tones with a delightful pop of yellow and embracing some of the locations that make your city unique. Add in the skyline as your backdrop and you’ve got yourself a stunning day to remember.

PHOTOGRAPHY & PLANNING Madeira Creative Photography | MAKEUP Glow With Dej Styling | CLOTHES Kolektiv | LOCATION The Hewing Hotel | FLORALS Minne Floral Co.

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inspiration

Uniquely Chic

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inspiration

W

hen thinking of a visually stunning wedding venue, a yurt is unlikely to top the list, but with the right attention to details it can be transformed into a uniquely elegant backdrop. The gold plates on black linen provide stark contrast, while romantic floral bouquets and the delicately beaded handmade dress soften the overall look. Top it off with greenery-adorned bar and food stations, and the yurt has been transformed.

WEDDING DRESS DESIGNER Laura Ann’s | DÉCOR AND STYLING The White Brick Company | VENUE Hotel Rapids | PHOTOGRAPHER Leann Amelia Photography FLORAL Saffron & Grey | HAIR AND MAKEUP Salon Rosé | MENSWEAR Celebrations Bridal and Formal Wear, St. Cloud

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create your day to remember HOTEL BAR + BISTRO SAUNA GYM 2 PATIOS EVENT YURT

218-326-3458 | hotelrapids.com | Grand Rapids, MN 38

LAKE BRIDE MAGAZINE

Share your vows at Pier B Resort Hotel on the shores of beautiful Lake Superior.

Visit pierbresort.com to submit an inquiry.

DULUTH, MN

Photo by: Kirsten Barbara Photography

PIERBRESORT.COM

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a l o ve st o ry

ANEA

&

BEN

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LEFTY’S TENT & PARTY RENTAL

rentatentandparty.com | 218-245-1387

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A

nea and Ben’s story was supposed to start a year before they officially met.

Anea: “In September 2012, Ben’s cousin, Brett, from the Twin Cities was marrying my best friend, Lauren, in Grand Rapids. Ben and I were both living in the Cities at the time, and they had been wanting to introduce us. I was a bridesmaid and had to get up early for the big day, so on Friday night at the groom’s dinner when Lauren came over to bring me to meet him, I had just decided to leave and figured I could see him at the wedding the next day.

Lauren and Brett didn’t know that Ben and one of his younger brothers, Robbie, had come up for just that night.

Instead, I met Charlie, who was the youngest of the three brothers, and enjoyed the rest of the wedding without an introduction to Ben.

“Almost a full year later, I was back in Grand Rapids recovering from a tonsillectomy at my parents’ house.

Lauren and Brett had recently bought a new home on the lake just two doors down from there. Ben was up at his hunting cabin in Goodland and wanted to see the new house, so Lauren came over and told me to get ready for our introduction down by the fire. I was still in recovery mode, taking lots of painkillers, and probably hadn’t showered in a few days when we met, but immediately felt that we both had a lot in common. The next day, Ben asked if I wanted to go see the demolition derby at the Carver County Fair in Waconia where he lived. We went together, ate pork burgers, watched some live music, met some of his hometown friends, and it all seemed so familiar. It was so much like growing up in small-town

PHOTOGRAPHY (2021 WEDDING) Chelsea Dobs Photography | PHOTOGRAPHY (2020 WEDDING) Jillian DeChaine | FLORIST North In Bloom BRIDAL GOWN SHOP Che Bella | BRIDAL GOWN DESIGNER Pronovias | BRIDAL ACCESSORIES Che Bella | GROOM’S ATTIRE Men’s Wearhouse APPETIZERS The Dutch Room | LATE-NIGHT PIZZAS Zorbaz | CAKE/DESSERT The Green Door Café, Megan MacDonell | DÉCOR The White Brick Company RENTALS AND LIGHTING Lefty’s Tent & Party Rental | BATHROOMS Jeff’s Restroom Trailers | INVITATIONS Minted | HAIR Muah Salon & Spa (Kari and Jenna) MAKEUP Muah Salon & Spa (Emma) | CEREMONY MUSICIAN AND DJ DJ Mike Nelson | BAND Bourbon Creek Band | BUS The Joyride Bus ACCOMMODATIONS Hotel Rapids, Country Inn & Suites, Timberlake Lodge & IM, AmericInn, Sugar Lake Lodge

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Grand Rapids that I immediately felt a connection to him and his home. It was the perfect start for both of us, even if it was a year late.

“We seem to get along so well because we’re very similar people. We’re both independent, hard-working and loyal, and we both love our family and friends fiercely.

Our independence makes it difficult to come together sometimes, but our similarities always make us come back to one another.”

After they got engaged in 2019, their wedding plans went on a roller coaster ride thanks to the pandemic.

Anea: “Our original date was planned for 7/11/2020, a meaningful date for us. I played soccer in high school and college and my number was 7, and it has always been my favorite number. Ben has played baseball all his life, including in college, and he continues to play for the Waconia Lakers amateur team. His number is, and always has been, 11.

“In May 2020 we realized we couldn’t have the 300+ guests all in attendance at our wedding because of COVID-19, so we decided to push back our date to 9/5/2020 hoping things would have cooled off by then.

Since our original date was so meaningful to us, we decided to keep it and get married that day in a small, private ceremony on my parents’ dock on Pokegama Lake. We invited our officiant, Ashley, a close friend of ours, to perform the ceremony. As witnesses, we had Lauren and Brett, who introduced us. We opted not to include any other family or friends (including our parents) since we had never wanted to have two separate parties and it was so small — we wanted to keep it intimate just for the two of us. Our ceremony included vows written to each other and read by LAKE BRIDE MAGAZINE

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ourselves, a speech written by Ashley, highlighting the significance of being back at Pokegama where we met, and a poem by Robert Frost: Suddenly, quietly, you now realize that — from this moment forth — you will no longer walk through this life alone. Like a new sun this awareness arises within you, freeing you from fear, opening your life. It is the beginning of love, and the end of all that came before.

“After the 10-minute ceremony, we popped some champagne, took some pictures and headed to Madeline Island for a four-day mini-honeymoon. We decided to skip additional readings and a ring exchange until the next ceremony, so we could include our family and friends in that part of our wedding.” With this mini-wedding under their belts, they looked forward to their rescheduled date in September to celebrate with all of their loved ones … only to have their plans change again.

“When August came around and we realized we still couldn’t have the party that we desired, the way we wanted it, we decided to push back the entire thing for a full year to 7/10/21 and celebrate our one-year anniversary.”

While the decision to wait again was hard, Anea and Ben say they would do it the same way again after having finally had the celebration that they had dreamed of.

“The best memory was the celebration with our closest people throughout the night. After the first dance and speeches, the band and DJ lit up and everyone was on the dance floor and enjoying the night. We ended the night a little early due to the neighbors, so everyone who wanted more late-night fun and dancing hopped on the Joyride rented bus to head to Zorbaz. I think everyone had been anticipating it for so long, including ourselves, because of our year-long delay, that they were just ready to let loose and enjoy themselves. The celebration itself was so enjoyable for so many people, it was all worth it.” ♡

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LAKE BRIDE MAGAZINE

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SAM

&

ZACH

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sam + zach

Z

ach: “We met in high school through my friend and future best man, Ryan. It started as most high school relationships do: awkward texting leading to the inevitable awkward first date. My family used to hold what they called “Forced Fellows Family Fun” — a night that was specifically reserved for hanging out with family. My attempt at an escape from this night was no use, so I invited Sam along to this family event and she graciously accepted.

Sam: “Luckily for me, I was a big fan of his entire family! From that date, we were pretty much inseparable. Zach asked me to be his girlfriend on the night of our junior prom and the rest is history.”

They knew early on that what they had together was what they were looking for in a partner for the rest of their lives.

Sam: “We were 17 when we first talked about our life together, where we wanted to live, how many kids we wanted, how long we would wait to get married, etc., and we both knew that we were each other’s person. On one of our first dates, Zach and I were in Loring Park and found a paver that said, ‘If I had never met you, I would have dreamed you

LAKE BRIDE MAGAZINE

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PHOTOGRAPHY Decora Topp Photography | CEREMONY VENUE Bunker Hills Event Center | FLORIST The Bouqs Co. and Kelly Claassen BRIDAL GOWN SHOP a&bé Bridal Shop | BRIDAL GOWN DESIGNER Alyssa Kristin | BRIDAL ACCESSORIES Nordstrom | BRIDESMAIDS’ ATTIRE Birdy Grey, Lulus GROOM’S ATTIRE Men’s Wearhouse | GROOMSMEN’S ATTIRE Men’s Wearhouse | CAR Collision and Color of Excelsior | FOOD Divine Swine Catering CAKE/DESSERT Amy’s Cupcakes | WEDDING PLANNER Loranna Bulmer | HAIR AND MAKEUP Keely at Warpaint | CEREMONY MUSICIAN Joe Trucano BAND/DJ Alex Wallner Entertainment | ACCOMMODATIONS Best Western Plus in Blaine

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into being.’ Zach told me later that night that this quote resonated with him, and I had felt exactly the same way. About a month later, this spot is where I told him I loved him for the first time.”

Zach: “Our relationship, as with any relationship, has had its ups and downs. But we were always there to support each other, and at that age that mindset was certainly uncommon, so I knew we had something special from the start.”

COVID-19 forced Sam and Zach to change their original plans, but it turns out the changes they made created an even better day to celebrate their marriage.

Sam: “We were originally going to get married on September 25, 2020. We decided to postpone our wedding, as the safety of our friends and family was a top priority for us. After postponing, we took a lot of time to decide what we wanted for our wedding, and our vision definitely changed. We decided to have our reception in our backyard, our guest list became smaller, and our color scheme completely changed! I can’t express how perfectly our day reflected who we are, and I am so glad that we decided to postpone; otherwise, I don’t think we would have made the changes that ended up being some of my favorite details of the day.”

They held their reception in their backyard, which used to be Zach’s grandparents’ backyard.

Sam: “They lived in the house from 1962 to 2019 when we bought it from them. They raised Zach’s mom and aunt in our house, so it was fun hosting another family event in the backyard that already had so many family memories attached to it.”

Their friends and family pulled together and helped them bring every detail and element of their wedding vision to life, from the outdoor bar to the vintage 1950s Ford convertible.

“Our 20s have been dedicated simultaneously to self-growth and to our relationship. I always tell people that Zach and I have changed so much since we started dating, but at the end of the day we have grown together and always supported and encouraged each other. We have survived difficult situations, with lots of hugs and saying ‘we will be okay.’ Our relationship has been filled with 12 years of love and adventure, and I am so grateful to have entered this new season of life with my best friend.” ♡ 50

START YOUR HISTORY TOGETHER IN A HISTORIC PLACE Experience a one-of-a-kind wedding surrounded by the finest collection of railroad equipment in the country.

Take a ride along gorgeous Lake Superior and enjoy your reception back at the Depot, which holds up to 250 guests.

REACH OUT TO KEN@LSRM.ORG OR 218-733-7590 TO LEARN MORE.

DULUTHTRAINS.COM

LAKE BRIDE MAGAZINE

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TA M M Y

&

AARON

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tammy + aaron

LAKE BRIDE MAGAZINE

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T

ammy: “Aaron and I met in math class at North Dakota State University our freshman year in 2008. We started dating shortly after New Year’s in 2009. We cheered for the Bison at football games, ran a couple of half marathons together and helped each other navigate undergrad. Just prior to our senior year of college, we went our separate ways when I moved to Minneapolis for an internship and Aaron stayed in Fargo, pursuing pharmacy school.

“About three years laters, we met up again in spring 2014 after I finished physician assistant school and moved back to Minnesota. When we got back together, I knew he was the one. We spent two years in a long-distance relationship between Duluth and Stillwater prior to moving across the country to Portland, Maine, in 2016.

Our love grew over cooking at ‘Aaron’s Place’ (the nickname of our unofficial in-home underground restaurant), hiking in the Appalachian Mountains and sailing in Casco Bay of Maine. It was fitting for our wedding to be set on a hiking trail on the shore of Lake Superior when we spent so much time chasing sunsets on the beaches in Maine.”

Tammy and Aaron had always wanted a small outdoor wedding, so the restrictions set in place due to COVID-19 weren’t really issues to them at all.

PHOTOGRAPHY Kellie Rae Studio | CINEMATOGRAPHY Jasper Meddock Productions | VENUE The Mayhew Inn | FLOWERS Afloral | BRIDAL GOWN SHOP BHLDN BRIDAL GOWN DESIGNER Jenny by Jenny Yoo | BRIDE’S EARRINGS JR Designs LLC | GROOM’S ATTIRE Suitsupply | RINGS Continental Diamond FOOD James and Christy Marshall of Double D’s Catering | LIQUOR Cold River vodka (wild blueberry vodka from Portland, Maine); wine (Total Wine); local MN beer RENTALS Trailer from McDowall Company, St. Cloud, MN |

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INVITATIONS Botanical Paperworks | BAND/DJ Bump, local Grand Marais musician | ACCOMMODATIONS The Mayhew Inn

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LAKE BRIDE MAGAZINE

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Tammy: “Lake Superior and the beauty of northern

Minnesota is always so enchanting and beautiful. We have traveled there to ski and camp many times, and we scoped out a part of Lake Superior on the Superior Hiking Trail that was perfect for our ceremony and family time on the beach.

“Part of my vows included just some of the reasons I love, and will continue to love, Aaron: You bring me joy and put a smile on my face when I wake up in the morning.

You make me laugh with your witty jokes.

You almost never say no to my many, many ideas.

You aren’t afraid to set out on an adventure with me.

You support me on my never-ending, always-changing journey to achieve my goals.

You sit with me and listen when I’m having a bad day.

You show me kindness, compassion and respect.

I am home when I’m with you.

“I truly am at home when I’m with Aaron, and the comfort he brings me is calming.”

When planning their wedding at a relatively remote location, they knew they were going to have to think outside the box to get it done. Luckily for them, that’s something Tammy and Aaron have been doing for their entire relationship.

Aaron: “One of the things that make our relationship and wedding so special for me is Tammy’s relentless pursuit

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tammy + aaron

of doing things our way. I included a line in my vows that said, ‘We have never been a fan of manufactured happiness, or manufactured love, and we get to do things our way, sampling little intricacies of life along the way.’ The concept here is that we don’t need other people to tell us how to feel or how we’re supposed to express our love together.

We don’t need a Disney fairy tale, rom-com, Instagram version of love. We do things on our own terms.”

Tammy: “There were many elements of our day that we

did ourselves, or had family contribute. We had homemade beer and cider, family musicians, trivia, homemade açaí bowls, repurposed windows for signs, handmade benches and arbor. We had dried flower arrangements that I created and that now decorate our home.”

Keeping things simple allowed them to focus on spending time with the people who mattered most to them, in a place that held special meaning to them.

Aaron: “We have our own way of trying things that fit for us, and that is why so many details of our wedding were DIY. Obviously, we had to accommodate our unique setting that forced us to think outside the box. But it was also an opportunity to focus on what was really important to our day. Sometimes it is easy to be lost in meaningless details that ultimately can be a source of stress. We eliminated much of those ‘that’s just what you do’ tasks, thereby removing stress, mistakes and frustrations. For me, this is one resounding feature of our relationship, our wedding, and something that makes our day so special.” ♡

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SABRINA

&

NICK

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N

ick: “Our love story began on just an ordinary night out with each of our friends, and has turned into an extraordinary life together. Since we first met at Whiskey Row in Scottsdale, I knew there was just something special about her. She had that quick wit and an amazing smile that I just couldn’t get enough of.”

Sabrina: “I walked into a bar with some girlfriends and immediately spotted Nick dancing the night away (as he frequently does). A few drinks later and I got up the courage to approach this dancing machine. It wasn’t long before we realized we were both from Wisconsin, sharing a mutual love for cheese curds, old-fashioneds and of course the Green Bay Packers! Our first date was just a few days later at a Mexican restaurant, where we shared lots of laughs and margaritas during a nearly three-hour dinner.

The conversation was so easy, and he ate my leftover tacos right from my plate — I knew he was a keeper!

“I fell in love with Nick very quickly, as most people do when they meet him. He has every quality that I was looking for in a partner, and more than that, he is my favorite person to spend time with. He is the kindest, most selfless and genuine person I know, and I feel so blessed that he’s my husband and best friend. Over the last six years we have made some amazing memories together, including flipping our first home in Arizona, adopting two fur babies, Bo and Harper, moving back to Wisconsin, and 60

sabrina + nick

traveling to many beautiful places around the world. Now we have been married for just over one year and I am still discovering more and more reasons to love him. This is just the beginning of our love story!”

Nick: “She has been my captain on our many boat adventures together, she is an incredible mom to our two dogs, and there isn’t a day that goes by that she doesn’t have me busting at the seams in laughter. I feel blessed every day that she is my partner, my best friend, and I cannot wait for our next adventure together!”

Just like many brides and grooms in 2020, Sabrina and Nick had to make some big decisions regarding their original wedding plans. Due to concerns for their and their guests’ health and safety, they had to cancel their Mexico destination wedding and start planning a more intimate and closer-to-home “destination wedding.”

PHOTOGRAPHY Madeline with Kiley Marissa Photography | VENUE The Barn on Madeline Island | FLORIST Wild Hollow Farm | BRIDAL GOWN SHOP Bucci’s Bridal BRIDAL GOWN DESIGNER Stella York | BRIDAL ACCESSORIES Etsy | GROOM’S ATTIRE Macy’s | RINGS Kesslers Diamonds, Madison, Wisconsin FOOD Farmhouse on Madeline Island | CAKE/DESSERT Farmhouse on Madeline Island | RENTALS Lace & Brass Events | INVITATIONS Etsy WEDDING PLANNER Emily at Lace & Brass Events | ACCOMMODATIONS The Barn on Madeline Island, The Inn on Madeline Island | OFFICIANT Marieke van Donkersgoed

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Sabrina: “We always knew we wanted to have a ‘destination’ wedding because travel has been such an important part of our relationship. We did some research and found the picturesque location of Madeline Island.

After seeing photos of other weddings on the island, we immediately knew it was the place we wanted to be married. We loved the idea of getting married on an island surrounded by our closest friends and family. So we moved our wedding date up two months, hired our amazing wedding planner, and got to planning an entirely new wedding celebration in a location we have never been … all during a pandemic. It was quite the adventure!

“Our favorite wedding-day memory was our first look.

We decided our first look would also be the time that we would share our personal vows to one another in private. We always knew we wanted to write our own vows; however, neither of us loved the idea of saying them in front of a crowd. Having that time together at the beginning of the day to share our most intimate promises to one another was so amazing and definitely a highlight to our perfect day.

“It was such an amazing experience to be married in such a gorgeous location, but the best part was celebrating up north all weekend with our friends and family. It truly felt like a ‘summer camp’ getaway for everyone.” ♡

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A Venue for Every Event The Water Street Inn is a distinctive 61-room historic inn located on the St. Croix River in downtown Stillwater. It's home to Papa’s Rooftop and Charlie’s Irish pub, the St. Croix Ballroom and conference facilities, each graciously blending the ambiance of an era gone by with the comforts of modern amenities.

Contact us to host your wedding, corporate or special events!

Julie K. Rademacher

Alexander D. Eder

SALES & EVENTS DIRECTOR

GENERAL MANAGER

612-230-0647

waterstreetinn.us

love story

a l o ve st o ry

K AT I E

&

CALEB

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katie + caleb

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K

atie and Caleb met through the magic of a dating app.

Katie: “Caleb was a recent transplant to Minneapolis from

Chicago, and I had been living in the Twin Cities for nearly 10 years. Unbeknownst to us, we happened to live just blocks from each other in the Linden Hills neighborhood.

We dated casually that summer but took a brief hiatus when Caleb told me he wasn’t interested in ever getting married or settling down.”

After a few weeks, Caleb couldn’t get Katie out of his head and realized the error of his ways. Relying on the triedand-true methods of sending love letters and flowers, he won Katie back and they were engaged in 2019.

Having made their original wedding plans with a large gathering and celebration at a venue in the Twin Cities, they chose to adjust those plans when COVID-19 hit.

Katie: “We pivoted and held our ceremony at my family’s cabin on Gull Lake in front of our immediate family. We really wanted the cabin and the lake backdrop to be the primary focal point for the day; we were married on the front lawn, dinner was held in the great room, and we even took a spin in my father’s wooden boat! It was so special to be married at a place with so much meaning to both of us on a beautiful fall day.”

Similar to many couples who had to downsize due to COVID-19, Katie and Caleb wouldn’t change a thing when looking back on their wedding day.

Katie: “Our favorite part of the day was getting to spend the whole day at my family home surrounded by people we love, and marrying my husband at such a special place.

It wasn’t the celebration we initially imagined, but it was beyond perfect.” ♡ 66

katie + caleb

PHOTOGRAPHY Aimee Jobe Photography | VENUE Private residence on Gull Lake | FLORIST & DECOR Bloom Designs | BRIDAL GOWN SHOP Annika Bridal Boutique BRIDAL GOWN DESIGNER Savannah Miller | RINGS JB Hudson | FOOD Gather on 3 | CAKE/DESSERT Katy Kalenburg | RENTALS The Jobe Crew WEDDING PLANNER Kate Kuepers, Bloom Designs | MAKEUP Cindy Rose Hannah | CEREMONY MUSICIAN Jim Olsen

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My style is heavily infused with my love for art, design and fashion mixed with organic elements. Laughter and love paired with natural movement of life is what makes my images feel timeless and real.

xo Aimee

AIMEEJOBEPHOTOGRAPHY.COM

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B I G Day B I G View

Spirit Mountain is the perfect destination for all your wedding needs. From iconic views to impeccable hospitality, your day will be an unforgettable experience.

Schedule your private tour today! spiritmtweddings.com | (218) 624-8531 | dpoppenhagen@spiritmt.com

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ALLEK

&

JUSTIN

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J

ustin: “I was new to the gay dating world and had met some great people, but no one that I thought would be my best friend/soul mate. So I decided to try online dating, which was equally unrewarding. I decided I was going to delete all the apps and just let love find me.

In the process of deleting the apps, I received a message through one that was still active. I was like, ‘OK, let me go check this out and just see what it is.’ I started by first viewing Allek’s profile and checking everything out, which gained my interest. So I messaged back. We talked online for several days, then we finally made the leap to give each other our phone numbers so we could text and then eventually meet up in person.

“Let me just explain why I decided to meet this guy in person before jumping to the next part.

Allek was a registered nurse, very handsome, and one of the main points that stood out to me was that family was a very important part of his life. That is one thing that needed to be front and center for me, as my moms, sisters, brother, and nephews and nieces are my lifeline and my support; without them, I would not be where I am today. So it was very important for me to find someone who also valued family.”

After spending some time getting to know each other over the phone, Allek and Justin met for their first date in Duluth.

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Allek: “It was just dinner, but I immediately knew that

Justin was special and I wanted to continue talking with him. I lived in Duluth and Justin lived in Grand Rapids.

With its being a long-distance relationship at the time, it involved a lot of phone calls, text messages and planning for our future dates — and lots and lots of DRIVING. The long-distance relationship turned into our quickly falling in love with each other.

“We both liked how family centric and goal oriented each other is, and agreed on what being in a relationship actually meant. Justin is the most loving guy, who makes me feel like I’m the most important person in the world and lets me know every day how much he loves me.”

A year and a half into their relationship, Justin proposed to Allek on a trip to Hawaii, which led to Justin moving to Duluth, which eventually led to them marrying each other with 75 of their closest friends and family in attendance.

They thoughtfully incorporated some special touches into their wedding to make it a memorable event for all, such as hiring Leif Larson of Paintings by Leif to live-paint their ceremony and reception. These paintings were made into thank-you cards so that wedding guests could all have a special piece of their day.

They also included a rose ceremony in their wedding.

Justin: “A rose ceremony is typically shared between the

newlyweds, but we handed roses to each other’s family to show the unity in our families coming together. This was a very important aspect of our wedding. A few months before our wedding, Allek unexpectedly lost his father. We wanted to make sure that his dad had a special part in our wedding, so we framed a picture of him and he sat in the front row just as if he was there. When we presented the flowers to our families, we also laid a rose on the picture of Allek’s dad.

“Our love for each other, our friends and our families, as well as our good communication, helped get us through some bumpy parts in our road together. Allek is my world, and every day he reminds me of his love for me and expresses how much he loves me and how in love with me he is. He’s my rock and my best friend, and without him I do not know where I would be.” ♡

OFFICIANT Jean Larson, Marry Me In The Northland | PHOTOGRAPHY Callah Wald (Captured by Callah) | CINEMATOGRAPHY John Scarr | PAINTER Leif Larson, Paintings by Leif CEREMONY/SOCIAL HOUR MUSIC Highland String Quartet | VENUE Little Lazy Lodge | ACCOMMODATIONS Hotel Rapids | BUS Joy Ride | FOOD AND LIQUOR Hotel Rapids HAIR Katie at The Colour Lounge Salon | DJ AND LIGHTING Pro Sound & Light Show | CAKE/DESSERTS How Sweet It Is Cakes & Two Daughters Bakery & Fresh from Alicia’s Kitchen ALLEK’S ATTIRE Larry Calhoun at Heimie’s Haberdashery | JUSTIN’S ATTIRE Larry Calhoun at Heimie’s Haberdashery | GLASSWARE The Pretty Table | FAVORS Kate Spade POPCORN BAR Pop Central Popcorn | PHOTO BOOTH Pro Sound & Light Show | INVITATIONS Zazzle | RINGS Kay Jewelers | FLORIST Blue Iris

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artist profile

Live Art WEDDING PAINTING by LEIF LARSON WEDDINGPAINTINGBYLEIF.COM

L

eif Larson, who lives in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, has been a professional artist for 15 years. Over the past 10 years, Leif has cherished the opportunity to make wedding paintings for those starting their married lives together.

“Towards the end of an art opening of mine back in 2010, while talking with a friendly couple at the show, I was asked by them if I could paint their daughter’s wedding,” Leif says. “Up to that point, I’d only done studio art. But I said yes. I painted the wedding live, and it was love at first painted wedding! Little did I know I was saying yes to a whole new world for my art, one where I’d be able to capture in a painting some of the most important moments in people’s lives, giving them a painting to cherish for generations to come. As of today, I’ve been all across the Midwest, painting wedding ceremonies and receptions live.”

Having an artist painting live at your wedding ceremony or reception allows your guests the unforgettable opportunity of observing an artist working to capture the love and energy of your important day. As time passes, the painting is forever a reminder of the memories of your wedding and the love you’ve always shared.

at Little Lazy Lodge

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“What’s rewarding about painting weddings live is capturing this special event of families and friends into a piece of fine art that will be cherished forever!”

Take the trail less travelled.

Take the trail less traveled.

ittle

azy

odge

WEDDINGS | RETREATS | GETAWAYS | EVENTS

218.355.0083 | LittleLazyLodge.com | Northern MN

LODGE: SLEEPS 25 VENUE: 300 ACRES: 160 CEREMONY IN THE PINES DANCE FLOOR + STAGE HOT TUB GIANT BONFIRES

love story

a l o ve st o ry

WHITNEY

&

HEIDI

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eidi: “I grew up in a small town in westcentral Minnesota and attended the University of Minnesota–Twin Cities for college. I had been accepted as a walk-on on the Gopher softball team, and after a few years of playing, I had the pleasure of meeting Whitney when she joined our team before my senior year.

We met late summer of 2009 when I was hanging at my teammate’s apartment. We were waiting for the arrival of the ‘new transfer’ who would be living with them for the year. I will never forget the first day we met; I knew there was something special about her, even before we met, because her name on the ‘new players’ list always stuck out to me. It was definitely a sign.”

Whitney: “We immediately clicked — on and off

the field — and I found myself always wanting to be around her. The more time we spent together, the more I started to realize my feelings were more than just friends. By the end of that first semester, I knew I wanted to date her. She was kind, compassionate, funny and athletic, and shared similar interests as me — and I could tell

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love story

that our values and morals aligned, which was important to me. We spent a lot of time together that semester — and I vividly remember her driving me to the airport to go home to California for Christmas break. I was hoping she’d FINALLY make a move and just kiss me already … she didn’t. I told her she was a chicken — she told me I could have made the first move. But we went on to spend all Christmas break talking to each other, and by the end of the next semester, we were officially dating. Heidi hates this, but I practically forced her to properly ask me out.

She was so cute and actually planned a date for us and ‘officially’ asked me out on May 16, 2010.

“I’d like to say the rest is history, but life changes when you get out of college. After I finished graduate school in May 2011, I accepted a job with PepsiCo and had to move to Southern California. By this time, I was already in love with her, so it was excruciating to move across the country and be apart. We tried long distance for 10 months and it really took a toll on me. I knew I couldn’t leave California at that time if I wanted to continue building my career, but it was also creating a lot of tension in our relationship.

I knew something had to change. I didn’t want

to make Heidi choose between me and her life in Minnesota, so as much as I didn’t want to, I told her we should break up.”

Heidi: “This is the moment I knew I absolutely

loved her and I was going to do whatever it took to keep us going. I quit my job, got another job set up in California, packed my tiny car and drove 30 hours across the country to be with her and save what we had created. She was my person and I could not let distance destroy what we had.”

Whitney: “For the next four or so years, she took

different jobs in Southern California and Chicago to support me in building my career. I was in a rotational program where I had to move based on where the opportunities were for the first four to five years, so we had agreed that once I finished that program, I’d do what I could to move us back to Minnesota so she could pursue her lifelong dream of going to nursing school. Thankfully, in 2015, that happened: I secured a job in Minnesota that allowed me to move us back and support her.

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We’ve traveled the world together (and can’t wait to continue doing so, hopefully soon!). We’ve purchased our first and second homes together We’ve navigated cross-country moves, new degrees and several job changes. We’ve celebrated big moments — and we’ve been there for each other in times of sorrow. We’ve grown our family by adding our two dogs, Fozzie and Fletcher. We’ve made new friends and experienced the loss of old friends “But through all of these life events, one thing has remained consistent — and that’s that Heidi and I remain a team. We don’t always agree — we fight just like the next couple — but we love each other deeply and we genuinely want to support each other’s dreams. To this day, seeing Heidi graduate with her nursing degree is one of my happiest moments — because it was a moment where she achieved a dream, and I got to support her in that endeavor and be a part of her journey.”

PHOTOGRAPHY Emily Theisen of Lite Creatives | MINI RECEPTION VENUE Schram Vineyards Winery & Brewery FLORIST MinneSola Designs | WHITNEY’S DRESS BHLDN | HEIDI’S SUIT Indochino | RINGS Brilliant Earth | CAKE/DESSERT Dorothy Ann Bakery HAIR SM Hair & Makeup (Megan) | MAKEUP SM Hair & Makeup (Sarah) | BUS Renee’s Limousines

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After nearly 10 years together, Heidi asked Whitney to marry her and their wedding planning commenced.

Whitney: “I’ll never forget our wedding this past

year — it was not what we planned, but it ended up being exactly what we needed.”

Heidi: “We originally had planned for a wedding

at a local venue in Minnesota, but when the pandemic hit and we realized a lot of our family, including Whitney’s parents, would not be able to travel in, we opted to postpone our full wedding and reception to 2021. Because we had already planned to get married on 10/10/20, we pivoted to plan a small wedding with a few of our close friends and some of our bridal party who were local. 2020 was our 10th year together, so we loved the concept of getting married on 10/10 during our 10th year together!”

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They hosted their small wedding in the beautiful scenic backyard of their new home, hand-making their wedding arch and many other décor elements.

Heidi: “It was a beautiful ceremony led by our

good friend Justin. The weather was absolutely perfect (I mean, who doesn’t want 70s and sunny with no wind on their wedding day?).

After our ceremony, we had a light lunch and then took our small group to a local winery/ brewery. We had dinner and drinks there, and just hung out outside for the rest of the evening. At the end of the night, we all took the transportation back to our house (rocked out to music the whole way back), and hung out at our house for the rest of the night.

“Considering we finalized the entire day just two weeks before our wedding, we are still amazed with how perfectly it turned out. It was intimate and special — and we were elated to share in the moment at that time. Especially after all the stress of replanning and adjusting, it felt great to just relax and enjoy each other in the company of some of our closest friends.” ♡

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r ou Y or F

e b i r T e d i r B 2.

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3.

5.

By KELLY KABOTOFF

There is so much “busy” that comes with the territory when you are planning your perfect wedding. Sometimes it can get hard to remember to breathe and enjoy the journey. While some brides still opt for the traditional girls’ night out to celebrate with their friends before the big day, many are choosing a more low-key adventure — a getaway focused on slowing down and relaxing at the beach or out in the woods.

So what are the perfect components for a chill weekend with your friends? My top picks: a good cup of coffee, some downtime fun, a healthy sweat, cozy clothes, a good nightcap to end the day, and something fun to bring home to remember the adventure.

In good company,

Kelly

4.

6.

11.

A Good Cup of Coffee 8 | Maker + Scope Top $38 / Purist 7 | City Girl Organic Guatemala Ground Coffee $14.99 / City Girl Coffee

Downtime Fun 3 | Artisan-Painted Cribbage Boards $75 /Sanborn Canoe Company

A Healthy Sweat 7.

10.

9.

11 | Voyageur Mobile Sauna / Inquire at voyageursaunas.com

A Good Nightcap 6 | Highball Shaker $79 / High Camp Flask 1 | Navel Gazer Alcohol Infusion Kit $25 / Aged and Infused

8.

Something to Bring Home 2 | Ceramic Keepsake Candle $40 / United

by Blue 4 | Mossy Love Natural Display Piece $60 / Baily Builds 5 | Rose Quartz Gemstone Earrings $32 / Jax Kelly

Cozy Clothes 9 | Women's Legend Sweater Hoodie $148 and Jogger $128 / Faherty 10 | Town Socks $18 / Topo Designs

Adventure Elopements Why Planning a Two-Day Elopment Is So Awesome

By NARROWLEAF PHOTOGRAPHY

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Elopements are intimate, intentional and freakin’ EPIC! They are absolutely NOT about running away from family and eloping in a shameful or selfish way. Quite the opposite, actually.

Often elopements have guests too! They are just smaller, more intimate celebrations that bring a wedding day back to simply you and your partner celebrating a commitment to each other in a way that 100% reflects YOUR relationship. It is a celebration of two people, versus two people hosting a ballroom full of guests.

We love when couples plan an epic two-day elopement experience, and we’re here to tell you why you should too!

You can fully immerse yourself in the experience.

You have an easy badweather backup plan.

When you choose to plan a two-day elopement, you have a much better chance of fully experiencing the place you are eloping in. If you have a long list of things you want to do and places you want to see on your wedding day, traveling from place to place takes time, whether you are on foot or in a vehicle. Not to mention that if you want really epic photographic images to go with your truly badass day, you are going to want to plan all your “important stuff” (i.e., ceremony, portraits of the couple, favorite activities) for either sunrise or sunset, to take advantage of the best light. While I can easily photograph at any time of the day and produce high-quality images, there really is no comparison to good-quality lighting — it sets the mood of an image. If it’s a super-clear sunrise with huge rays backlighting you, the images will feel warm, romantic and bright. So having two days to plan around can make doing all the things in the best lighting much more plausible without having to literally get up before the sun rises and end your coverage after the sun sets.

Anyone who plans an outdoor event knows one of the biggest questions is “What will we do if it rains or storms and we can’t safely be outdoors?” If the original plan was holding the ceremony on day one and the climbing adventure on day two, and there is a safety warning for day one, we can flipflop them and do the ceremony on day two, with day one being the adventure, and then switch gears to either indoor climbing instead or something completely different, like a stormy sightseeing adventure.

You get to have a totally chill experience, with ample time to slow down, soak it all in and truly enjoy your day.

Plus do all the cool stuff you wanna do!

Trust me, you are going to want to give yourselves time to process and feel every moment instead of cramming all the things into one huge itinerary — I mean, a major benefit of eloping is that you don’t have to stress or follow a specific timeline, right?

Breaking it all up over two days is the perfect solution.

You don’t have to compromise on adventure.

Say you want to have some family and friends support you while you say your vows to each other. Maybe you need something easily accessible for your grandparents, but you also really want to hike somewhere secluded with a 360-degree view of mountains. Oh, and you really want to kayak in your wedding clothes on an alpine lake. This is all absolutely possible! You can do day one with your family in a beautiful setting that’s accessible to everyone. Then day two is all about the two of you on your first big adventure as a married couple!

There’s no need to give up the adventure when you have two days.

You get to choose your adventure.

What if you are having no guests? What do you do then? Now the true adventure planning begins. You could do a full two-day glacier trek/climbing adventure with a guide, camping out on the ice.

Or a two-day backpacking adventure somewhere deep in the wilderness to a spot that feels completely yours. Or even day one is your wedding celebration and day two is your honeymoon adventure!

The possibilities are truly endless.

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Inspiration for planning your next elopement adventure

Montana

Alaska a t o s e n Min

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Check out these activities to level up your wedding day experience!

Hiking Backpacking Kayaking Canoeing Paddle boarding Pack rafting Whitewater rafting Climbing Ice climbing Glacier trekking Snowshoeing Skiing Snowboarding

Colorado

Hot-air ballooning Heli hike + tour Jeep, ATV, UTV tour Biking Camping Bonfire Hot springs Sightseeing Cliff jumping Swimming Fishing Train Chair lift Boat excursion

Washington

Hammock hang Stargazing Horseback riding Picnicking Guided tour

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t n e m e WINTER Elop Tips

By XSPERIENCE PHOTOGRAPHY

Winter can be a chilly time to elope, but look no further for some inspiration to make it happen, and happen beautifully! These winter elopement tips and inspiration will help make your day seem as sweet and warm as the feelings churning inside you right now.

1.

STYLISH LAYERS Find a flowy dress that allows leggings underneath, preferably nude, and some warm fuzzy boots big enough to fit over thick wool socks. Send your groom to Halberstadt’s and let the experts there layer him up in this unique and snazzy suit. (I’m seriously in love with this look!) Hats, mittens and a jacket are a must and can easily be taken off during the photo shoot.

2.

FLOWERS THAT LAST

3.

Fresh flowers don’t agree with freezing temps, but these beautiful dried flowers, created by Project Celebration right here in Minnesota, can outlast all of us.

They also give an organic feel to the whole look, which I imagine the tough, outdoorsy couple willing to adventure out in the cold would be going for.

COZY ESSENTIALS Don’t forget to keep your fingers and toes toasty and warm. Hand and foot warmers are practical tools to slip into your mittens and boots, but think about ways to add to the photos as well. Bring along a thermos filled with hot cocoa and some peppermint schnapps for a toast!

elopements

PLANNING, PHOTO AND VIDEO Xsperience Photography VENUE Rice Creek Weddings, Little Falls, MN OFFICIANT Liz Reis-Merten, available within U.S. FLOWERS Project Celebration HAIR PIECE Green Alaska SUIT Halberstadt’s, Crossroads Mall in St. Cloud, MN

BABY, IT'S COLD OUTSIDE

DRESS Lulus CALLIGRAPHY VOWS Tiger Lily Invitations HAIR AND MAKEUP Nikki Popp, Royalton

Winter has a calming presence. It seems to be the time of year when everyone works at a slower pace, allowing us the opportunity to pause and reflect on life and, yes, love. If you choose this magical time of year to exchange vows, don’t let a little chill in the air steal all your fun!

4.

HEAT UP THE SPACE

MINNESOTA MODELS Jenna Klein & Kyle Boser OFFICIANT JOURNAL Rustic Journals, Etsy

5.

Plan to keep yourselves and your guests comfortable by renting one or two outdoor heating elements to warm up.

A campfire in a firepit or electric patio heaters are easy options that won’t take away from the ambiance.

EXPERT PLANNING

6.

Don’t hesitate to use professional planning services like those provided

by Xsperience Photography to help you find the perfect location, whether it be a local destination in Minnesota or in the mountains somewhere out West.

A BREAK FROM THE COLD Consider a place with indoor and outdoor options so that you and your guests can escape from the cold if needed, or maybe even snuggle up by the campfire after the sun sets. The mountains can be a bit trickier with unpredictable weather and unreliable driving conditions in the winter, but there are some pretty amazing Airbnb options and lodges with views right off the deck if travel is limited.

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INTIMATE ELOPEMENTS Sometimes smaller is better. With the closest of family and friends at your side, a modest elopement can have the greatest impact on the memories you carry forever.

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J

ackie: “Rudy and I met each other through mutual friends in 2010 while attending the University of Missouri. Rudy was a junior and I was a freshman when we met. One year later, we made it official, and we’ve been together ever since. We graduated and stayed in Columbia, Missouri, for a couple of years before we packed up a U-Haul, tossed our two cats and dog in the car, and made the move back to my home state of Minnesota. We always joke that Rudy must REALLY love me, because he is originally from Miami, Florida, and he didn’t bat an eye when I told him that I ultimately wanted to end up back in Minnesota for the long run.”

After eight years of dating, Rudy proposed during a family trip in Sonoma, California. The couple originally set their wedding date for September 2020, but when COVID-19 hit in March of that year, the couple made the tough decision to postpone their wedding day to the following year in October.

Those plans didn’t last long before Jackie and Rudy made another change.

Jackie: “As we all hunkered down during the pandemic, and we inched closer to being together for TEN years, we started asking ourselves, ‘What are we really waiting for?’ With the help of our immediate family and a couple of incredible local vendors, we were able to throw together an amazing micro wedding. We were legally wed at City Hall in October 2020, with my brother stepping in as our officiant. Our witnesses included my immediate family and Rudy’s mom, who was able to fly in from Miami.”

They kept their Plan B of an October 2021 wedding, meaning they would be celebrating with all of their extended family and friends on their one-year anniversary. ♡

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PHOTOGRAPHY Joe & Jen Photo | RECEPTION VENUE Giulia restaurant at Hotel Emery | FLORIST Sadie’s Couture Floral FOOD Giulia at Hotel Emery | CAKE/DESSERT Woullet Bakery & Thirsty Whale Bakery | HAIR The Wow Bar

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randon: “Since fifth grade we’ve gone to the same schools, yet knew nothing of each other. By chance, we connected right before starting our adult lives at separate colleges. It’s mystifying to think about now. How we almost missed each other.”

Emma: “My interest in him was strong and immediate and probably the most impulsive decision I have ever made — but to this day, it has been the best decision of my life. Our relationship has its own rhythm that has never followed the normal timeline given by society. We take a lot of pride in doing things at our own pace. We had big goals that were very important to us and knowing that we would get married eventually, we decided to take our time.

“We married each other after 15 years together, in our early 30s. We’ve attended many, many weddings together, always imagining what our special day would look like. When we began planning our wedding details, things naturally unfolded minimally. It became very clear very early on in the planning stages that our focus was on our biggest support system: our combined 10 immediate family members. Having a ‘micro wedding’ felt perfect, intimate and relaxed.”

Choosing to focus on the natural beauty that surrounded them at Lutsen Mountains in the North Shore region of Minnesota, Emma and Brandon took a less-is-more approach and said their vows on the Mystery Overlook deck atop Moose Mountain. Their intimate ceremony was followed by a long, relaxed family meal with amazing food, drink and atmosphere at the Angry Trout in nearby Grand Marais.

Brandon: “Having been together since 2004, our love has faced many challenges — hardships that many couples don’t make it through. But from those tests we find strength in each other, leaving us with a deeper love and a bond stronger than words can describe. The best part of our love story is we’ve been able to grow up together. Nothing compares to the gift of time.” ♡

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PHOTOGRAPHY The Wandering Photographers | VENUE Lutsen Mountains | FLORIST Saffron & Grey | BRIDAL GOWN SHOP Christy Dawn BRIDAL GOWN DESIGNER Christy Dawn | GROOM’S ATTIRE Banana Republic | RINGS Family heirloom (bride), custom (groom) | FOOD The Angry Trout INVITATIONS Handwritten by the bride | FAVORS Monogrammed Pendleton blankets | OFFICIANT Rev. Timothy Young — Grand Marais, Minnesota

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Victor is truly my perfect complement because he’s very grounded — very practical and caring, whereas I’m totally a head-in-the-clouds-dreamer sort of person. I lift him up and he keeps my feet on the ground. Even our “how we met” story rings true to our personalities.

I had just quit my engineering job and moved up to Birchwood Wilderness Camp, which my family had owned since 1968, to figure out my next move in life. Summer camp was in session, and I was just about to go to bed one night, when I noticed a giant wolf spider on the wall of my cabin. Now, I’m not the sort of person to kill a spider, but I also was a little nervous about ushering the furry creature outside.

What’s a girl to do? I marched down to the staff lounge to see if anyone would help me. And what do you know, Victor Pilon jumped to his feet and came back to my cabin with that grounded and confident energy I love so much! He grabbed a stick and asked if I had a book or piece of paper he could use. I said, “What the heck are you gonna do with a stick and paper? Don’t you need a jar?”

He taught me that wolf spiders freeze up if you can tip them on their back. He used the stick to flip the spider on the paper and, wouldn’t you know it, that spider was frozen on his back! No chance of an escape into my laundry basket. All Victor had to do was escort him outside and set him on his feet.

With a smile, I thanked him for his bravery and educational spider lesson as he tripped down my stairs, then walked back up them to apologize for falling down my stairs. What a cutie. We fell head over heels for each other that fall in the Boundary Waters.

Now, three years later, we’re married and we own Birchwood Wilderness Camp with my father, Dan. Victor and I live there year-round in our tiny cabin.

He still removes the wolf spiders for me.

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From very early on in our relationship, Victor and I had planned on running off to the woods to get married, just us two and the necessary people to perform the ceremony. Place is very important to me and I couldn’t imagine any place where I’d want to have a ceremony, beyond an elopement situation. That’s how I felt up until we built the yoga deck here at Birchwood. We knew from the moment we started building that it would be a very special place, and shortly after we finished construction it snapped into focus — this was THE place! And so we started making plans for a very small ceremony in our favorite boreal forest where we met, on the structure we had built together, beside the river we both knew was home. And that’s how the rest of the wedding planning went — we just allowed it to fall into place in its own time. No force, just finesse.

The dress I ordered, never having tried it on or seeing it in person, but knowing that it was the one. The menu was a creation by my beautiful and talented friend Jaclyn on a hike with our dogs. The decor was lovingly gathered in thrift shops by my mother-in-law, Pam. Our beautiful photographer, Emily Theisen, had elected herself as soon as Victor and I got engaged. Invitations were

crafted in the form of one-on-one conversations. Both my wedding band and Victor’s were made using the gold and diamonds from the bands my father gave my mother many years ago. She passed away in 2013 and was deeply missed on this particular day that we used to dream about together when I was a girl. This was my way to honor her not just on that day but every day after. And then when the day came, our favorite people gathered in the remote wilderness to help us prepare the space with the most loving intentions, support us as we exchanged vows, and celebrate with us into the night and through brunch the next morning.

Our officiant, Sebastian (we know him by his camp nickname, Nemo), is a really special friend who has known us since the beginning. Sebastian has been traveling from Colombia to be a counselor at Birchwood for many summers. He has known us individually and together, but most importantly he shares our love for Birchwood, making him perfect for the job. He even threw our camp nicknames, Stryde and Penny, into his speech once or twice. Now that Nemo is ordained, he insists we change his nickname to “Padre Nemo.”

PHOTOGRAPHY Emily Theisen of Lite Creatives | CINEMATOGRAPHY Colin Gregory of Sinclair Collective | VENUE Birchwood Wilderness Camp BRIDAL GOWN SHOP Bridal Accents Couture | BRIDAL GOWN DESIGNER Justin Alexander BRIDAL ACCESSORIES Veil by Noon on the Moon, Pearl bracelet by Coach, Shoes by Blundstone | RINGS Britta Kauppila FOOD Poplar Haus — Custom menu by head chef Jaclyn Rae Von | CAKE/DESSERT Jaclyn Rae Von | BRUNCH Gunflint Lodge DECOR Pam Pilon, mother of the groom | ACCOMMODATIONS Birchwood Wilderness Camp, Voyageur Canoe Outfitters, Gunflint Lodge

something old, something new something borrowed, something b l u e Personally, one of the most special details of the day was one that wasn’t on my radar at all. It was the 10 minutes right before the ceremony as my girlfriends helped me button up my dress and clasp my bracelet. They asked me if I had something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue. As if rehearsed, I pulled the old white handkerchief dotted with blue embroidery out of the pocket in my gown — something old and something blue, check and check! The bracelet that Elle had just clasped around my wrist was my something new, check … oh no, I had forgotten something borrowed. As if on cue, Heather handed me her necklace. I held it in my hand, running my finger over the letters spelling out her daughter’s name, Piper, in bold letters. She said to put it in my other pocket and use it as my something borrowed. I’m sure she doesn’t realize how sentimental I found that to be, but it felt like 15 years of friendship had wrapped itself in one moment, supporting me on a very big day.

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I take you as you are, loving who you are.

I promise from this day forward to be grateful for our love and our life; To be generous with my time, my energy and my affection; To be patient with you and with myself; To fill our life with adventure and our home with laughter; To inspire you to grow as an individual; To love you completely.

These things I pledge to you.

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The memory I’ll hold onto forever is a feeling as much as it is a visual memory. It’s the feeling of being surrounded by people I love, both those there in person and those in spirit, in the place I love most, hand in hand with Victor as he vowed to always bring adventure into our lives and laughter into our home. I have never been so overwhelmed and humbled by the quality of love engulfing our lives together.

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Victor and I went on a two-week Italian honeymoon with a little time spent in Paris as well. We visited Rome, Florence, Cinque Terre, Portofino, Genoa and Milan. Of all the places we visited, it comes as no surprise that we most loved the rugged little villages of Cinque Terre. These quiet seaside towns swept us off our feet with their pistachio gelato, renowned white wine, delicious seafood pasta and breathtaking views of the Ligurian Sea. We spent our evenings slow-dancing in the moonlight on our seaside balcony, mornings sipping cappuccinos in the town square, and days soaking in the sun and sea. ♡

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BEAUTIFULLY UNCONVENTIONAL

I

should preface this article by saying that I didn’t purposefully choose to be an “unconventional bride” but rather followed what felt authentic to our relationship and how we wanted to celebrate our commitment. I’ve built my entire business of Some Great People to create connections and tell stories, so it only made sense to highlight #somegreatpeople when it came to our special day.

FA S H I O N D E S I G N E R

Since fashion and local design have been a huge part of my personal passion, I knew that I wanted to work closely with a designer to make sure I could be part of the creative process. I chose to work with my dear friend, fashion designer Rammy Mohammed of Ramadhan Designs. Rammy and I have been working together on custom dresses for a few years, and she deeply understands fashion as an art form and how to create specifically for my body. We would have tea, sketch, talk and dream up the dress. Through that process we actually decided to create not one ... not two ... but three dresses!

The first dress would be worn to the courthouse celebration. I wanted something classic yet bohemian. My wardrobe is extremely colorful and eclectic, and since I knew I didn’t want a traditional white dress, I opted for a palette that felt somewhat ethereal and whimsical. This second dress was what my literal dreams were made of, and I never in my life felt so MYSELF. I should also mention that I absolutely love to dance, and knowing I wouldn’t be able to pull out all my moves in a big gown, we also created a third dress, which was a bit ’60s-inspired.

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H OT E L

We wanted to have a relaxing oasis during our days of celebration, so we stayed at the Canopy by Hilton Minneapolis located in the gorgeous Mill District neighborhood. Canopy by Hilton has beautiful rooms with exposed beams and brick and just a really cozy feel.

We’re obsessed with our dogs (as you can see by their dog tuxedos), so it was nice to stay at a dog-friendly hotel. Canopy’s award-winning chef runs their restaurant, Umbra, which was a great option for our family and friends who were in town and wanted a luxurious but laid-back experience. We were all able to brunch at Bacon Social House (located in the Canopy building) after the celebration as well!

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P H OTO G R A P H E R

Nicole Feest of NylonSaddle Photography is definitely one of my favorite photographers to work with, for a few reasons. One of those reasons is I believe Nicole integrates a unique kind of nostalgia into her art. She is someone who reminds you to slow down in life and see the beauty in the small moments, and she has an appreciation for the journey as much as for the finished product. I knew she was the type of person I wanted to shoot our special day(s) because she just has a unique outlook on life. From how she raises her daughter to how she spends her time … everything is thoughtful and genuine. She also shot some of our wedding on film, which was extra special. Another thing brides should think about when hiring a photographer is that you want someone with good energy. Laid back, focused, kind and helpful. Nicole embodies all of those things.

V E N U E / DAY 2

So we started to think about a venue that made sense for a small party. We decided on Brick x Mortar because the stunning rooftop would lend itself to a perfectly beautiful September evening.

B R I DA L B O U Q U E T

The Modern Florist Co. created my beautiful bridal bouquet. All of my dresses were very different but the overall palette kind of worked together. During the pandemic, Modern Florist Co. had sent me the most beautiful bouquet, just out of kindness. I love supporting small businesses that are rooted in kindness. The Modern Florist Co. created the most beautiful bouquets after I had sent her some sneak peek photos of my dress. Her energy is so wonderful, as is her talent.

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• Creating a timeline to send to your wedding party?

• Ensuring you have meals for your weddingday vendors?

• Making sure someone gets your gifts to your room at the end of the night?

• Getting a pretty hanger to use for your dress for photos?

• Getting your bus or limo driver’s direct phone number and not just the dispatch number?

• Bringing your engagement ring in to your jeweler to be cleaned before your wedding so it is at its sparkly best for photos?

• Leaving your itinerary with the hotel’s frontdesk staff so they can be prepared to answer guests’ questions?

• Rubbing the soles of your new shoes with sand paper to make sure they aren’t slippery on the dance floor?

• Getting a case of bottled water and some snacks for your bridal party between photos and the ceremony?

• Getting babysitters for your friends with kids?

• Pre-portioning your tips and final payments out into labeled envelopes for easy distribution on your wedding day?

• Sending your DJ or band a 'Do Not Play' list for those songs you just can’t stand?

• Having a portable steamer to steam out any wrinkles in your dress or your wedding party's dresses?

• Packing up an emergency kit full of things to solve those last-minute mini-emergencies?

• Putting together a small amenities kit for the men's and women's bathrooms?

Have you thought of?

• Making sure one of your bridesmaids knows how to bustle your dress so they aren’t scrambling to figure it out the day of?

• Giving your phone to someone to take photos and videos for you?

• Packing a pair of backup shoes in case your killer high heels become too unbearable?

• Asking your hair and makeup artists for a touch-up kit before they leave?

• Appointing someone to be in charge of making sure things are wrapped up at the end of the night?

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LAKE BRIDE MAGAZINE

BOOKING TRIPS + PARTIES + WEDDINGS

Join@thejoyridebus.com / 218.326.3457

MATTEA ROSE PHOTOGRAPHY

Along the Shores of Lake Superior | Downtown Duluth www.greysolonduluth.com

KATE BECKER PHOTOGRAPHY

Serving Grand Rapids + surrounding areas.

By TAYLOR (LOCKER) FARRELL & KAITLYN (LOCKER) DOW

SISTER O

nly two and a half years separate us in age, and only two and a half weeks separated one of the best days of our lives. In August 2020, both of our then-boyfriends proposed and made it a point to include the entire family. Getting engaged in the town we all grew up in was also something special. Duluth holds so many memories for us as sisters and as couples. Having our hometown as the backdrop to our engagement photos will give us even more to talk about when we show them to our future kids.

First comes love, then comes engagement, then comes wedding planning … or something like that. Kate got married in June, and Taylor was married just three months later. Two sisters, two engagements, two back-to-back weddings. Hold onto your seats, Mom and Dad! We wanted our weddings to be timeless, and we both wanted to throw a big party. We quickly realized that, although our guest list may look the same, our visions for our special day were actually quite different.

TAY L O R

&

DEREK

PHOTOGRAPHER Halle Marcel Photography | VENUE Clyde Malting Building HAIR AND MAKEUP SISU Beauty Co. | DESSERT (CAKE) How Sweet It Is DESSERT (ICE CREAM) Love Creamery | BRIDE'S GOWN AND BRIDESMAID DRESSES The Wedding Shoppe GROOM AND GROOMSMEN ATTIRE Mainstream Fashions | FLORALS Superior Blooms PARTY BUS Al Capone | DAY OF COORDINATION Kyla Ekstrom DECOR STYLING The Vault | PROGRAMS AND SIGNAGE Advanced Print + Design STATIONERY Truly Engaging | DJ Sounds Unlimited VIDEOGRAPHER & FIRST DANCE SPOTLIGHTING Jasper Meddock Productions SEAMSTRESS Kimberly Stromgren–Perfect Fit Alterations

SISTER Looking back, it was so special to be each other’s maid of honor while planning two weddings at once. We had many late-night FaceTime sessions and offered each other countless hours of support. And it was amazing to see each of our unique visions come to life. It was an emotional few months, to say the very least! We were both so proud and happy for each other. We couldn’t have done it without the constant reminders of support and love from our family.

Family means everything to us, and we are so grateful to have gotten to have our mom, dad and brother as our cheerleaders and emotional support throughout the whole journey. Our family grew this year by two incredibly smart, funny, charming and patient men. Not only did they have input on all the decisions, but also they were hands-on during the entire process. They really put our childhood Barbie weddings to shame. To sum it all up, it was a heck of a year. We couldn’t have done it without each other, and we wouldn’t have wanted it any other way.

KAITLYN

&

LUKE

PHOTOGRAPHER 81 Studios Photography | HAIR & MAKEUP SISU Beauty & Co. FLORALS Superior Blooms | DECOR STYLING The Vault | DJ Sounds Unlimited VENUE Greysolon Ballroom | VIDEOGRAPHER 218 Visuals BRIDE'S GOWN AND BRIDESMAID DRESSES BHLDN Anthropologie GROOMSMEN ATTIRE Mainstream Fashions for Men | FOOD Blackwoods Catering SEAMSTRESS Kimberly Stromgren–Perfect Fit Alterations

LAKE EFFECT Lake Superior serves as a breathtaking backdrop for your big day no matter the season.

Photography by BEAU PETERSEN PHOTOGRAPHY

From traditional elegance to urban chic, Duluth has the venues, caterers, hotels and restaurants to help you create your dream wedding.

visitduluth.com/plan-your-event/weddings

Enchantedly Ever After Surround your fairytale wedding with the romance of Pier B’s winter wonderland - harbored along the shoreline of the majestic Lake Superior.

800 W Railroad St, Duluth, MN 55802 112

LAKE BRIDE MAGAZINE

pierbresort.com Photo by Rachel Lahlum Photography | rachellahlum.com