Calm, Confident, and Clearly in Love | Rachael and Jim | Minneapolis Wedding and Engagement Photography

It’s always so special when the bride and groom get a moment to themselves on their wedding day.

I struggled to write about Rachael and Jim’s wedding day because I was completely torn when deciding to focus on describing the sheer beauty of the wedding itself, or how beautiful of a couple Rachael and Jim are. It felt impossible to do justice to both in a short blog post, but both were so wonderful I couldn’t help but try.

The pictures speak for themselves. The scenery and style at this wedding was just unbelievable. It was the perfect clash of elegant and rustic decor. From the ceremony to the reception, there was wood and burlap paired with blush roses and lush greenery – all tied together with shimmering gold accents. The combination perfectly complemented the equally gorgeous outdoors. We were just in awe. What makes the beauty of this décor even more special is that Rachael planned it all herself. The flawless day that you see is completely her vision come to life. You can tell Rachael put her heart into planning this day, yet she didn’t allow that to manifest into worry and cause her to lose sight of the true purpose of the day when it actually arrived. Not once did she stress about small details or show concern about how things looked. The entire day she was calm, smiling, and joyful – which is a total testament to the beauty of Rachael and Jim’s relationship.

Together, Rachael and Jim wholeheartedly enjoyed their big day. Even when things didn’t go exactly as planned, they went with the flow and trusted that their love was bigger than any circumstance, and it absolutely was. For example, at the last minute we had to delay the couple’s first look. Jim was all settled, anxiously waiting for his bride, when we told him we had to switch spots before we could shoot the moment. The disappointment he felt was obvious and understandable, as this is arguably the most anticipated moment of the day. But without question, he accepted the situation and continued patiently waiting – he knew it would be worth it. The extra time provided space for extra excitement and anticipation to grow, and when the moment finally came for him to see Rachael, wow, was it special. These two really, really love each other. The way that they interact with ease and confidence in what they have together, just made it obvious how good of a match they are. Rachel and Jim, you two are perfect for each other. I have no doubt that there is a lifetime of joy and happiness ahead of you.

Vendor List:
Venue – Chankaska Creek Winery – Kasota, MN
Videographer – Clarity Films (Jon Evans)
Caterer – Absolute Custom Catering (Shelly Sabatka) – Mankato, MN
DJ – Open Bar Entertainment (Ryan Wold)
Decorator – Parties and Weddings Plus (Linda Miller) – Mankato, MN
Florist – Parties and Weddings Plus (Nell) – Mankato, MN
Ceremony Guitarist – Tony Cuchetti
Hair/Makeup Stylist – Mani Mela (Kylie Preusse)
Baker – Decadent Desserts (Amy Otto)