We love this photo of Steph getting ready for her big day – proof that she was all smiles from beginning until end!

Tanner was Steph’s first friend when she moved to Minneapolis. After six months their friendship turned into a relationship so wonderful that they never wanted it to end. So Tanner proposed to Steph by surprising her in front of the stunning Minnehaha Falls after a walk with their good friends and their dog, Oakley. Now, they are happily married, and hosted their wedding in the city that initially brought them together and that they fell in love in. And wow, what a wedding it was. Steph and Tanner’s big day was the epitome of a classic and glamorous cosmopolitan wedding.

The ceremony was held at the Basilica of Saint Mary. The gorgeous church was not only the perfect venue to hold their faith-centered ceremony, but also served as a stunning backdrop for pictures (check out how the bridesmaids’ sequence dresses pop in front of the gold doors!). The wedding crew then headed downtown to the IDS building for their reception. But the reception wasn’t just in the IDS building; it was at the top floor of the tower. My ears popped as I went up the elevator. The views of the city were unbelievable. I can only imagine how special it must have been for Steph and Tanner to be able to gaze out over the city and be able to see so many of the places where they have made memories together, each one leading them to this day, where they committed to spend the rest of their lives together. That is part of what was so extraordinary about Steph and Tanner’s wedding day. The glamorous gold and silver details were absolutely beautiful (and made for great photos) but the beauty of their day went so much deeper.

It was truly a celebration, not just by the couple, but also by everyone present, especially their two families—who clearly love them and their relationship so much. Steph and Tanner had previously told me how close they each were to their big families, and it was made so obvious on this day. But out of all the gorgeous decorations, distinctive details, and special moments, what I believe made Steph and Tanner’s wedding especially unique, occurred right after the ceremony came to a close. Each guest received a small bell labeled, “Join us in ringing the bell to celebrate a lifetime of love & happiness,” and rang it as the Steph and Tanner joyfully exited the Basilica. Their joy was contagious, and it rang through each and every bell.

Vendor List:
Ceremony venue – Basilica of St Mary’s – Minneapolis, MN
Reception venue – IDS Building – Minneapolis, MN
Officiant – Father John Bauer
Videographer – MOVE Weddings (Glenn Bruno)
Makeup artist – Sugar Bomb Make Up (Sarah Halberg)
Caterer – Basil’s (through the Marquette Hotel) – Minneapolis, MN
Cake designer – Buttercream Cake – Saint Paul, MN
Florist – Sadie’s Couture Floral (Melissa Straton) – Minneapolis, MN
Dress shop – Schaffer’s – Des Moines, IA
Dress designer – Paloma Blanca
Tuxedos – Men’s Wearhouse
Party bus company – Half Price Party Bus
DJ – Aaron Fruen
Chair/table rental – Linen Effects – Minneapolis, MN
Jeweler – Shane Co.

The lighting was just perfect during this sweet moment between Katie and Ben.

As it is with all beautiful love stories, Katie and Ben’s ended, or should we say began, with a happily ever after. But unlike most love stories this one featured two leading ladies: Katie and her daughter Grace.

Three years ago Katie and Grace were going through life pretty happily. They were content and cozy in their Minneapolis home with their dog Shelby, but something was missing for both of them. They were operating as a puzzle waiting for its missing piece and life felt incomplete. After many years of dating Mr. “Not Quite Rights” Katie was getting burnt out in her quest to find the perfect man to complete their little family. It was no surprise to Katie’s friends, that when she first stumbled upon Ben’s profile on an online dating app, she wasn’t entirely convinced that he could be the one to fill the void she had been feeling in her life. Ben and Katie messaged back and forth but when it came time to meet in person Katie got cold feet AND her babysitter had to cancel on her! But something inside Katie told her Ben was worth another shot. So after the unceremonious cancelation of what would have been their first date, Katie messaged Ben one more time to see if he still wanted to meet up, and of course, he did!

The first night they met in person, Katie knew there was something different, special even, about Ben. Although he had already passed the test with her, he still needed to pass the test with the other leading lady in this story: Grace. When Ben finally met Grace, there was an instant connection between the vivacious 5 year old and Ben; who himself was equally effervescent through his years directing and acting in Minneapolis Theater productions. “The first thing she did when she met Ben was give him a great big hug!” Katie recalls with amusement.

It seemed at last that the twosome was now a threesome and that feeling of incompleteness started to vanish as Ben slowly made his way into the hearts of Katie and Grace. As time passed, and more animals began to fill the house (two cats and another dog to keep Shelby company), Katie quickly came to admire how well Ben stepped up into the role of boyfriend and parental figure for Grace. The difficulties Katie faced in raising Grace as a single mother started to diminish as Ben began to fit into their family puzzle. Ben not only courted Katie, but courted Grace as well, taking her on fun adventures around the city. Katie and Grace both were certain that Ben was the one!

However, it took Ben a while to propose to Katie. As much as he was confident and poised up on the theatrical stage, he was a little timid in finding the perfect way to propose to Katie. Katie remembers the feeling of months going by without the proposal and getting a little anxious and impatient to start their lives together. But just when Katie was about to give up hope, Ben said four simple words in an intimate and special moment as they watched snow trickle down their drive way… “Will you marry me?!” The rest, as they say, is history!

Katie and Ben were married at Wesley United Methodist Church and had their reception at the Historic Minneapolis Club. Their wedding was a nod to classic elegance. Katie’s beautiful dress captured the essence and style of old Hollywood glamour and their reception venue and details carried out a traditional classic feel from the gold silk table cloths, to the ornate mahogany chair backs, and the breathtaking pink and white floral arrangements. I have had the honor to work with many wonderful couples, and Katie and Ben were no exception! Their wedding was indeed a celebration! And just as this story shared two leading ladies, Ben shared his first dance with both Katie and with Grace, finally completing their little family puzzle perfectly.

Vendor List:
Ceremony venue – Wesley United Methodist Church – Minneapolis, MN
Reception venue – Minneapolis Club – Minneapolis, MN
Hair sylist – Mani Mela – Minneapolis, MN
Makeup artist – Mani Mela – Minneapolis, MN
Decorations – Cici Events – St. Paul, MN
Florist – Your Enchanted Florist – St. Paul, MN

One of our favorite photos of Brittany & Jesse on their wedding day!

Brittany & Jesse first met as recruiters in Winona, MN. They were both working on a project together, and Jesse tricked her into their first date. He made it about work so she would go to dinner with him. A little while later, Brittany & Jesse took a trip to New York City. They were strolling along the Brooklyn Bridge, until Jesse got down on one knee and asked Brittany to marry him. She was so incredibly shocked because she was not expecting this at all. Brittany’s parents were there to take pictures and this moment couldn’t have been more special for her. This is a moment that the two of them will never remember forever!

Brittany & Jesse had the most beautiful ceremony at the Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Burnsville, MN. Brittany was in the Army and Jesse was in the Navy, so it was special that Brittany wore her combat boots with her wedding dress! This wedding was also different because Brittany’s mom was her maid of honor because they are so close! When Brittany was walking down to see Jesse for their first look it was so cute because he was so nervous and excited to see how beautiful she looked! Jesse’s son, Tanner was the ring bearer and he was such a goofball the entire day. He kept wanting to take more pictures and he stole the show with his awesome personality. You can tell this family is really close!

They had their reception at the Varsity Theater in Minneapolis and it was such a cool venue! There was a live band at the reception and it made for some great dancing. Their color scheme of the red and gray colors looked gorgeous; the bridesmaids looked so pretty in the vibrant red dresses. The reception food was amazing because it was catered by the Loring Pasta Bar. This whole night was magical, and you could really see the immense amount of love shared within this family!

Vendor List:
Ceremony venue – Prince of Peace Lutheran Church – Burnsville, MN
Reception venue – The Varsity Theater – Minneapolis, MN
Wedding planner – Julie Te Slaa
Officiant – Pastor Paul Dean
Hair stylist – The Hive Salon (Becca and Emily) – Minneapolis, MN
Makeup artist – War Paint International (Owner: Jessica) – Minneapolis, MN
Caterer – Loring Pasta Bar – Minneapolis, MN
Cake designer – Angel Food – Minneapolis, MN
Decorator – The Varsity Theater – Minneapolis, MN
Florist – One Precious Pearl Floral Design – Bloomington, MN
Dress shop – Weddings By Tess – Apple Valley, MN
Tuxedos – Men’s Wearhouse – Minneapolis, MN
Band – Junk FM – Minneapolis, MN
Jeweler – Wedding Day Diamonds

The moment when J was about to step into her beautiful wedding dress!

J & C went to highschool together in St. Louis, MO and knew one another peripherally, but they both ran with different crowds. It wasn’t until after college started that they went on a few dates when back in town. They had a great time and they both knew that there was a special connection, but they actually had to call things off due to J moving to CO to attend the Air Force Academy. She went away, and C was back to his days of chilling out on the lifeguard stand. J ended up getting injured during a training exercise and had the option for surgery and staying in the academy, or making her exit from the Air Force. She chose to exit, and that is when C’s boring lifeguard days came to an end!

J lived in China for awhile so she had many friends scattered around the globe. J & C took a long trip to Turkey and Italy in the summer of 2015 as one of her friends invited them to his wedding in Istanbul. After the wedding, they decided to check out the island of Sardinia. C knew he was going to propose a few weeks before the trip and he knew that this was the place he wanted to ask her. After a long day of hiking, they ended up at a beach called Cala Goloritze. The water was crystal clear and simultaneously electric blue; he knew this was the time. He had the ring in his pocket as they went to swim out to this rock arch. As they made it to the rock, he pulled the ring out and popped the question. She was so surprised and of course said “yes!”

These two are so spontaneous, that they decided to ditch their photography timeline for the day. When we started the day, we knew exactly why they wanted the pictures to be spontaneous. They had so much fun getting ready with their bridal party and were all living in the moment; they wanted nothing staged or planned out! They opened about five bottles of champagne before the ceremony and were non stop jamming out to Drake. They could not stop smiling, laughing, and enjoying their time with friends and family.

Their wedding was at the Millennium Hotel in Minneapolis and it was so gorgeous to have all of those open windows in the background. The ceremony was also special, because J’s college friend, Chase married them. We were able to convince J & C to sneak off after their ceremony to take some bride and groom photos; they turned out stunning! They went straight to their reception where J made all of the decorations! Their reception was a blast because their guests really, and I mean really loved to dance. C did not leave the dance floor for the whole three hours. I was amazed. After this crazy fun wedding, I realized that J & C couldn’t be more perfect for one another. They are both so spontaneous and fun, and are always down for an adventure. They truly bring out the best in one another, which makes them the perfect dynamic duo!

Vendor List:
Ceremony venue – Millennium Hotel Minneapolis – Minneapolis, MN
Reception venue – Millennium Hotel Minneapolis – Minneapolis, MN
Officiant – Chase Ryan Wilhelm
Hair stylist – Juut Salon Spa – Minneapolis, MN
Makeup artist – Juut Salon Spa – Minneapolis, MN
Caterer – Millennium Hotel Minneapolis – Minneapolis, MN
DJ – Instant Request DJ – Bengi – Bloomington, MN
Chair/table rentals – Elevated Style – Minneapolis, MN