I flew back to Minnesota from my winter home in Hawaii several times this year, and once it was for this amazing wedding at the Woman’s Club of Minneapolis. Shire and Mike are probably one of the sweetest couples I know.  Shire’s bubbly and happy demeanor endured throughout the entire day, and it rubbed of on everyone around her. She claims to be camera shy, but can you tell from these photos? I think not!

My favorite moment was seeing the looks on Shire and Mike’s faces when they first saw each other. There were tears and laughter, it was absolutely amazing.

This was my first time photographing a wedding at The Woman’s Club of Minneapolis. I have to say, I enjoyed it very much! There was lots of great lighting, and it was beautiful and elegant inside, with gorgeous two story window arches, cute balconies, chandeliers, and polished oak details everywhere. Shire and Mike, you picked a great spot!

I had a lot of sun shooting this wedding because these two were so fun to be around. Also because spring was in the air, it was sunny and bright, and the last of the snow was melting away… It was kind of like this:

Ceremony & Reception Venue – The Woman’s Club of Minneapolis
Dress – Posh Bridal Couture – Wayzata, MN
Florist – Brown and Greene Floral – Minneapolis, MN
Decorator – Design Innovations – Edina, MN
Linens – Après Party and Tent Rental – Edina, MN
Jewelry – Waldeland Jewlers and Jewelry by Johan

Negative 36 degrees. That’s how cold it was on Amy and Jed’s wedding day in Red Wing, Minnesota. It wasn’t the late summer wedding weather they had hoped for – Amy needed time to recover after a major bike accident a couple months before their originally planned August wedding date.  She was struck by a car while cycling and suffered severe injuries.  News of the accident was shocking to all, and Amy underwent an extensive rehabilitation process. But in the end, after a lot of hard work, she was able to walk down the aisle toward the love of her life on Valentine’s Day.

Jed proposed to Amy while they were cross country skiing in December 2013.  When I met with them, I instantly liked them. They are clearly devoted to one another.  This love story is a powerful one, considering the difficulties they had to overcome, and their wedding day was absolutely wonderful.

If you read my blog regularly, then you know how much I love photographing weddings at the St. James Hotel!  The view from the Summit Room is breathtaking, and the town of Red Wing is just so quaint and fun…. Even on a day when it’s so cold that boiling water turns to snow.

I hope you enjoy these romantic Valentine’s Day wedding pictures!

Ceremony venue – First United Methodist Church – Red Wing, MN
Reception venue – St. James Hotel – Red Wing, MN
Hair & Makeup – Indigo Salon – Red Wing, MN
Dress shop – Che Bella Boutique – Minneapolis, MN
Dress designer – Kelly Faetanini – New York, NY
Tuxedos – Savvi Formalwear – Roseville, MN
Cupcakes – Rivertown Cakes – Hastings, MN
Florist – Inspired Home & Flower Studio – Red Wing, MN
Music – Matt Kotefka, First Choice DJ Service

Erica and Chris got engaged on Catalina Island last October during a romantic vacation along the coast of California.  They planned for a winter wedding complete with an elegant silver and gold Christmas theme. (Makes me want to sing!)

Before their traditional catholic ceremony at the beautiful Church of the Assumption in downtown St. Paul, the bride, groom and wedding party followed me around town for some snowy wedding photographs. We took a little time to warm up and get more pictures inside the historic St. Paul Hotel, and after the wedding ceremony, everyone headed to the immaculately decorated Dellwood Country club for a reception!

Ceremony venue – Church of the Assumption – St. Paul, MN
Reception venue – Dellwood Country Club – White Bear Lake, MN
Hair & makeup – Julie Swenson – Minneapolis, MN
Decorator – Terry Gentry, Creative License
DJ – Aaron Fruen, Aaron’s Anytime DJs
Florist – Lakeside Floral
Dress shop –  Bridal Accents Couture
Wedding gown designer – Liancarlo
Tuxedos – Savvi Formal Wear
Limo company – Eclipse Transportation
Stationer – Carlson Craft
Wedding rings – Thomas Joseph & Sons
Bridal jewelry – Cheryl King Couture
Cake designer – Terry’s Cakes and Bakes
Wedding planner – Jill Johnson
Officiant –  Father John Malone