Married! // Harper + Trey Part 2

The wedding day has arrived! Harper and Trey’s wedding took place at Abella Farm Weddings and Events and on quite possibly the hottest day of the summer! The sun was shining and it was a beautiful day. Amy Zaroff Events and Design brought in the best of the best vendors to make this day everything that Harper and Trey could have dreamed of! It spoke to both of them - a small town meets the big city! What I loved about Harper and Trey is how thoughtful they were in planning this wedding for their guests. There were fun activities while everyone was getting ready, a popcorn and lemonade refreshment as guests arrived and one of the best bands in the country for entertainment. They focused on bold colors, including the entire spectrum of the rainbow. They wanted their day to be filled with joy, modern art design and the great Midwest.

The absolute best part of the day though was hearing Harper and Trey read their vows to one another. They are a couple who inspires everyone around them with their love. I think everyone learned more about Harper and Trey through their vows as well. Whether it was their story or how they support one another in their relationship, we all left the ceremony so excited for these two and their marriage!

I meantioned this in Part 1 of their blog post, but this is officially the longest blog post I’ve ever done! They day was filled with so many moments, I felt it deserved this many images. So, without further adieu, enjoy Harper + Trey’s wedding!

LOVEe

VENDORS//

Event Planning + Design: Amy Zaroff Events and Design

Rabbi: Rabbi Isaama Goldstein-Stoll

Photographer: Photogen Inc.

Video: Curtis Kennedy Films

Live Band: Jordan Kahn Music Company

Venue: Abella Farm Weddings + Events

Floral: Arts and Flowers

Catering: D’Amico Catering

Cake: D’Amico Catering

Hair + Makeup: Mae Vang and Andrea Holton

Photo Booth: Northerly

Installations: Girl Friday

Rentals: Haven and Gather, Chrome

Sound + Lighting: AVEX

Married! // Harper + Trey Part 1

Harper and Trey’s wedding was the event of the summer for all of their family and friends. The couple chose to come back to Minnesota, where Trey grew up and his family has roots! Harper and Trey live in Brooklyn and they were joined by friends and family who traveled from across the world to experience the Midwest. It was a weekend full of fun! From the welcome drinks to the Minnesota State Fair, an incredible rehearsal dinner and then a beautiful modern-art-meets-farm wedding, the weekend brought so many memory-making events for their guests.

Let’s begin with the rehearsal dinner. This gorgeous evening took place on the terrace at the Walker Art Center. With the iconic Cherry and Spoon in the background, Harper and Trey hosted an incredible night filled with some of the best speeches. I loved how throughout the night, Harper and Trey would check in on one another. It might have been just a soft touch or a glance from across the room, but they were always making sure the other felt loved and seen. This was a theme throughout the weekend and the chatter over how perfect these two are for one another was always buzzing about the room.

Another moment that I loved was the sunset. Harper’s late Grandmother always referenced a sunset as a way that she would make her presence known. During dinner the overcast skies parted and a gorgeous, glowing pink sunset appeared that warmed the hearts of so many. Love felt close on this night!

Full disclosure - this wedding might be the longest blog post I’ve ever posted! This wedding is worthy of the long scroll. While the wedding photos will come along in Part 2 of this post, below are some wonderful details and moments from Harper + Trey’s Rehearsal Dinner.

LOVEe

VENDORS//

Event Planning + Design: Amy Zaroff Events and Design

Photographer: Photogen Inc.

Video: Curtis Kennedy Films

Venue: The Walker Art Center

Catering: D’Amico Catering

Rentals: Linen Effects

Sound + Lighting: AVEX

Engaged! // Adam + Tim

Adam and Tim are a couple that I instantly connected with. Frankly, I would say we are on our way to being fast friends, which is the BEST when it comes to wedding clients. I’ve been so fortunate over the years to stay in touch with the couples who book me as their photographer for their wedding and that truly means so much!

Adam and Tim are a couple that makes you feel welcome. Hospitality is a part of who they are. Whether it’s a night out or a night in, they are going to dazzle their guests. One thing I love the most about these two is their sincere connection. They adore one another and you really leave their presence believing in the idea of soulmates and love. I am SO looking forward to their wedding next year. I can already tell that they surround themselves with the very best people and they are going to throw one hell of a party, while also inspiring everyone around them!

Cheers to Adam and Tim, their engagement and all of the good they bring into this world!

LOVEe

Married! // Alyssa + Clarke

Alyssa and Clarke are a couple who embraces life and love to the fullest! Whether it is their careers, travel, family or friends, they always go big and their wedding was a true reflection of their love and passion for life! One thing I loved about their day was that their close friends surprised them by showing up wedding-party-ready. The couple wasn’t going to have a wedding party, but their friends knew they would appreciate the impromptu change of plans! All of the women showed up in fabulous red attire and the guys were as dapper as ever!

Alyssa and Clarke’s wedding took place on a perfect summer day at The Beach Club. Julia LaCroix transported the guests with her design through a series of rooms with lush, white florals throughout. To add a personal touch, the couple’s wedding cake was made up of classic story books. This was a nod to their last name, Story, and also their own adventures in life.

Congratulations to Alyssa, Clarke and their families. It was a pleasure to be a part of your day!

LOVEe

VENDORS//

Planner: Julia LaCroix Styled Events

Venue: The Beach Club

Photography: Photogen Inc.

Videography: A B Rich Films

Cake: Ink Sweets

Floral: Sadie’s Couture Floral

Officient: Flutterby Celebrations

Live Band: The R Factor

Champagne Wall: Girl Friday

Hair & Makeup: Primped

Stationary: Jill Elaine Designs

Lounges + Stage Wrap: Collected & Co.

Married! // Maddy + Zach

Maddy and Zach have a love story that is truly layered with love stories. The couple met when they were younger in school. The story goes that Maddy would always ask Zach for a piece of gum and return the wrapper with a little note on it. Years later, when Zach proposed, he had kept all of those sweet notes and it was a great reminder of how their love had grown over the years. Layer in another love story. Zach also proposed with Maddy’s mother’s original wedding ring from her late father, Dan Wagner. It was so important for the family to keep his memory alive and having this ring is truly such a beautiful tribute!

Speaking of Tributes, let’s layer in another love story. 16 years ago, Maddy’s mother remarried an incredible man named Tres who gave the *best speech about their family coming together. He spoke about how Jennifer and Dan laid the foundation for a beautiful life and he felt honored to carry on loving Maddy. I don’t think there was a dry eye in the room during this speech or the father / daughter dance. And the final layer to Zach and Maddy’s love story is that their wedding took place on the same weekend and the same property that Jennifer and Tres were married.

Now Maddy and Zach get to carry on and add to this incredible story, which is filled with family, hope, healing and love. It was such a pleasure to be a part of documenting their day and it was actually golden. The light streamed through the reception as they danced the night away. It. Was. Perfect.

Congratulations to the new Mr. and Mrs. Grochowski!

LOVEe

VENDORS//

Event Planning + Design: Amy Zaroff Event + Design

Photography: Photogen Inc.

Videography: Curtis Kennedy Films

Officiant: Dennis and Dana Calhoun

Floral Design: Arts & Flowers

Photo Booth: Selfie and Co.

Ceremony Music: Jeff Perry Music

Reception Entertainment: Rock With U

Makeup: Jessica Kueppers, JAK Beauty

Hair: Madeline Freiberg, Spalon Montage

Catering: D’Amico Catering

Tent + Rentals: Aprés Party and Tent Rental

Audio / Visual: AVEX

After Party Tents: Canvas Town Tents

Installation + Rentals: Girl Friday and Rudy’s Event Rentals

Linens: BBJ Linens

Married! // Katie + Erik!

Katie and Erik are truly the sweetest couple. Their wedding was my final event of the 2021 season and it ended on such a high note with these two! Katie and Erik met right in the midst of the pandemic and knew it was true love pretty quickly. After Erik proposed, they started planning their perfect day and I can honestly say it was perfect. Katie and Erik welcomed their closest family and friends for an intimate evening filled with love, fantastic food, delicious drinks and even their pug, Oswald, made an appearance for most of the day.

They wanted to keep things simple, but there was no shortage on style. Katie and Erik have impeccable taste and from Katie’s three different looks to the gorgeous fall decor, their day was gorgeous. Erik is even a bit of an artist himself and one of his abstract drawings of Oswald was incorporated on the table seating charts. I loved, loved loved this detail!

Katie and Erik’s day was filled with a lot of love and happiness. Thank you for choosing our team to be a part of such a special day!

LOVEe

VENDORS//

Wedding Design + Planning: Julia LaCroix Styled Events

Ceremony & Reception Venue: The Lynhall, Uptown

Floral: Scarlett & Flora

Hair & Makeup: 139 Hair by Heidi

Photography: Photogen Inc.

Videography: Landon Oldenburger

Engaged! // Katie + Erik

Katie and Erik met right as the global pandemic of 2020 was setting in and while it felt like the world was crazy and unknown, Katie and Erik were certain of one thing - they were in love! Over the last year, these two experienced life and the beginning of their relationship in such a special way and when Erik proposed, Katie knew the answer was yes! For their engagement session, we took a walk around the North Loop neighborhood of Minneapolis and I must say that I fell in love with these two! They are an absolutely amazing couple and I can’t wait to document their wedding day this fall!

LOVEe

Married! // Amanda + Jacob

My wish for every couple is that they find someone who looks at each other like Jacob and Amanda do! It is pure love and admiration! I’ve known Amanda for a long time and she has always been an LA city girl. Family brought her to the Midwest and one day I got a text that she was moving to Wisconsin and marrying a strawberry farmer! This. Was. Perfect. I loved every bit of it! Amanda and Jacob have always chosen a small elopement as the way they were going to get married and they found Justin Trails Resort as the perfect location to say I-Do!

It was just the three…well, four of us on their wedding day. Amanda and Jacob happily announced that they are expecting a little one just weeks before their wedding, which just added to the excitement of their day! The weather was perfect, the light was amazing and there were even two surprises - the llamas, Dusty and Rusty!

Jacob and Amanda, it is very clear that the two of you adore one another and that your marriage and growing family are both going to be so strong! Thank you for asking me to document this moment for you, it was truly special!

LOVEe

VENDORS//

Venue: Justin Trails Resort

Bride’s Dress: Willowby by Watters

Groom’s Tux: The Black Tux

Florals: Sparta Flowers & Greenhouses

Married! // Laura + Brad

At the end of July, I received a call from Laura, asking if I might still be available to photograph a small wedding on their original date in early September! You see, Laura and Brad are one of many couples who had a big wedding planned and had to change their date because of the covid-19 pandemic. As the time came closer to their original date, they couple ultimately realized they really just wanted to be married! They had postponed their big plans, but then it dawned on them, “Why don’t we get married and have our big party later?” Luckily their vendors were all still available and Amy Zaroff Events and Design planned the most beautiful covid-responsible backyard garden wedding!

The chuppah was dripping with gorgeous flowers from Arts & Flowers and guests were greeted with both kippahs and custom face masks! The outdoor ceremony was so special and a small luncheon followed. One cool thing that Laura and Brad also had was a live stream of the ceremony and speeches for friends and family who weren’t able to be at the event in person - it was a fantastic way to still have everyone a part of their wedding day!

Congratulations to the new Mr. and Mrs. Liszt! We are so happy for you!

LOVEe

VENDORS//

Event Planning & Design: Amy Zaroff Events & Design

Photography: Photogen Inc.

Video: Cal Brue

Live Stream: AVEX

Live Music: Elán Artists

Hair & Makeup: Andrea Holton

Flowers: Arts & Flowers

Cake: Farina Baking Company

Boxed Lunch: D’amico Catering

Rentals: Apres Party Rental

Cocktails + Bartender: A Proper Pour

Photogen Inc // 2020 Lookbook

Our 2019 / 2020 wedding season brought me all around the United States and Central America! Our team had the pleasure of documenting so many amazing weddings and this was one of my favorite seasons of my career! Every year, I put together a lookbook of some of my favorite moments and this year’s collection really shines! Click below to view the entire book and enjoy - I can’t wait to see what this next year brings!

LOVEe

Married! // Leah + Justin

Leah and Justin had the perfect Fall day in Minnesota for their wedding. The colors on the trees were as vibrant as ever and the sun was shining! The couple opted for a traditional wedding ceremony at St. Phillip the Deacon and then we headed over to the oh-so-gorgeous Hutton House for the party!

Leah and Justin’s style is classic, clean and timeless. It’s also impeccable. The couple worked with Twirl Events for the design of their day and it came together beautifully! The day was filled with friends, family and love. It’s obvious that everyone around this couple is thrilled about their marriage and we are, too!

Congratulations to the new Mr. and Mrs. Hager!

LOVEe

VENDORS//

Hotel: The Hotel Landing

Ceremony Location: St. Phillip the Deacon

Reception Location: The Hutton House

Wedding Planner and Design: Twirl Events

Floral: Sadie’s Couture Floral

Hair and Makeup: Emily J

Champagne: The Tiny Tap

Balloons: Corner Balloon Shoppe

Rentals: Rudy’s Event Rentals and Linen Effects

Catering: D’amico

Cake: Buttercream

Live Music: The Travis Anderson Trio

DJ: Charlie from Instant Request

Married! // Robyn + Ryan

I first met Robyn Frank, aka Frankie, when she moved back to Minneapolis from New York. She was this incredibly energetic, sweet, feisty, powerhouse of a woman who always had the best red lipstick, wild hair and a smily and energy that was contagious. She also had the best heart. When it came to finding love though, there weren’t a lot of suitors who could keep up with Robyn, her dreams and ambitions. And then she met Ryan, aka Easy or Elo. His nickname came about because he truly is the most easy-going, kind hearted human you will ever meet. All of a sudden there was a shift in Robyn and she was swooning over this tall, dark, handsome, NICE guy! It was love!

Fast forward to September 2019 and Robyn and Ryan were all surrounded by their nearest and dearest family and friends to tie the knot! They chose to have a destination wedding at the Grandview Lodge in Brainerd, Minnesota and it was truly a beautiful fall day! We are so happy for this couple and were honored to be there to celebrate their love! Congrats to the new Mr. and Mrs!

LOVEe

VENDORS//

Venue: Grandview Lodge

Wedding Coordination: Lauren Goldfarb

Jewelry: Goldfine Jewelry

Floral: Petals and Beans

Officient: Rabbi Jen Hartman

Decor: Gwen Torfin

Makeup: Jennifer Gilbert

Cupcakes: Sweet Life Bakery

Dessert Bar: Thumbs Cookies

DJ: Roosevelt Mansfield or DJ Digie

Married! // Nicole + Lucas!

Classic, but modern. Sleek, but traditional. Thoughtful and intentional - thes are all words that I would use to describe Nicole and Lucas’s amazing summer wedding at the Calhoun Beach Club. This couple has impeccable style and taste when it comes to dreaming up their wedding day. From both the Bride and Groom’s look to the fresh, bright minimalist details - everything was perfect.

I had a couple of favorite moments while photographing Nicole and Lucas’s wedding. First, these two were SO excited to marry one another. That energy carried on throughout the entire day and was contagious. But one thing I also observed was just how equally excited every single family, friend and wedding guest was to see the couple getting married as well. Everyone was thrilled and welcomed each other into their lives.

Congratulations to the new Mr. and Mrs. Wilson! We are so happy for you!

LOVEe

VENDORS//

Photography: Photogen Inc.

Day of Coordination: Pepperpenn Design House

Venue: Calhoun Beach Club

Flowers: Sadies Floral

Hair: Kristal Luhrs

Makeup: Sal Rodriguez

Bridesmaids Dress: Bella Bridesmaids

Groom’s Tux: The Black Tux

Rings and Bridal Jewelry: Thomas Joseph and Sons

Quartet: Ovation String Quartet

DJ: Instant Request

Photo Booth: Selfie & Co.

Officiant: Rev Amy Riesenberg

Ally + Jake // Engaged!

Ally and Jake met while on the road for work. A few years later, Jake proposed and now they’re in full wedding planning mode for the 2020 season! For their engagement session, we went out to the oh-so-lovely Redeemed Farm and it was the perfect summer afternoon session! Since the couple is getting married out East, they wanted to bring in touches of the Midwest for their engagement photos. Redeemed Farm was truly the perfect location for this!

Congratulations to Ally and Jake on their engagement!

LOVEe

Married! // Meghan + Nate

Hearing how couples meet is one of my favorite things about photographing weddings. Meghan and Nate have a very serendipitous story. Their parents knew one another when the kids were little, but it wasn’t until around college that these two connected. As fate would have it, Meghan and Nate were perfect for one another and 12 years after they began dating, these two tied the knot at the Weisman Art Museum in Minneapolis, MN.

I’ve known Nate for years through the photography world (many of you might know his amaaaazing work for The Current ). It’s been so cool to see him grow as an artist and a leader in our photography community and it has truly been extra special to get to know him and Meghan together. They are a power couple to say the least. Meghan has a thriving career on the faculty for St. Catherine University and they also both love to cycle, travel, run and compete. More importantly though, they both have really big hearts for service and giving back to the communities they are a part of. It was so great to see them with their closest family and friends for their wedding day, which also was one of the most beautiful receptions ever!

Congratulations to Meghan and Nate - we are all so happy for you!

LOVEe

VENDORS//

Ceremony + Reception Location: The Weisman Art Museum

Bride’s Dress: Posh Bridal Couture

Bridesmaid Dresses: Midge

Groom’s + Groomsmen Suits: Indochino

Florals: Ashley Fox Designs

Catering + Desserts: D’Amico

Pedicabs: Minneapolis Pedicabs

Strings: Laurel’s String Quartet

Live Music: The Electric Party Authority

Rentals: Aprés Party

Best Moments of 2018!

As another year comes to a close, it’s the perfect time to reflect and look back upon some of my favorite moments from the weddings in 2018! This season was incredible and I’m so proud of the work that our team created for our clients! Really though, it’s continually humbling to be invited to photograph a wedding. It’s such an intimate and special moment in a family’s life - it’s a true honor to be the ones to document it!

When I put together the “Best Of” list, I want to choose images that speak to me. The images below might not be the standard, popular poses or even the prettiest pictures, but they are the ones that truly speak to me. They are the images that tell a story and give me true emotion when I look at them. That’s what we strive for. Some of these images came out of my camera and others came from our assisting team. It’s a group effort from us all on a wedding day and I’m so lucky to work with our crew of photographers.

Without further adieu, my favorite wedding moments from 2018! Enjoy!

LOVEe

Married! // Maki + Jiten Part 2

Maki + Jiten’s wedding day will forever go down as one of my all-time-favorites. I spent three days with this couple, their family and friends and I can’t begin to say enough about how incredibly nice and fun everyone was - emphasis on fun! We began the day at the crack of dawn and partied until sundown. One of my favorite moments of an Indian wedding is the Baraat, which is traditionally when the Groom travels to the wedding venue and is accompanied by his friends & family. It’s joyous, it’s festive and it’s a fantastic way to kick off such a celebration.

Beyond that, Maki + Jiten’s wedding day was filled with spectacular moments and it was gorgeous. Many of their guests joined from all over the world and we are all so happy for this couple as they begin their lives together! And if you missed Part 1 of this wedding, make sure to check it out here!

LOVEe

VENDORS//

Wedding Planning, Styling and Coordination: Julia LaCroix Styled Events

Venue: JW Marriott Minneapolis Mall of America

Officiant: Dr. Anantanand Rambachan   

Photography: Photogen-Inc.      

Videography: A.B. Rich Films

DJ + Lighting: Instant Request                    

Rentals: Après Event Décor and Tent Rental

Floral:    Sadie's Couture Floral

Mandap + draping: Y & I Events

Mandap furniture: Indra Patel   

Desserts: Cocoa & Fig    

Hair & Makeup: Emily J Hair + Makeup  

Transportation: Star Transportation

Dhol Player: Sundeep Patel

Baraat Horse: The Hitching Company

Stationery: A Milestone Paper Co.

Escort Card Calligraphy: Rosann Konieczny Calligrapher

Invitation Calligraphy: Calligraphy with Style

Photo Booth: The Traveling Photo Booth    

Married! // Raquel + Jared

There is one iconic picture from Jared + Raquel's engagement session of these two dancing that I just adore. That same energy and spirit carried over into their wedding day, which was a true celebration. First of all, this couple can dance. Their families can dance. Their friends can dance. This crew can just get down - no matter if they were getting ready, riding on their trolley or actually on the dance floor, there was no shortage of celebrating on this day! On the flip side, there was also a lot of beautiful emotion.

Jared and Raquel chose to get married at the Basilica of St. Mary and it was just magical. The couple even opted to have the Basilica Choir sing, which I have never experienced and it was so beautiful! Everything about this wedding was gorgeous - from the couple to Raquel's custom dress (and romper!), their amazing cake and a reception which was inspired by Kate Spade - it was all perfect!

Congratulations to the new Mr. and Mrs. Davin!

LOVEe 

VENDORS//

Wedding Planning: Rachelle of Style Architects Weddings

Ceremony Venue: Basilica of St. Mary

Reception Venue: A'bulae

Wedding Dress: Lazaro at Bella Bianca, Chicago

Tux: B. Spoke

Jeweler: Marshall Pierce 

Photography: Photogen Inc. 

Videography: Harvest Film Co. 

Cake + Desserts: Farina

Catering: Mintahoe

Floral: Sadie's Floral

Hair & Makeup: Nicole Fae

Invitations + Paper: Paper Rock Scissor

Hotel: Le Meridien Chambers

Linens + Decor: Linen Effects

DJ: Primetime DJ

Bridesmaid Dresses: Bella Bridesmaids

Transportation: Renee’s Royal Valet & Rent My Party Bus

Best Moments of 2017!

2017 was an incredible year for weddings! I know I say this every year, but it is truly an honor to document the best days of our client's lives! Looking back to choose these images made me realize again that I am drawn to the moments of a wedding day. Whether they are candid or more posed, there is a feeling to a great photograph that you just can't explain, but you feel. It's that magic that makes a picture unforgettable - and that is why I photograph weddings. 

To all of the wonderful vendors we worked with this year and to our amazing couples -  thank you for choosing us. Thank you for trusting us to make your vision come to life and for letting us witness such amazing love!

LOVEe

Married! // Katie + Travis

New Years Eve is a special time for Katie and Travis. It's the time of year when these two started dating and also the date they decided to become Husband and Wife. Katie and Travis are complete romantics who are each other's perfect match in life. They equally balance one another and push each other to be better people. Their energy, smiles and laughter are contagious and you just can't helped but be excited about life when you are around these two!

For their New Years Eve wedding, the couple were married in an intimate and unique wedding ceremony. The theme of their wedding revolved around dreaming - to always believe in yourself, the people around you and that truly anything is possible. Of course, Katie and Travis also have impeccable taste, so their wedding was nothing short of absolutely gorgeous. 

One of my favorite parts of the day was watching how happy and excited their families were. Both the bride and the groom's side had so much love and history and their stories and excitement over the marriage made the day so much more meaningful. 

It's been a pleasure to get to know Katie, Travis and their families. I can't wait to see where life takes these two and I am so damn happy for the new Mr. and Mrs. Block!

LOVEe

VENDORS//

Ceremony + Reception Venue: The Loring Social

First Look Location: Café Lurcat

Event Planning: See Jane Plan

Florals: Arts & Flowers

Catering: D'amico and Sons

Dessert Table: Gail's Cakes of Minneapolis

Stationary: Champagne Press

Dress: L'Atelier Couture Bridal

Rentals: Linen Effects

Photography: Photogen Inc. 

Videography: Ladd Films

Live Band: Twice on Sunday

Photo Booth: The Traveling Photo Booth

Hair: Jenica Lee and Ashley Richards

Makeup: Tina Beaupre

Officiant: Nielle Arnold