Mr. and Mrs. Siedband // Part 1

Jacey and Aaron's wedding and two beautiful elements to it; honest moments and gorgeous details! I've decided to blog about their wedding in two parts to highlight each of these and also, because there are simply too many wonderful images to fit into one post. First, let me start out by saying that I loved everything about this wedding. The people, the vendors, the details, and our gorgeous couple - everyone was SO great to work with and it made the day SO much fun to be a part of! Even in our own little crew, we flew in Jeffrey from JNP Studios to shoot with us and it was a day of perfect collaboration with friends and clients. So, lets get back to the meaning of this first post - the honest moments. Our day started at the Thomas Charles Salon with the ladies and from the moment we arrived, I noticed that not a single person was stressed or nervous. Everyone was simply happy, relaxed and excited for the day to begin. I also noticed that everyone was taking time to enjoy the real moments that were happening and truly taking everything in. At one point I remember the mother-of-the-bride saying, "There's a lot of love here today. A lot of love." It's true. Jacey absolutely adores her new husband and it's very clear that these two are a perfect match! Jacey and Aaron are an incredibly fun-loving couple that makes you smile when you are around them. I remember during our final consultation, Aaron had just flown in from Chicago and had rushed to make it to our meeting. Once he arrived, we were in mid-discussion and he stopped everything, looked his bride in the eyes and said, " Hey. How are you? I missed you." That's when I knew they were going to have an amazing wedding!  Jacey and Aaron had a Jewish wedding ceremony that took place at Temple of Israel. It is a gorgeous synagogue and the team at Amy Zaroff Events + Design, along with Richfield Flowers & Events did an amazing job bringing a sense of romance to the temple. It was an intimate, candle lit ceremony that was simply stunning. I love Jewish ceremonies for so many reasons, but specifically for the tradition and customs that bring so much culture to their day.

Mazel Tov to Jacey and Aaron on their amazing wedding! Make sure to check out Part 2 and see all of the stunning details - and yes...we'll talk about that dress!

LOVEe

Mr. and Mrs. Payne // A Northeast Minneapolis Wedding

Minneapolis is a pretty amazing city. In fact, if you live here, you're bound to have some MPLS pride and if you visit here, you know you've just experienced a hidden-gem-of-a-city. When I first met Lindsay and Elliott, I knew they were totally 'my people', because they literally hung out at all of my favorite local joints. They also reside in Northeast Minneapolis, which is where our studio is and, in my humble opinion, one of the best neighborhoods in town. The vibe in NE is unlike any other place in the city. It's a little working class, a little hipster, filled with artists and there is a church and a bar on every corner. Lindsay and Elliott's wedding took place from start-to-finish in the NE area and I was SO SO SO excited to shoot a wedding in an area of town where I feel such a personal connection to! I love everything about the way that L & El (cute nicknames, huh?) planned their wedding. The ceremony took place in their friend's backyard - just a few doors down from where the couple lives, too! An intimate group of 30 guests watched the couple get hitched over beers and we headed to a little park just a couple blocks from the couple's home for their portrait session! For the dinner, Lindsay and Elliott treated their wedding guests to a 4 course dinner at the Modern Cafe, one of Minneapolis's best restaurants. There was nothing by family, friends, amazing drinks and food, laughs and great conversation - literally, the essence to life! To wrap the evening up, we all went to the Varsity Theater to continue the party, where more of the couple's friends met to celebrate!

Our entire day was so relaxed and chill. My goal with this wedding was to tell a more intimate story of the day and to capture special moments of every person who attended! I feel like my documentary switched flipped on during this wedding and I'm a lot a bit in love with these images!

Congratulations to Lindsay and Elliott! It's been a true pleasure to get to know you as a couple and document this day for you!

LOVEe

Mr. and Mrs. Evans // A Villa Bellezza Winery Wedding

I absolutely love to photograph a wedding in a new space. So, when Hilary and Nicholas told me that they were having their wedding at a brand-new-romantic-winery-in-Wisconsin, I was sold! The more and more they started telling me about their day, I literally started swooning. First off, Hilary and Nicholas are  fantastic couple who have the deepest love and respect for each other. Secondly, the couple was having the first wedding ever at Villa Bellezza, which is a winery - and now a new wedding venue - in Pepin, Wisconsin. Lastly, the lovely ladies of Mimi Design were creating and planning their wedding and I just love them so much, so any opportunity to work with an amazing crew gets me incredibly excited! Oh - and did I mention that Hilary was wearing a STUNNING Vera Wang dress?!? Seriously, the silhouette was absolutely perfect for her and I was a bit in awe of it all day long!

Our day started in Minneapolis, where the bridal party got all done up. Then we all, yes the ladies and the gentleman of the wedding party, trekked in a big party bus all the way to Pepin, Wisconsin. It was such a gorgeous drive and Hilary and Nicholas literally had one of the most gorgeous days of the summer. The sun was shining, the temperature was in the 70's and we were in 'God's country'. There was nothing by cornfields and American Flags around us, yet when we arrived at Villa Bellezza, I suddenly felt like we were whisked away to an Italian Vineyard. The space was intimate, romantic and simply gorgeous. It was a true pleasure to document Hilary and Nicholas's day in this space and to be the first photographers at this venue.

I've always said that 'the meaning of life' to me is sitting down with good people, sharing an amazing meal, drinking a fabulous glass of wine and having a lovely conversation. Hilary and Nicholas's wedding did just that by serving a family style meal to all of their guests. It was a little bit magical at Villa Bellezza Winery. My other 'meaning of life' moment is to do what you love and share it with those around you. I am truly blessed to document people's lives each week during one of the most momentous moments of their life and on my simple, little blog, I am able to share it with the world. There is something very, very special about this.

Congratulations to the new Mr. and Mrs. Evans! We are SO happy for you!

LOVEe

Mr. and Mrs. Keefer

Alisha and Dan are one of my clients who booked long before their actual wedding date. Over the last year, I've really enjoyed getting to know these two! We took their engagement photos last winter and have enjoyed some awesome conversations over beers! Dan adores Alisha, like completely adores her. What I also love about Dan is that he wants to give his wife the world. The couple met on match.com and were together for about a year before he proposed in a hot air balloon ride over the picturesque town of Stillwater, MN. When it came to planning their wedding, Alisha knew that she wanted to be married in an old church. They made the perfect choice with Hennepin Avenue Methodist in Minneapolis. the church as so much character and was a very romantic space for their ceremony. It was also important for the couple to have a very modern, yet elegant vibe to their wedding day. The bride wore a gorgeous Vera Wang dress and Richfield Flowers created some awesome bouquets for the ladies...and you have to check out the gold bridesmaid dresses! Everything is absolutely stunning!

Congratulations to Alisha and Dan on getting married! I couldn't have asked for a better experience with you two! We are so happy we could be a part of your day!

LOVEe

Mr. and Mrs. Hunt!

Leah and Ricky have known each other for a very long time. The couple were best friends for years, when one day, things changed. Their friendship grew into a lovely relationship and before you know it, Leah and Ricky were tying the knot! One of my favorite moments of the day was with Ricky's parents, who are both deaf. Right before the ceremony, the interpreter tapped me on the shoulder and said that the mother-of-the-groom had a special request. We both went over to his parents and they said,[quote] "We want to take a photo of us giving the 'I Love You' sign in sign language. I want my new daughter to know how much I love her with my son!"[/quote] It was such a touching moment and a simple picture that means more than words for the couple! Leah and Ricky's wedding took place at the beautiful Calhoun Beach Club and had an awesome lineup of vendors for us to work with! The crew at Capture Studios was there to document their day along side us, and Le Petite Fleur wow'd us again with her amazing arrangements. Apres Party Rental put together some awesome tablescapes that transformed the venue into a beautiful reception! Gateaux did a stunning job on the couple's cake to add the perfect touch and wedding planner, DeAnna Foster, produced their beautiful wedding!

Congratulations to Leah and Ricky!

LOVEe

Happy 4th of July!

I love holidays – especially when I get the chance to enjoy them! Just in time for our Independence Day, I was asked to collaborate with some of Minnesota’s lovely vendors for a 4th of July inspired stylized shoot! We were lucky enough to have both Wedding Chicks and Minnesota Bride publish the shoot on their blogs! Special thank you to our crew!

Photography: Photogen Inc. Styling and Desserts: The Bliss Life Flowers: Munster Rose Linens: Linen Effects Veil, Jewelery, Accessories and Dress: Che Bella Food: CRAVE Catering Hair and Makeup: Julie Swenson Beauty Invitation Design: KAD DesignsSee all of the awesome photos & ideas to inspire on the Wedding Chicks blog, here!

And check out the Minnesota Bride blog post here!

Have a very happy holiday!

LOVEe

Mr. and Mrs. Trevor!!

This wedding holds a special place in my heart, because the bride, Emily, and I go way back. Our first memory of each other was in about 6th grade in swim club and even though we knew each other well in high school, we were never really close until after graduation. Emily and I have been thru some real life together. You know, those for-real-life-or-death-moments, we've been thru those! I am so grateful for these moments, because it's allowed us to have a very deep,honest, real and unique friendship that I haven't experienced with anyone else in my life. Emily has also been one of my biggest supporters of everything in my life over the years and it's been so much fun to see how each of us has grown to realize our dreams over the years!Emily is one of those girls who has been planning her wedding since she was a little girl. She knew exactly how she wanted all of the details to come together and this was a true DIY wedding! Emily, her friends and family had regular craft-days leading up to the wedding, sewing the table cloths, making gift bags, and even hand-writing all of the signage and place settings! The wedding took place at The Round Barn in Red Wing, which was a lovely location and Thistle Floral Design created some amazing flowers for the event! Emily also collaborated with local designer, Luci Kandler to make custom bridesmaid dresses that were perfect for the occasion! Emily's sense of style shined thru in every detail - from her amazing necklace to her red lips, this wedding was truly all Emily.My favorite part of Emily and Matt's day was their ceremony. They both wrote their own vows, and they ended up sharing their first date story. It was so obvious to me, just how perfect these two were for each other, because they had both fallen in love...literally the moment they meant each other. Matt is the perfect match for Emily and I'm so so so happy for them!

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Congratulations to the new Mr. and Mrs. Trevor! I am SO happy that my team and I could document this day for you!

LOVEe

Featured // Style Me Pretty Online Magazine!

One of our favorite wedding blogs, Style Me Pretty, has come out with an AMAZING online wedding magazine! It’s honestly SO well done and I am thrilled to say that Alyson & Jesse’s wedding has been chosen as one of just 1o real-weddings featured in this issue! Their wedding has made an impact on the wedding industry in so many ways, and I’m so happy that it’s continuing to inspire others!

I also have to mention just how very important it is, as photographers, to take care of our vendors! This feature was actually submitted by our florist, Jackie from Munster Rose and a large part of that is because we shared these images with all of our vendors! I absolutely love to collaborate with a creative team on the day of a wedding – and by creative team, I mean the florist, event designer, event planner, dress designer, menswear, and other creatives the couple might hire! One of the best parts of my job is to document and create these beautiful pictures, based upon an entire team’s collective efforts in making it look so beautiful! Sometimes I feel like photographers can get a little defensive and protective over their images, instead of sharing the love. There is so much opportunity to help and inspire the creative team around us, our local markets and elevate the work that is coming out of our industry in general! Not to mention, vendors appreciate having professional images of their work SO much! It simply benefits everyone around us!

Share the love. It goes a long way!

Check out the full online editorial, by Style Me Pretty, here! It’s full of inspiration and lovely details!

LOVEe

Mr. and Mrs. Stoa!!

You know, I preach all-day-long about how photographers put too many images in their blog posts many times and that they really need to narrow down their edits to the best-of-the-best. However, when it came to creating this post for Clare and Ryan’s wedding, I found myself stuck at 200 images. 200! Needless to say, I narrowed that down a bit, but this is seriously one of my largest blog posts ever! In the past, with a big post, I’ve also split them into Part 1 and Part 2, but I felt that there needed to be one, fluid post, to tell this couple’s story best! I’ve gotten to know Clare and Ryan pretty well over the past year, and honestly, one of the greatest tools to connect with them has been over Instagram! I LOVE it when my clients use Instagram, because I can connect with them visually and see what inspires them thru their eyes! One thing that was mentioned over and over throughout the day and during the speeches was how amazing Clare’s sense of style is. It is impeccable. I remember the first time I met the bride-to-be and her shoes rocked my world…I knew we were bound to be a perfect fit! Clare’s fabulous taste was seen in every little detail of their day. From the location, to the vendors she chose and even down to the art-installations she made on her own – everything was simply gorgeous!Above all of the beautiful style, Clare and Ryan are a beautiful couple who are both genuinely amazing people! On the day of their wedding, it was hot, then it was cold. It poured rain and then the sun would come out. Even though the weather was incredibly unpredictable, none of that mattered to Clare and Ryan, because this day was really all about the two of them! Everything about this wedding was magical, enjoy!

VENDORS//

Venue: The Enchanted Barn

Getting Ready Venue: Stouts Island Lodge

Event Design + Planning: Laura Mullen Event Design

Flowers: Munster Rose

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Congratulations to Clare and Ryan!

LOVEe

Mr. and Mrs. Schack!

Alex and Brian are two of my favorite people. I first met them 3 years ago when I photographed Kristi and Herb’s wedding, who is the bride’s brother! I fell in love with the Tousely family and felt incredibly honored that they invited me back to document their day.

Getting to know Alex and Brian better over the last year has been an absolute joy. I learned two things about this couple that will stick with me. 1) Being persistent pays off. The couple actually met all the way back in the 5th grade and have pretty much been together that entire time. Of course, as we grow up through our teenage and college years, we all learn a lot about ourselves, but Brian and Alex grew to know that they were absolutely meant to be together. 2) Brian has pure adoration for Alex and it makes me SO happy to see the way he looks at her and to see how consistently excited he is to spend time with her. Alex and Brian are an incredibly endearing couple who’s love definitely inspires those around them!

The wedding took place high above the city of Minneapolis at the WINDOWS on Minnesota! It was a gorgeous day and absolutely everyone looked stunning! One of the highlights of the night was during the father-of-the-bride speech! We all learned that the exact day was the bride’s parent’s wedding anniversary of 30+ years! There was plenty of reason to celebrate and one of our favorite live bands, the Dan Ristrom Band, gave an amazing performance for everyone!!

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Congratulations to Alex and Brian! Thank you for welcoming us back to document, yet another, grand occasion for your families!

LOVEe

Mr. and Mrs. Jacobs!

Patrick and Maggie are an awesome couple. They have a very unconventional kind of love and I absolutely love this! The two met, at what might be considered the 'old fashioned way' now..at a bar! Old Chicago, to be exact! When I first met with this couple, I knew they were the perfect fit for me for three very specific reasons. 1) They're total foodies and so am I! 2) They love to travel..get ready...they are currently in Bora Bora on their honeymoon! and 3) The bride wanted to wear black.

Maggie loves black and her color wedding colors revolved around deep reds and purples, which added the perfect touch of drama to her day! The couple were married at the International Market Square in Minneapolis and had an A-List of vendors working on their event! Sarah Trotter of Lasting Impressions Weddings brought it all together and did a fantastic job! I was most impressed with their florist, who was Le Petite Fleur. Carra incorporated barbed wire in the table arrangements and even wrapped the bouquets in black leather, which was the perfect touch for Maggie and Patrick!

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Congratulations to the new Mr. and Mrs. Jacobs! We are SO happy for you!

LOVEe

Mr. and Mrs. Petty!

Fair warning blog readers – this is a long post! Clayton and Lydia had an incredible wedding this past weekend, and their day also holds an incredible story. The wedding took place at a private property in Byron, Minnesota and by the time we arrived to begin shooting, the weather had taken a turn for the worst. The sky was literally black and a slew of hail was flying down from the sky. Of course, everyone was on pins-and-needles, watching the radars and hoping that the torrential rains would stop – after all, Clayton and Lydia had planned for an outdoor wedding. One thing I loved about the couple was that despite all of the rain and mud, they were still game to go outside, even if that meant getting rained on or standing in high winds! Nothing was going to ruin their wedding day.

Everything went on as planned, even though there was still a threat of rain, but by the time all of the guests were seated and Lydia was walking down the aisle, the clouds literally parted and the sun was shining. It was a little bit of a miracle, considering the weather that morning!

I have a bit of a personal investment in this couple. I grew up with Clayton and we were friends at very influential parts of our young lives. It’s been amazing to get to know Lydia and them as a couple. One thing is for sure, I couldn’t have chosen a better person for him. They have a great sense of humor together and beyond that, there is a level of deep respect, love and pride for one another. I was very honored to be chosen as their wedding photographer and to have the opportunity to document such a big day in my ole’ friends life! It was also great to see so many faces at their wedding that I hadn’t seen in over a decade! (Crazy – I know!)

At the end of the day, the outdoor wedding was brilliant, the ambiance in the barn was absolutely perfect and Clayton and Lydia were married!

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Congratulations to the new Mr. and Mrs. Petty! I am thrilled for you two and am so excited for everything your future holds!

LOVEe

Mr. and Mrs. Grossman!

Katie and David’s wedding marked the official start of the 2012 season for all of us here at Photogen Inc! It feels SO great to get back to photographing weddings again and selfishly, I love to see my team on a weekly basis again! Katie and David’s wedding was a beautiful occasion that took place in St. Paul, Minnesota. The rain held off on us and we had a gorgeous day for photographs! Their ceremony took place at the Church of the Assumption in downtown St. Paul and their reception was at the historic St. Paul College Club on the oh-so-beautiful Summit Avenue. Special thanks to all of the ladies over at Camrose Hills for the gorgeous arrangements as well!

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Congratulations to Katie and David on tying the knot! We are SO happy for you!

LOVEe

Mr. and Mrs. Henderson // A Wedding in Atlanta, Part 2!

Erin and Maleah have style. In Part 1 of their feature, I talked about how there were two things I absolutely love about this couple. The first was that they are best friends and a real-life-dream-team thru and thru. The second thing I love about this couple is their sense of style. If they are throwing a party, no detail goes unnoticed and they believe in creating an experience for their guests! Erin and Maleah’s wedding was gorgeous, hands down, enough said. They flew in some of the best vendors around to collaborate and bring together their vision. From the gorgeous, light ceremony to their dramatic reception room, the vendors really worked hard to transform the space and create a magical world for each and every person. Maleah also surprised her new husband with a surprise groom’s lounge, complete with top-shelf liquor and Cuban cigars! I felt incredibly honored to be able to document such a lavish occasion; however, I wanted to make sure and equally document all of the honest moments throughout their day as well. At the end of the night, all Jeffrey and I could do was high-five each other, the entire day was a great success! I want to take a moment to give some credit to the amazing vendors who brought their talent to this wedding:Photographer: Eliesa Johnson of Photogen Inc.Second Photographer: Jeffrey Lawler of JNP Studios Brides Dress: Monique Lhuillier Shoes: Jimmy Choo Menswear: Mens Warehouse Hair: Dena Gibson, Independent Venue: The Biltmore Ballrooms, Atlanta, GA Coordination: Fete Perfection Florist: Tulip Bakery: Buckhead Bakehouse Catering: Affairs to Remember Decor Draping: Event Drapery Inc. Lighting: Production People Furniture: Something Borrowed Vintage Cigar Roller: Cigartainment DJ: DJ Triple M 1961 Bentley: Wedding Trans

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Congratulations to Erin, Maleah and little Lennox on getting married! We are SO happy for you! If you missed Part 1, make sure to check it out here!

LOVEe

Mr. and Mrs. Henderson // A Wedding in Atlanta, Part 1!

The first time I met Erin and Maleah, I was photographing their maternity session and I absolutely fell in love with this couple. Fast forward 1 year and we're all together again to celebrate another milestone in life, their wedding! There are two things I love and admire about Erin and Maleah, and since this is post 1-of-2, I will focus on the first.They are best friends. For real. During their ceremony, the couple spoke their vows and nothing was written down. Those words came right from the heart and it was beautiful. I remember Erin saying," Baby, you believe in me when no one else does - when I don't even believe in myself. But there you are."Right after their ceremony, I had some alone-time with the couple and Maleah said, " You know, Erin doesn't need a 'wife' per-say, but he needs a best friend and that is what I am to him. I have his back and I believe in him."There's something so special about the way these two view their relationship. They are a team, thru and thru and now they're a family! The love they have for little Lennox, their family and friends is one of the most genuine I have seen.

Their wedding took place at the gorgeous Biltmore in Atlanta, Georgia and it was absolutely stunning! The weather was perfect, our couple was gorgeous and we were surrounded by the best people! Not to mention, my friend Jeffrey of JNP Studios was able to fly in to second shoot with me, so we were having a blast! These photos are from the first half of the day, and there are even more amazing details and photos to come!

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Make sure to check it out Part 2!

LOVEe

Mrs. and Mrs. Newquist // Part 2!

There's something very magical in the air at a same sex wedding. I mean, really, everything is the same, yet it's different. In a wedding with a bride and a groom, photographers usually tend to favor a little more coverage of the bride over the groom. When photographing a same sex wedding, you have two brides or two grooms and as an artist, you have to look at things a little differently and treat the couple more equal. It was actually a great eye-opening experience working with two brides, and it made us change some things around the studio (ie - suggesting that the forms we use have the option to say Bride & Bride or Groom & Groom and not just Bride & Groom).

The most inspiring thing for me while photographing this wedding, and the one difference that stuck out to me the most while documenting this day, was the total shift in energy. Not only were people very exited about the wedding, but the purpose and meaning behind this wedding meant a lot more. Alyson and Jesse were not only choosing to commit themselves to each other, but the idea of marriage, pre-leagalization in Minnesota, meant so much more to them. They were choosing love over the law. They were choosing to live out their civil rights as a couple and sending an inspiring message to their family, friends and everyone who was involved (and have since seen) their wedding. Marriage means more to Alyson and Jesse than I've seen in a lot of couples and I think the difference is this: They were not getting married, because 'that was the next step in their life'. They were not getting married, 'Because it seemed like the thing they should do.'  They were getting married, because they truly believed that they wanted to spend, share and commit their lives to one another - regardless of their sex, regardless of what was deemed acceptable by society, and regardless of what any of their friends and family thought, they simple wanted marriage. I do believe that marriage means so much more to the gay community. These are couples who have fought, and continue to fight, for their right to love openly and be committed legally to their partners. It's an absolutely beautiful thing to both witness and be a part of same sex weddings, because it's a true victory for everyone involved.

If you are interested in finding out more about what people are doing in Minnesota to fight for marriage equality check out OutFront Minnesota. Minnesota is currently facing a "marriage amendment" that will be on the ballots in November asking voters to define marriage as between a man and a woman. If this ballot initiative passes, it will bar legislature or the courts from passing marriage equality in the future. Check out Minnesotan's United to find out what Minnesotan's are doing to fight against the marriage amendment. The HRC -Human Rights Campaign is a great place to look for information on other states' fights for marriage equality.

Alyson & Jesse's wedding ceremony was one of the most pure and honest moments I have seen as a wedding photographer. I'll let the images speak for themselves.

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Again, a huge thank you goes out to all of our fabulous vendors - really, a creative team, that helped Alyson and Jesse pull off such an incredibly beautiful day! To see our list of vendors, check out Mrs. and Mrs. Newquist // Part 1. Also thanks to Minnesota Bride for publishing this wedding, the first same sex wedding published in Minnesota!

Cheers to being with the one you love!

LOVEe

Mrs. and Mrs. Newquist // Part 1

Alyson and Jesse have such an incredible story.These two met back in 2006 while both were living and working in Brooklyn, NYC. When they started dating, they agreed only to go on 20 dates and that would be that. Clearly, they grew to love each other far too much to simply let each other walk away, and ever since then, they have been Alyson and Jesse. One of the things I admire about their relationship though, is the fact that they are very much so still their very own independent people, as well as an amazing force together! The couple traveled from coast to coast before finally settling down in Minneapolis.

When they started looking for wedding venues, they couldn't ever quite find exactly what they were looking for. Around the same time, Alyson & Jesse started kicking around a crazy idea..."What if we created our own dream venue for our wedding and also created a space where other people could use this for their weddings in the future?" Here's the thing about Alyson and Jesse. When they set their mind to something, they are all in and they will create something amazing and solid. From that point on, Juliane and James Place was officially born, which is now one of Minnesota's newest wedding venue's available for rent!

I first met Alyson at Joynoelle's shop. Joy was having a little get together and I just happened to pop in. When I walked thru the door, I remember Joy saying,"Oh hi Eliesa! We were just talking about you!" Alyson and I chatted for about 3 minutes and it was clear that she was my perfect client and I was totally on board with photographing her wedding! It was literally, a perfect match. Alyson started rattling a list of all of these ideas she had and on top of that, her and Jesse would be wearing custom Joynoelle dresses....I mean, it took all of me to not jump up and down right there and it just kept getting better and better!

Alyson and Jesse literally brought together a dream team of vendors, who I must recognize for helping create these gorgeous images below...

Location // Juliane James Place Bridal Gowns // Joynoelle Flowers // Munster Rose Set up and Day-Of Coordination // Laura Mullen Event Design Catering // New Scenic Cafe French Macaroons & Cupcakes // Cupcake Carmel by Sweets Bakeshop Bridesmaid Dresses // Amsale and Jenny Yoo from Flutter Boutique Best Man Attire // Calvin Klein Wedding Design, Stationary Design, Favors & Bridal Accessories // The Bash Collective

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There are SO many more images to show from this wedding, so check Part 2 of Alyson and Jesse's big day! Also thanks to Minnesota Bride for publishing this wedding, the first same sex wedding published in Minnesota!

LOVEe

Published // The Knot Magazine

Being published is always on my list of things-to-do, and always something I strive for when photographing a wedding! Wedding magazines usually all run on the same schedule and we’ve been very lucky to be published in all of Minnesota’s wedding publications this year, including Minnesota Bride and Minneapolis/St. Paul Weddings. I’m super pumped to add The Knot to that roster and this issue features Stephen & Lisa’s AMAZING multicultural wedding! Their wedding was SO good in fact, that we had to present it in a two-part feature on our own blog (Check out Part 1 and Part 2 here!) Not only was their wedding gorgeous, but we also had the extreme pleasure of working with our friends over at Capture Studios during their wedding! I thought this was the perfect opportunity to show off their gorgeous wedding video as well!

VENDORS //

Ceremony: Our Lady of Victory Chapel, St Paul Reception: The Depot Minneapolis Gown: Bridal Accents Couture Makeup: Smart & Chic Bride Bridesmaid Dresses: Custom made in Vietnam Flowers: Richfield Floral DJ: DJ Thise, 5000 Live Entertainment Favors: Lets Do Wine and Beer Invitations: Custom made in Vietnam Film: Capture Studios Photography: Photogen Inc.

Stephen + Lisa // The Depot from capture studios on Vimeo.

LOVEe

Rivets and Roses 2012 Wedding Giveaway!

Have y’all been over to the new Rivets and Roses website yet? If not, they are up to some pretty cool things! Each photographer on the R&R team is giving away one complimentary wedding for the 2012 season – how cool is that! That means that they are looking for 5. AMAZING. COUPLES. to share the love with! Check out their website and send in nominations to the photographer of your choice! They will be accepting nominations until Friday, February 17th, so spread the word and check out all of the cool details below! You can also check out their blog for more information!

LOVEe

Click here to view Natalie’s Portfolio!

Want to send in your nomination to Natalie? E-mail her [at] natalie@rivetsandroses.com

Click here to view Louisa’s Portfolio!

Want to send in your nomination to Louisa? E-mail her [at] louisa@rivetsandroses.com

Click here to view Marc’s Portfolio!

Want to send in your nomination to Marc? E-mail him [at] marc@rivetsandroses.com

Click here to view Desiree’s Portfolio!

Want to send in your nomination to Desiree? E-mail her [at] desiree@rivetsandroses.com

Click here to view Leslie’s Portfolio!

Want to send in your nomination to Leslie? E-mail her [at] leslie@rivetsandroses.com

All nominations must be submitted to the photographer of your choice by Friday, February 17th! Once we receive all of the nominations, we will narrow them down to the Top 3 couples per photographer. From there, we will post the candidate’s stories on the Rivets and Roses blog for YOU, the public to vote and choose the winning couple who you think deserves our mad skills!

We are accepting nominations from all around the world, travel fees may apply.

Happy Nominating!

Mr. and Mrs. Burgess!

I have so many great things to say about John and Amanda, but someone said it best on their wedding day. Without a doubt, "John is one of the quickest, wittiest, and funniest people you will ever meet. And Amanda, this girl has one of the most genuine and beautiful smiles that you will ever see - and her laugh! Her laugh will put a smile on your face. Together, they are truly a perfect fit."

It's so true. John and Amanda are a couple who just make complete sense together. If John makes a joke (which is pretty much all of the time, for the record), Amanda has the perfect reaction, whether that is rolling her eyes or flashing her signature smile, they compliment each other absolutely perfectly.

I first met John years ago when he worked for Metro Magazine! He would come along to photo shoots and film segments for the magazine's website and I always loved it when John was on set, because there was no doubt it was going to be a fun day. Personally, I think John should be in front of the camera, rather than behind it, because he really can entertain people for hours on end. One great thing about the Burgess's wedding was realizing how much this couple really valued so many people they had come in contact with throughout life. Their reception was filled with family, both from near and far, old friends, new friends, past co-workers, and current colleagues. The great part was that when you looked around, the room was filled with such a well rounded group who were all coming together and having a grand ole' time. I think this is a huge testament to John and Amanda and the amazing people that they surround themselves with.

As for the couple, they kicked off their relationship 10 years ago, so it was about time to make this official!

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Congratulations to John and Amanda! I can't thank you enough for choosing us to photograph your day and be there for you! It was absolutely our pleasure!

LOVEe