Within the first two weeks of meeting Dan, Jody’s own fairy tale was made. Dan surprised Jody with a surprise trip to visit him in Philadelphia. Each and every detail from the flight to the places they went to dinner was attended to. It was there Jody fell in love with Dan.
Only 43 days later, the couple was engaged. Both knew what they were looking for and they had found it. Jody and Dan love adventures and both agree that life is too short to not surprise one another and not let life pass them by.
The couple were wed at the beautiful and intimate St. Stephan’s Episcopal Church in Edina. Dan had been attending there and had made it his home church and both he and Jody loved the intimate setting that only close family was invited to. 
Jody’s Tory Burch shoes were a perfect accent to her Tadashi Shoji wedding gown.
Both Dan and Jody’s rings were hand crafted by different designers. Jody’s engagement ring was hand crafted and is a one of a kind ring designed by Denise Roberge. Dan’s is from David Yurman Scherezada.
Donato’s Floral in Maple grove put together the bouquet of rose and white blooms for Jody and a white rose for Dan’s boutonniere.
Jody did her own make up for the day while Simonson’s did a loose updo for her.
Jody purchased her veil and head piece from Anthropologie and it was a perfect touch for their October wedding day.
The grounds of St. Stephen’s are truly beautiful. Yellow trees and a beautiful brook behind the church made for a great location for photos.
Jody and Dan invited friends and other family embers to their reception at the Lynhall in Minneapolis. The Menu ranged from butternut squash soup to roasted chicken and spiced cous cous to other autumn based dishes.
Their spiced apple cinnamon cake was beautiful and created just for them by bakers at the Lynhall.
What a perfect day to spend with this amazing couple. Jody and Dan, I wish you many years of love and many, many adventures together!
Vendors for the day included:: Ceremony:: St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church //Reception:: The Lynhall // Hair:: Simonsons // Florist:: Donoto’s Floral // Wedding Dress:: Tadashi Shoji from Bloomingdale’s// Rings:: Jody’s-Hand designed by Denise Roberge Dan’s David Yurman Scherezada // Baker:: The Lynhall // Stationary:: Minted// Men’s Designer:: Ralph Lauren from Macy’s // Veil and hairpiece:: Anthropologie // Earrings:: Borrowed from Jody’s best friend //
Knowing the bride herself, bridesmaids can help the bride feel more relaxed and alive on her wedding day. They are the forerunners that bring the fun and calm to the start of a crazy, fun wedding day.
Bridesmaids also generally know the names of the attendants and can help wrangle everyone (including those runaway flower girls) into one location for photos.
They bring the fun, and the tears, and all the emotions in between, for the photos. I will generally have the bridesmaids all “fake laugh” when they are with the bride and I can’t tell you how many times this brings true, genuine laughter which is exactly what I am looking for in some of these photos!
Bridesmaids can be amazing tools to a wedding day, not only to the bride but to me, the photographer! They are pretty amazing and I love working with them!
I also loved the idea that Sara and all her friends have a rotating veil that many of them have used in their weddings, and now it was Sara’s turn!
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A courthouse wedding has been on my bucket list of places to photograph for years, so when Jess contacted me, I was thrilled. After the ceremony, we wandered the full streets of Minneapolis for some city scapes of both Jess and Daryl together and alone. It was a sweet day and I was honored to be a part of it.
Katie’s Wilderly Bride wedding dress purchased from Mestads Bridal was the perfect earthy look for her wedding day.
Katie’s wedding ring was handcrafted for her finger and the rosewood ring that Matt proposed with was used as her wedding ring!
Katie’s color palette of earth tones was seen throughout the entire day from the bouquets, to her shoes she wore, to the make up she wore for the day. Everything was incredablly natural and beautiful.
Katie attended college in Tennessee and while she was there, she worked on a flower farm. One of the sweetest and most memorable parts of the day was her bouquet. The florist that she worked or brought up flowers in her carry on direct from TN to put in Katie’s bouquet. Katie hand designed her bouquet with flowers from TN as well as foliage from her the home she grew up in, and around the surrounding area that were significant to both her and Matt.
The bridesmaids all picked out their own dress in the color of Katie’s choice from Azazie.
The groomsmen all wore shades of blue with floral ties from Kohls.
Rochester Fairgrounds was a perfect place to have both their ceremony and reception. The ceremony took place upstairs while downstirs guest were able to enjoy drinks and snacks while they finished waiting for Katie and Matt as they finished photos.
For their stationary, Katie and Matt commissioned a Minneapolis artist to create an illustration of the both of them and describe their engagement on the North Shore.
During the ceremony a poet read the couples favorite poem and handbells were rung to a favorite song of the couples.
The limestone, unique to this part of Minnesota, was one of the reasons Katie and Matt chose the fairgrounds for their ceremony and reception. It was only necessary that we use it for a photo!
Unique to the fairgrounds is the water tower. Of course capturing it on this brisk sunny day was also necessary!
Coffee, teas, sodas, and a variety of popcorn (all of the couples’s favorites) were part of the cocktail hour.
During the reception, Katie and Matt decided to do a slideshow, but sang to one another during the time it was shown.
Katie, also a Zumba instructor, surprised guests halfway through the dance by busting out a lesson. All guests, including her grandmother, participated!
Matt and Katie, you are incredible people that I was blessed to photograph. Thank you for allowing me to be one of the people you included in your day. I am honored and so thankful to have been there to document it for you.
Vendors for the day included:: Ceremony and Reception:: 
