Engaged!

It’s the season for engagement photographs, and I’ve had a lot of fun getting to know each of these couples I’ll be working with on their wedding day..

Jenny + David – Minneapolis

Allison + Noah  – downtown Northfield and Carleton campus

Kayla + Ryan – Burnsville/studio

We intended to do Kayla and Ryan’s session in Northfield as well, but the rainy spring made it almost impossible to schedule anything outdoors!  Last minute, we decided to try a studio session, and then grabbed a few quick outdoor shots out back when the rain let up for a spell!

Heidi + Brian

I can’t believe it is already MID AUGUST and I think I can count on two hands the number of blog posts I’ve made this summer –  I’m so ashamed!  I knew couldn’t let this wedding go unmentioned, however…

If I say this often, I really do mean it every time:  I just love this couple!   (You might remember them from the Cherry Spoonbridge engagement session I blogged about this spring.)  They are so attractive; not to mention natural and photogenic!   My assistant that day said it best when we were photographing Heidi alone; and I quote:  “She looks like a Minnesota Bride (magazine) model!”

We made a stop at Heidi’s grandmother’s house on the way to the church.   Unfortunately she was sick and unable to attend the wedding.  I think she loved seeing Heidi in her wedding dress!

(My assistant, Brady took this shot!)

After the wedding Heidi’s veil was replaced with orchids, and we followed the wedding party out to Essex Park for some group shots…

Their wedding reception took place at the Rochester Golf and Country Club, which, by the way, is where my husband and I had OUR reception 15 years ago!  I had heard they had completely remodeled the place, and it was beautiful.  The room was simply decorated with vibrant flower bouquets, and the food was DE-licious!

Heidi’s dad’s speech was one of the most touching I have heard.  I had to run to the bathroom to check my mascara when it was finished! 

Congratulations Heidi and Brian!  Thanks for asking me to capture your day!

Katie & Ty  |  Chambers Hotel Minneapolis

No, I have not been on hiatus!  I have just been very busy in the midst of wedding season, and trying to juggle my photo editing with my kids being home all day!  Unfortunately, I’ve decided if something’s gotta give, for now it’s going to have to be my blog.  I have many, many sessions to catch up with here, but since I’m booking weddings for next summer, I wanted to post these from the wedding of Katie and Ty last month.  I’ll try to get back to many of the portrait sessions I’ve missed, but in the future I’ll definitely be making my postings shorter!

So now on to Katie and Ty!  I was so honored to be asked to capture their special day.  Katie is an interior designer, and obviously a details person…like me!  They were such an adorable couple, and such sweet people!   Two of Katie’s bridesmaids are expecting babies, and so she let them all pick out their own navy blue dresses.  All of the guys wore their own blue suits.  It was a perfect day!

Suanne and James’ Wedding

I just wrapped up the editing of another wedding, and wanted to get some of the images posted right away!  I’ve been occupied with lots of things lately, and I just barely made my 30 day deadline!!

Suanne and James had a lovely and intimate ceremony and reception on the roof of the Stillwater Public Library, with the beautiful town as their backdrop.  The day was  casual yet elegant, and I have to say, it may be one of my favorite weddings that I’ve had the opportunity to photograph!

James’ mother is a florist, and together with her friends, she added gorgeous details all over the rooftop!

Shelly and Jim

Here’s just a quick post of an intimate wedding I photographed last month at the W in Minneapolis.   I loved the dress, and Shelly looked amazing in it with minimal effort.   The ceremony was really sweet;  Shelly and Jim wrote their own vows, and the guests were immediate family with a couple close friends.  It just goes to show that you don’t need a lot of fanfare to pull off something really beautiful.  If I had to do over, I’d do it like this!

I’ve finally wrapped up all the images from the Moon wedding;  and not a moment too soon!  John and Claudine are such a great laid back couple…Their day was just so fun and relaxed;  I had to take you through it!

(While Claudine was preparing for her wedding, she kept jokingly calling herself the “Bridezilla”…she was far from it!!)

They ordered Jones soda with custom labels featuring the images from their engagement shoot.  They were at every place setting and a great pop of color!  She also added a personal note to everyone’s place card.

No fussy tiered cakes here;  just a beautiful yummy carrot cake with a bright dahlia on top at each table!

John and Claudine obviously share a love of music.  He is a guitar player, himself, and the two of them go out often to watch live bands.  They hired Mick Sterling’s band, Memphis and the Meantimes to play at their reception.  (The violist did a version of Orange Blossom Special that totally blew me away!)  At one point John and Claudine’s friend also got up and sang them “At Last,” with the band.  The girl has pipes!

It ain’t a real wedding reception until they do the train!…

A beautiful full moon for the new Moon couple:

Three weddings in two weekends with regularly scheduled appointments in between AND my son’s 4th birthday this past Wednesday– WHEW!   I had a great time at all of them, but I had to push myself to the limit this week to meet deadlines!  (For those I missed, I am sorry, and thank you for your understanding!)  I just wrapped up the first two this weekend;  I’ll be posting some from the third wedding sometime this week!

I also hope to post some of the layouts for my 2009 holiday cards soon.  I have many clients who have been waiting patiently to see some designs, and that is also on my immediate agenda;  I promise!!  For anyone who’s curious, the deadline for a holiday card session is NOVEMBER 28th!  That will give me enough time to pull them together, and YOU enough time to get them sent out!  (I should probably mention, I don’t have ANY openings until the 9th of November.  I only have about 8 session times open beyond that UNTIL my deadline,  so if you are considering me for your holiday photos this year, contact me fast!)

SO for now, here are some of my shots from the weddings of Jenny and Glenn, and Mandy and Wade (….each wedding complete with beautiful brides, charming grooms, and two super cool catholic priests who both let me use my flash during the ceremony!!)

First Jenny and Glenn:

and Mandy and Wade…