Karley and Calvin's wedding fell on the precise day winter decided to show her face in Minnesota. Temps went from an unseasonably mild fall, to a high of 33 degrees, what felt like overnight. I bundled up in a few layers as I packed my gear for my last wedding of the 2023 season. Arriving at The Cottage farmhouse under moody, late October skies and seeing Karley's bridesmaids' dresses - classy black gowns - all hung along a wall, I thought 'she could not have picked a more perfect color palate for this day.' Karley's beautifully detailed floral lace gown, cathedral length veil, understated je ..read more

A blustery October morning. Clouds hanging in the sky. trees blazing their colors everywhere we looked; maples in shades of yellow and orange; oaks turning their rich burgundy. The drive up the St. Croix river to Taylors Falls took my breath away. As I made my way to the farmhouse at Maple Ridge Farm, I selected a few perfect leaf specimens to include in Allie's detail photos. Imagine my joy when I walked into the bridal suite and saw the stunning dried flower bouquets (that she made herself!) sitting on the side table. Plus a row of bridesmaids dresses in a warm, red orange that couldn't hav ..read more

Oh, the comfort— the inexpressible comfort of feeling safe with a person— having neither to weigh thoughts nor measure words, but pouring them all right out, just as they are, chaff and grain together; certain that a faithful hand will take and sift them, keep what is worth keeping, and then with the breath of kindness blow the rest away. - Dinah Maria Mulock Craik (1826-1887) It was their first day at Iowa State. First Class. She sat in the front row, determined to get the most out of the lecture. A cute blonde boy sat down next to her. Little did she know, the main thing she would get out o ..read more

"Who said I love you first?" Immediate response. Both of Bob's shoes shot into the air. Easy Question. "Who planned the first date?" Uncertainty. Jackie raises Bob's shoe halfheartedly. Bob raises Jackie's. She looks over her shoulder. "I don't know! It was over nine years ago!" Laughter. The shoe game is a wedding classic. When I arrived at Bright Lake farm that morning I asked Bob how he was feeling. Wedding mornings typically bring their fair share of jitters. But not for Bob. He was totally relaxed, cracking jokes with his friends, beyond excited to see his bride. After nearly a decade of ..read more

Madison and Connor are better together. I heard this over and over again from family, close friends, people that love them dearly. She propels him. He anchors her. Sounds like an unstoppable team to me. This day was soaked in love. And not just the mushy kind. The hard work. Intention. Months of preparation. Planting and tending to a sunflower field, set to bloom precisely in time to make the most stunning ceremony backdrop. Clearing out pole barns. Sprucing up the gorgeous Laughing Horses Ranch property that Madison called home growing up. The Ranch took a weekend break from ministering to pe ..read more

August 12th, 2023 It was a sunny August day in Taylors Falls when I pulled into Maple Ridge Farm. Things were quiet, with a few people bustling about, setting up the stunning pampas grass aisle décor and the sweet, peach-toned florals for their center pieces. The day was rich with summer's blues and greens, with a breeze cutting through the August warmth. I made my way towards the farmhouse, where Stephanie and the ladies were getting ready. Stephanie works with Cindy and the fantastic beauty crew at Northern Style Co. in Amery, WI. So I knew hair and makeup would be on point. And my goodness ..read more

Sixty years ago, Grace's grandfather purchased a sandy outcropping between two lakes. It used to house a rail line. He planted trees. Now towering pines. He built not one, but two cabins. Now beautifully preserved and restored with their fun mid-century flair intact. He gardened in a plot at the top of the hill. Hauling down bushels upon bushels of food for his family. His life was here. Grace's mom grew up here. Grace, along with her siblings and cousins, spent months at a time at the cabin over the summers. This place is an anchor. Filled with memories. Family history. But enough about the ..read more

I opened my car door to a wall of July heat. The sun was dipping low, covered by patchy clouds, and the air still. I glanced around and saw Kaitlin and Mason walking towards me, her cowboy boots and white jumpsuit glowing in the evening light. Beyond them, lush green hills rolled off into the distance. Dirt two-tracks and cattle fences creating geometry in the landscape. I hopped into their truck. Kaitlin behind the wheel, expertly navigating ruts and turns while Mason jumped out to open and close gates. We explored the pond where they'll get married in October. The cattle pastures. Their fav ..read more

I opened my car door to a wall of July heat. The sun was dipping low, covered by patchy clouds, and the air still. I glanced around and saw Kaitlin and Mason walking towards me, her cowboy boots and white jumpsuit glowing in the evening light. Beyond them, lush green hills rolled off into the distance. Dirt two-tracks and cattle fences creating geometry in the landscape. I hopped into their truck. Kaitlin behind the wheel, expertly navigating ruts and turns while Mason jumped out to open and close gates. We explored the pond where they'll get married in October. The cattle pastures. Their fav ..read more

Maggie and Andres know how to love. Hard. They also know how to celebrate. Equally as hard. From the moment I walked into Earl Giles Distillery - a spunky Minneapolis venue featuring massive windows, walls of plants, clusters of boho furniture, and colorful murals - I was welcomed so warmly by Maggie's sisters that I felt like family. The day was eclectically designed in the best way. From the dusty roses and mauves in the bridesmaids dresses to the stunning floral installations by Hive and Hollow. Cocktails glimmered like jewels. Getting married at a distillery made perfect sense for these t ..read more