My first
Minnesota wedding.
A lace dress beside the window. A beautiful home in Wayzata. This is where my Minnesota wedding story began.
Before I called
Minnesota home.
I was already coming to Minnesota and marketing my photography before I moved here. Jessica and Corey’s wedding on September 7, 2013 was the very first wedding I photographed in the state.
The quiet beginning.
I like to begin with the details and the getting ready. The brushes, the dress, someone lending a hand. They’re small moments, but they belong to the day just as much as the ceremony.
A room full of light.
The private estate was a beautiful place to get ready. I loved the wood, the windows, and the light around Jessica as she finished at the mirror.
An important guest.
Jessica and Corey love their dogs, and they wanted them to be part of the photographs. There was even a little purple outfit to match the day.
A toast before
the celebration.
A few glasses raised, a little laughter, and time with the women beside Jessica. I keep watching for these moments while everyone is getting ready.
Their kind of
family portrait.
When dogs are such a big part of a couple’s life, I want to make room for them. This little face between Jessica and Corey says plenty about what mattered to them.
Watching the people
who are watching.
You could see how much Jessica and Corey were adored. During a ceremony, I’m watching the couple—and the people closest to them.
Outside, under the trees.
The ceremony took place outdoors in the garden by the community building, with the surrounding estates and all that greenery. Purple flowers hung from the trees above them.
And then, the hugs.
One of my favorite parts of a wedding is what happens just after the ceremony. Everyone comes close, the formal part gives way to conversation, and the expressions are wonderful.
Shades of purple.
Beautiful purple flowers and purple accents carried through to the reception. I photographed the tables before everyone settled in, so those details would have their place in the story, too.
A little personality.
Not every wedding detail has to be serious. This little bride and groom made me smile.
Cocktails on the lawn.
Guests gathered outside around the community building for cocktail hour. There was room to wander, catch up, and enjoy a beautiful Minnesota evening.
A walk toward
Lake Minnetonka.
We slipped away for some photographs along the paths toward the lake. The wooded walks and tall greenery gave us a quieter setting, just the two of them.
The grasses and the path were part of the feeling of this place. I wanted a few images that let those details tell a little of the story.
Down by the water.
At Lake Minnetonka, we found the boathouses, the docks, and the oak trees. Those branches made a beautiful frame around Jessica and Corey.
The light beside
the boathouse.
I liked the warm light, the lake behind them, and their shadows on the wall. A simple place to pause together before heading back.
A different
point of view.
I had them lie down on the path, with all that greenery growing around them. It became this sweet, playful portrait—something a little different from the photographs we’d just made.
The people who
made the night.
We finished with a fun group photograph of Jessica, Corey, and their close friends. A wonderful way to remember the people who celebrated with them.
A beginning
I still remember.
My first Minnesota wedding, even before Minnesota became home. Jessica and Corey gave me a beautiful introduction: a private estate in Wayzata, their beloved dogs, an outdoor celebration, and an evening beside Lake Minnetonka.
Looking back through these images brings me right back to that day. I’m glad to have it here at the beginning of this journal.