Genna & Billy // Bar Lurcat
Those who know Genna & Billy were certainly wow’d {but likely were not at all shocked} to see elaborate entertainment woven into their wedding day. A stilt walker escorted guests to the reception from Loring Park where they were greeted by a lady literally serving champagne from her dress. During dinner the guests were entertained by an acrobat performing stunts on a revolving mirror ball. {You don’t see that on Dancing with the Stars!} As tables were struck for dancing, fire dancers performed in the courtyard later followed by acrobats. It was an incredible show from start to finish.
But, of course, the guests were there for Billy and Genna. Billy, the owner of a creative agency, is flamboyant and wild and a whole lot of fun. There is no question that Genna is the beautiful grounding force amongst the two of them, happy to play with Billy’s creativity. Genna is sweet and lovely and not to mention made a gorgeous bride. The two expressed their vibrant personalities by using bold and playful colors and florals in a sophisticated way. The couple’s dog was a special attendant in their wedding and came handsomely dressed in a suit. Overall, Genna & Billy couldn’t have had a more perfect day incorporating all of the things that make them the gorgeous and unique couple that they are.
Ceremony venue: Loring Park | Reception venue: Lurcat | Hotels: Le Meridien Chambers, Hewing Hotel | Gown: M Elizabeth Bridal | Hair: Jill Bergerud | Make-up: Julie Phaxay | Groom Attire: Black Tux | Groomsmen Attire: Black Tux | Cake & Desserts: Lurcat | Caterer: Lurcat | Floral: Lilia Flower Boutique | Chairs: The Seatery | Linens: Linen Effects | Band: Rock With You (Fusion) | Live Musicians (Ceremony): Lake Minnetonka String Quartet | Photographer: ONONA | Ceremony Audio: AV Events
Studio 1414 // Lawrence & Johnny
With no set traditions for same-sex couples, Lawrence and Johnny had complete freedom to create an unparalleled event. For their celebration we transformed Studio 1414, a photography studio, into a unique and fun experience for their guests. The couple utilized the same space for both the ceremony and reception without the need for a flip. We mixed things up and started with a cocktail hour followed by an informal, standing ceremony with guests surrounding the couple and officiant, creating a very intimate setting with their closest friends and family. For their free flowing reception, they provided food stations which featured charcuterie and favorites from Johnny's native Korea. The event continually evolved from dinner to dancing, darts and pool to amazing mini desserts and later to a create your own ramen bar! Lawrence and Johnny wanted to embrace their personal style in regard to both the attire and décor. They looked very handsome in their casual attire and the décor spoke to the relaxed feel of their celebration and their love for mid century modern decor. Edison bulbs were suspended from the ceiling; the round tables, high tops and wooden tables were lined with orange detailed linens; warm florals brightened the space; and modern lounge groupings were brought in to enhance the intimate feel of the wedding.
It turned out to be a beautiful and relaxed evening for family and friends of this {now} Los Angeles based couple! Check out the images below of Lawrence & Johnny's special day!
Event Planning + Design: Style-Architects Weddings + Events | Photography: Melissa Hesse - Rivets & Roses | Venue: Studio 1414 | Catering: Fabulous Catering | Lighting: Phos Events | Florals: Munster Rose | Rentals: Aprés Party and Tent Rental, Rudy’s Event Rentals | DJ/Band: Primetime DJs | Paper: Spark Letterpress and Meghan Rose Design
Minneapolis Event Centers // Ashley & Patrick
Happy two year anniversary to Ashley & Patrick! In celebration, we thought we'd share their beautiful story and a few stunning images from their wedding.
Ashley and Patrick share a mutual love for travel and making big moves. They met in 2011 when Ashley took a last minute trip to Chicago from Michigan to celebrate New Year’s Eve with friends. Patrick, who happened to be at the same party, tried to strike up a conversation with Ashley about his goofy panda shirt. However, this technique was unsuccessful since she was going to veterinary school. With her uninterested response he walked away speechless, but later in the night he tried once more and won her attention. Ashley flew down to Texas three weeks later to visit Patrick, who had just made the move to Texas. After another eight months, it was Patrick’s turn to make a big move which landed him in Minneapolis with Ashley and their dog, Daisy.
After Patrick proposed, they celebrated with a night of surprises and friends. Afterward, they flew to San Francisco to continue the celebrations with friends! For their wedding, a fun-loving party was required. They flew in The Pete Saunders Band from New York for an incredible night of music and dancing. The look was soft and romantic with billowing baby's breath garlands and baby's breath clouds that had cascading orchids above the tables, which were accented with pops of soft corals, pinks, and gold. These elements created the whimsical feel they were hoping for.
Vendor Credits:
Event Planning + Design: Style-Architects Weddings & Events
Photographer: Photogen, Inc.
Venue + Catering: Minneapolis Event Center
Videographer: Sky Focus Films
Cakes/Desserts: Cocoa & Fig
Florals: Martha’s Gardens
Linens: Linen Effects
Hair + Makeup: Haus Salon
Event Rental: Après Party and Tent Rental // Rudy’s Event Rentals
Band: Pete Saunders Band, New York
Paper: Spark Letterpress
Transportation: Eclipse
Minneapolis Event Center // Alyson & Geoff
In honor of Alyson + Geoff's two year anniversary today, let's take a look back at their special day! Alyson and Geoff went to the same high school where Geoff graduated with Alyson's brother. However, they didn't meet until a few years later at a Jack Johnson concert in Somerset, Wisconsin, where they officially began their story.
When we asked Alyson about the style for her wedding, she described it as “rustic industrial" and followed it {with a laugh} saying "I’m not even sure that’s a real thing!” Whether it is or isn't, we made it happen! The Minneapolis Event Center fit their vision perfectly with gorgeous steel details, exposed brick and open spaces. She stated that they “wanted to keep it elegant but casual” and that was executed perfectly down to the crystal, flower-filled ornaments we suspended above the head table. They also didn’t want to have any tall flowers on tables obstructing views because they wanted to keep things intimate, so we combined beauty and a petite structure to create flawless center pieces.
Look at all these amazing photos from the day!
Vendor Credits:
Wedding Planner: Style-Architects Weddings + Events
Photographer: Betsy Wall Photography
Florist: Sadie’s Florals
Linens: Après party & tent rental
Cake: Nothing Bundt Cakes
DJ: Prime Time DJ (Adam Welz)
Musicians: Loring String Quartet
Videographer: Ideatap Studios
Makeup/Hair: Julie Swenson
Wedding Dress/Shoes: Ramona Kaveza - L’Atelier Couture
Bridesmaids Dresses: Amsale (Flutter)
Invitations and paper goods: Spark Letterpress
LGBTQ Wedding Trends
With the Gay Pride Festival this weekend, we wanted to celebrate a few of our lovely couples we've been fortunate enough to plan weddings for and to give inspiration with trends we have noticed for same-sex couples!
Original Attire Choices We love it when couples embrace the freedom to wear anything that fits their personal style! Of course we love wedding gowns and the traditional suit and tie, but Lawrence + Johnny looked very handsome in their casual attire.
Ceremonies in the Round Most of our couples are choosing to modernize traditional ceremonies by having a less structured bridal party and ceremony. We see a lot of standing ceremonies where guests surround the couple and officiant, creating a very intimate setting.
Exceptional Venues There are no limits to where you can celebrate your special day. Jason + Rodney had an intimate ceremony with their closest friends and family on the Guthrie Theater's Endless Bridge, which offered gorgeous views of the Mississippi River. Lawrence + Johnny chose to transform Studio 1414, a photography studio.
Free Flowing Receptions Couples are moving away from formal sit-down dinners and are utilizing the same space for both a ceremony and reception without the need for a flip. This format is more intimate, requires less space and gives you the option to have food trucks or stations.
Decor + Aesthetic Overall, most couples want to break the mold and have unique details that speak to their long standing, committed relationships. Andrew + Brendan created a flawless wedding cake that told their love story from start to finish.
Unique Entertainment If you're looking for a more relaxed feel, plan a reception like Lawrence + Johnny's where they included fun activities such as pool and darts.
With no set traditions for same-sex couples, we have complete freedom to create an unparalleled event and to uniquely personalize their special day.
Images 1-8 Andrew + Brendan // Pixel Posey
Images 9-17 Lawrence + Johnny // Melissa Hesse Rivets + Roses
Images 18-25 Jason + Rodney // Thea Volk Rivets + Roses
Wedding Send-offs
One of the best photo-ops on your wedding day is when your guests send you and your groom off after the ceremony or reception. Make this traditional celebration modern by having your guests throw a little something that fits your wedding style! Choose an eco-friendly option such as wild flowers or greenery to maintain a boho feel, make it a party with confetti, or light the way with sparklers or LED balloons! Little details like this add a special touch to starting your new lives together.
Photography Credits {Top to Bottom, Left to Right}:
Etsy – craftupyourlife via Deer Pearl Flowers
Keidra Lejeune Photography via ruffled blog
Nina Claire Photography via Rock n Roll Bride
Bridal Musing via Deer Pearl Flowers
Photogen Inc.
via Google
Getty Images
Getty Images
Mother of the Bride Attire
Your daughter's wedding day is just as special for you as it is for her. It will be a day you both look back on and cherish forever. So, don't hold back on your wedding day attire and don't let the decision sit on the back burner in lieu of other wedding planning! Of course you don't want to steal any attention from the beautiful bride {and frankly how could you - she's your daughter}, but who says you can't look fabulous as well?
Here's some advice. Stray away from white + ivory {for obvious reasons} but don't limit any possibilities! Bridal shops do offer Mother of the Bride dresses, but don't be afraid to extend your search to a boutique or the formal section of any good department store. One of our favorite MOB options is a classy jumpsuit that is both trendy and flattering. Make sure your attire matches your style as well as the event's formality.
Pinspiration // Drip Cakes
Every bride wants a wedding cake that is [almost} too gorgeous to eat, yet has everyone craving a bite. Styling your cake with a perfect drizzle will achieve that goal by creating a trendy and tasteful look.
It's easy to design a drip cake that will flow flawlessly with your wedding style. From a stunning three-tier wedding cake that is elegant and detailed to a simple one-tier beauty that screams perfection, this trend is sure to complete your wedding decor. Decorate it with greenery, fruit or flowers to add some "flavor", or leave it bare to let the drip take all the attention!
See more inspiration on our {Drip Cakes} Pinterest board!
Photograph Credit {Top to Bottom // Left to Right}:
2 Kendra Sue Photography via Wedding Chicks
3 Midnight Sun Cakery via Brit + Co
4 Great Woodland Photography // Cake: Sweet Emma Lou via Something Turquoise
5 Petra Veikkola Photography via Wedding Forward
6 Koman Photography via Brides
7 Lucy Munoz Photography // CAKE Event Company // Beverly’s Bakery via SouthBound Bride
8 Hansel & Gretel Cake via Wedding Forward
9 Via Hochzeitswahn
Bar Lurcat // Karla & Tim
We had so much fun being a part of Karla + Tim's special day. As you know, our goal for each wedding is to make it a personal expression of the couple's style, and our lovely bride wanted bling so... we gave her bling {and lots of it} on her big day! Diamonds are a girl's best friend, am I right?!
For their ceremony, we suspended gorgeous, crystal chandeliers amongst flower garlands and hanging jewel strands. Cafe lights wouldn't do so we draped jewel strands above the ceremony seating instead! The centerpieces displayed hanging gems, and we also incorporated jeweled details into their wedding cake {that seemed just too beautiful to eat} in order to keep the look cohesive throughout.
Karla is such a beautiful woman with a great sense of style {did you notice that Inbal Dror gown?} and from the look on Tim's face, he thinks so too!
Full Service Wedding Planning: Style-Architects Weddings + Events
Photographer: Graddy Photography
Venue: Bar Lurcat
Gown: Inbal Dror from l’atelier couture
Bridesmaid Dress: Tara LaTour
Florals: Martha’s Gardens
Rentals: Linen Effects
Chandeliers: Phos Events
Cake: Farina Baking Co.
Paper: Paper, Rock, Scissor
Band: Chris Koza
Gathering Wedding Photos From Your Guests
Making sure you capture every precious moment of your special day is a must. While you're eagerly waiting for your professional photos, you are sure to want to gather shots from your family + friends! We agree that using a unique hashtag on Instagram can be fun and easy, but let's be honest, it can be difficult to save those posts without losing quality, and what about your Instagram-less guests?!
Below are some easy ways to compile those photos!
WedPics is a FREE option {with premium features available for a price} that allows you to gather those lovely photos from an unlimited number of guests with unlimited storage! Guests can upload photos from their phones OR on the website if they use a digital camera.
Burner is an app that creates a temporary phone number and has a Dropbox Burner Connection that stores all your guests' photos! As a new user, you can use the app free for 30 days and costs $4.99 a month thereafter. Simply have guests send photos to your Burner number and you can enjoy them in a private folder with the option to share it.
Eversnap {a more expensive option} is a full-service app costing between $99 and $399. This app works with or without screening services and even includes 200 instruction cards for your guests! Plus, the folder will pull and add all of the photos from social-media channels with your personalized hashtag.
In order to successfully use these applications, be sure to share instructions on your website, program, table numbers, menu and other signage! Once you have all those beautiful photos, be sure to back them up, share them on social media, choose your favorites for around the house and use them to personalize your Thank You cards!
Image Credit:
monfriese
Engagement Photos
Now that it's getting warmer, it's the perfect time to get those engagement pictures taken! These photos mark a special time of your life so it's important to do them right! Personalize your shoot and emphasize your story by taking them up north, where you first met, or even at home. Don't be afraid to leave your comfort zone!
Here's some things not to forget:
Flaunt your style.
Be adventurous.
Favor the golden hour.
Make it meaningful.
Complement your love story.
And lastly, SHOW OFF THAT BLING!
See our {Engagement Photos} Pinterest board for more inspiration!
Photographers {From Top to Bottom}:
Getty Images
Monthly Musing // 2017 Beauty Trends
The finishing touch to your bridal beauty is incorporating your favorite makeup look! Below are all of the 2017 makeup trends we are obsessing over, including subtle pink hues {from rosy eyelids to a pink pout}, strong highlighting, berry lips, and natural tones.
If you want a dramatic look, we love a berry colored lip or the idea of layering your highlight to create a beautiful glow. But if you're feeling boho-chic, stick with a matte finish and pink tones to create a natural, effortless look.
Designers + Photo Credits:
Sachin & Babi // Getty Images
Rime Arodaky // Indigital
Theia // Getty Images
Rivini // Sarah Pierce
Marchesa // Getty Images
Marchesa // Alyssa Greenberg
Carolina Herrera // Alyssa Greenberg
Delphine Manivet // Zimbio
Mira Zwillinger // Alexander Lipkin
Mill City Museum // Katharine & Ryan
It's true, one of the most common wedding fears is a little drizzle on your big day {especially for those who plan an outdoor gathering}. But let's face it, rainy weddings make for beautiful pictures and great stories! Just ask Katharine + Ryan!
These two met in Minneapolis where they spent just three short months together before Katharine’s job moved her to California. Nine months later, Ryan joined Katharine on the west coast but they returned to Minneapolis for their Mill City Museum wedding. “I love the history of Minnesota and how it grew around the mill and the factory. I always saw myself getting married in the ruins.” However on their wedding day, the weather chose not to cooperate.
Although the sun wasn't shining, these two didn't let the rain "ruin" their special celebration. The misty weather made for perfect conditions as Katharine + Ryan cuddled up next to each other under the same umbrella during the ceremony while guests gathered under the overhang provided by the ruins.They exchanged vows {written themselves} and Katharine promised “in sickness and in health, for richer for poorer, and to make Ryan “breakfast sandwiches for dinner”.
This lovely couple took full advantage of their rainy wedding and their positive demeanor was certainly contagious.
See for yourself!
Vendor Credits:
Design + Coordination: Style-Architects Weddings & Events | Photography: Photogen Inc. | Venue: Mill City Museum | Catering: D'Amico Catering | Linens: Linen Effects | Wooden Chairs: Rudy's Event Rentals | Floral: La Petite Fleur | DJ: Primetime DJ’s | Uplighting: Phos Events | Hair and Make-up: Julie Swenson
Pinspiration // Dusty Rose
Summer is coming in HOT, and so are our favorite summer wedding trends! One trend we are obsessing over is color scheming with dusty rose. Deeper and richer than the ever popular blush, dusty rose is completely versatile. Whether you're looking to accessorize your head table or your bridal look, incorporating this color is the perfect way to achieve that warm summertime feel.
Pair dusty rose with navy or grey accents to keep your look modern and sleek; or add an element of glamour with gold metallic tones. Include a touch of greenery to pop the color and provide some contrast and added warmth.
For more inspiration on how to use dusty rose on your special day, go check out our {Dusty Rose} Pinterest board!
