Vendor Feature: L'Atelier Couture Bridal Boutique
Say hello to our lovely neighbors, the ladies of
. If you ask us, owner Amanda Kautt and her team are the best in the wedding biz! Whether they are helping a bride pick out her dream wedding gown, hosting a" little white dress" trunk show, or pampering wedding parties on the big day, these ladies live to make every bride feel as gorgeous as ever on their special day! Their array of gorgeous designer gowns is truly what sets them aside from other bridal boutiques in the Twin Cities. Enjoy!
1. How does l’atelier stand out from other bridal couture shops?
What sets us apart from other boutiques in the Midwest is our collection of designers. We are so fortunate to carry exclusive house designers that are known around the world for their quality of patterning, fabric and structure. Some of our designers include: Vera Wang, Monique Lhuillier, Romona Keveza, Marchesa, Jenny Packham, Peter Langner, Lela Rose and many more! We also work very hard to provide an unforgettable experience for the bride. We do not carry bridesmaid dresses as our main focus is the bride; however, we offer a fabulous selection of Little White Dresses and style our brides for bridal showers, luncheons, rehearsal dinners and lots of other events the bride may attend before her wedding!
2. Tell us about your new Monique Lhuillier collection
We were very excited to announce at the end of 2013 that we are the new home for Monique Lhuillier in the state of Minnesota! This is a collection that we feel has always had a place among our other designers and we are thrilled to give our brides the L’atelier experience with Monique Lhuillier. Each one of our designers is so distinctly different and speaks to a different bride, so it is only natural that Monique Lhuillier fills a softer and more romantic vibe that we haven’t been able to offer before. She is known for incorporating a lot of lace in her collections and her lace comes from France & Italy. Monique is special because all of the gowns are made in the USA – right in Los Angeles. Monique is a great addition to the boutique!
3. Share your secrets! What is your favorite l'atelier gown or trend?
COLOR! We love that our bride feels comfortable enough to express herself through color on her big day. We have had two amazing brides wear black wedding gowns by Vera Wang and quite a few brides in colored gowns by Tara LaTour that stand out to me. All of our designers offer subtle color options like blush, café and nude-but it is really exciting when a bride is interested in taking it a step further and wearing black or navy!
4. What other bridal accessories do you offer?
We are proud to offer local jewelry designer Penny Larsen. We host a jewelry trunk show with her once a year where she comes in and meets with every bride to customize the perfect piece {the next trunk show is March 13-15th}! We recently added Reece & Blaire bangles to our accessories collection – they are fun wire wrapped, natural stone bangles made right in South Carolina. They are priced between $24-$32 {and addicting}!
5. Besides beautiful gowns, what else do you offer brides and their wedding parties?
Our favorite service that we offer our clients is the White Glove Service! Our brides can rent out the salon to get ready on her wedding day and have our staff at her disposal while she and her bridal party prepare + pamper for the big day! We have hair & makeup stations and four dressing rooms that we split up for the bride, bridesmaids and mothers. We also have a full kitchen so that the event can be catered – it’s a fun option for the bride who wants a stress free morning of getting ready with her closest family and friends.
6. What type of events do you host in your gorgeous space?
Whether a bride has purchased her gown with us or not, she is always welcome to attend our annual jewelry trunk show {Marc h 13th-15th} or any of our tri-annual LWD events! The Little White Dress event is a great event to attend because we have over 100 dresses in for one weekend only and we are the only store in Minnesota that carries these three designers {Kirribilla, Chloe & Reese & LulaKate} so it is nice to see something new and fresh! They are usually held in January, May & October.
Vendor Feature: Snowshoe Productions
We’ve got the inside scoop from expert videographer, Tim Baias of Snowshoe Productions.
Considering hiring a videographer for your special day? We’ve got the inside scoop from expert videographer, Tim Baias of Snowshoe Productions. Get to know all of the videography basics and Snowshoe’s unique approach to storytelling. Leave it to these pros to capture all of those candid, emotional moments from your wedding day! Also, take a peek at some of Snowshoe Productions’ work from our recent fall weddings.
What types of events does Snowshoe Productions capture? What don’t we do? Primarily we cover weddings, but we often shoot corporate events, mitzvahs and charitable outreaches. We are artists at our core, so we also love to produce works such as creative commercials for small businesses and local restaurants. We are even working on a short film, and it’s a whole lot of fun.
What are some of your favorite moments to film from a wedding or special event? Hands down, our favorite moments are candid ones. Something magical happens when people forget that the cameras are rolling and just act natural. The laughing, the tears of joy, and the huge smiles on everyone’s face - it’s these authentic moments that we love most about our job. The happiness is infectious!
How do you capture the couples’ personalities in your films? Easily, by getting to know them a little bit! We like to have a meeting with all of our couples pre-wedding; even if it’s short, we can get a sense of your personality. But the biggest way we learn about you is by simply being at your wedding! Certainly your wedding is going to express your unique personality and style. It’s hard not to learn a thing or two about the happy couple when we are with them and their closest friends and family for the whole day. From that point, it’s just natural for us to reflect these things in your wedding day film.
Talk tech with us. What makes your equipment special? Gear alone isn’t going to create an amazing video, but it is a necessary tool. All the gear we use was carefully selected to give our videos a “cinematic” look and to allow us to shoot in any lighting situation. Our equipment gives us the ability to create videos that have the look and feel of an independent film instead of “your local news” feel. This is primarily achieved through movement, custom coloring and blurred backgrounds. The cameras we use are actually identical to what your photographer will be using; however, we use devices that will stabilize our cameras so that we can capture smooth cinematic movements instead of a shaky home video look. For you, gear heads, we use Glidecams, jibs, sliders, fluid-head tripods and DSLRs.
Finally, let’s talk about the most uncertain aspect of any video: live audio. Audio equipment is far more likely to fail than video equipment because of interference and shorts in wires. Let me set your mind at ease. We use a primary wireless lapel microphone, a backup wireless microphone and a backup hardwired microphone. Whereas many videographers use only one microphone, we use three to ensure that we record all the important moments of your big day. Our philosophy is that audio is just as important as video in the final product.
What sets Snowshoe apart from other videography services? We’re known for having a cinematic and artistic approach to filming and storytelling. Our lead videographer has a Master’s degree in Fine Art/ Photography, and that background as a photographer has definitely influenced the way we approach video both in composing shots and editing the story. We are artists, not a wedding video factory and, as a result, no two films are alike. Our process is not simply slapping video clips down over music, but rather the music and video must work hand-in-hand and we spend a lot of time creating the right “flow.”
To put it simply, we refuse to cut corners. We go way beyond simply documenting an event and strive to create a beautiful and emotional representation of your day.
Tell us more about your packages. What types of work can you provide? You’ll find a clear breakdown of our packages on our website; however, no two weddings are alike. We’re very open to creating custom videos and packages that will fit your unique wedding. Our packages are very customizable and could include a number of add-ons, such as a full ceremony recording or live stream. We primarily shoot with the intent of creating a 6-10 minute wedding film as our final product, but, of course, not all of the great shots can fit into the video, which is why we have the extended footage add-on, and this is where you will find your vows, speeches, first dance and all of those special moments that might have been cut from the video.
Do you have any tips or tricks for couples to feel comfortable in front of the camera? We believe in not getting in the way of your event but capturing your day as it naturally unfolds. Be yourself; don’t try to be an actor! Most people become unaware of the camera after 10 minutes or so, but there are others who just can’t seem to shake their self-awareness. Focus on your friends, family, and, most importantly, on each other. Being focused on one another instead of the camera will produce your best videos and photos. Most importantly, don’t pose for us. Posing for video as if it were a photo is very awkward. We usually have 10 hours of footage (or more!) to edit down to 10 minutes. We’ll definitely have more than enough footage to work with if you simply decide to have fun and be yourselves.
Vendor Feature: Studio 306
Studio 306 is no stranger to the photography world.
Established in 1997, Studio 306 head-honchos, Marc Andrew and Leda Zych, are no strangers to the photography world. Whether they are capturing a wedding, event, person or space, Studio 306 is dedicated to providing one-of-a-kind photography with a unique and artistic twist. Our weddings team loves working with this dynamic duo and let us tell you, they are pure talents! Check out this exclusive Q/A featuring these talented photo gurus {and their fabulous work}! How did Studio 306 start? We (Marc & Leda) met in art school, adopted a dog, and started making photographs. Studio 306 began in 1997 out of a love for photography and art. We embraced photojournalism as a way to document people’s lives in an authentic and meaningful way.
Where do you go for creative inspiration? We find inspiration in films, literature, politics, architecture, science, painting, sculpture, and light - everywhere! We draw from all our experiences to make purposeful photographs.
Where can we see your work featured? Besides our site, our photographs can be viewed in local and national magazines and blogs including Grace Ormonde, Brides, The Knot, Style Me Pretty, and Minnesota Bride.
How would you describe your signature style? Real moments coupled with stylized portraits and exquisite details. We’re attracted to authenticity and love anything playful, quirky, or mysterious.
What makes Studio 306 unique? We're completely fanatical about making photographs. This is not a job for us. It's a way of life. We make no distinction between work and play and have been photographing together as a team for 15 years. When clients and their families commission our services they receive two distinct photographers. As a team, we sketch out ideas and concepts for unique photographs based on our client’s aesthetic choices and individual personalities.
What are the current trends right now in photography? Is there a style/approach you want/like to experiment with? There are always trends. Most fade away. We prefer style and vision.
We’re currently experimenting with offering wet plate collodion to our clients. Large format tintypes! This is the original form of instant photography from the 1850s made with large format cameras that weigh 20 pounds. They are quite beautiful to see in person. Each 8x10 metal plate is one-of-a-kind with no negative or digital file. They are special - an edition of one. A precious art object.
What is your #1 piece of advice for couples searching for their photographer? Photography grows with value over time and is worth the upfront investment. Take your time and find a photographer whose work resonates with you.
Vendor Feature: Level 11
We’re excited to introduce to you one of the best DJ’s in all the land, David Baer.
We’re excited to introduce to you one of the best DJ’s in all the land, David Baer. David is owner of Level 11 events, a special event and wedding entertainment company offering unique and interactive services. David and his team are just the guys to turn your party to the next level {no pun intended} whether its through their unique DJ + live band combo, Union, or their virtual graffiti wall. If you ask us, these guys are the Jack{s} of all trades and come highly recommended among us at Style-Architects. Check out our exclusive Q/A to learn more about Level 11! How did Level11 get started? We got started in 1999 as an interactive entertainment company. The initial founders were popular club DJs, but wanted a break from the nightly grind of nightclubs. The mobile DJ market was ripe for change and Level11 entered the market by introducing the Midwest to an East Coast style of entertainment, where our initial founders have roots. This style involves greater guest interaction and involvement, non-traditional event flows, focus on entertainment throughout the entire event and a passion for details.
What sets Level 11 apart from other entertainment services? One word, experience. Collectively, our team has immense experience in all aspects of event entertainment. With experience comes, expertise, focus on clients, troubleshooting and polished professionalism, among others. The art of DJing is the ability to know what song to play at what time, based on the vibe in the room. There is no way to practice this, other than by performing at hundreds of events over many years. You do not want an inexperienced DJ at your wedding. That is what we bring to the table (along with the fact that we are really nice guys!).
What other unique entertainment services does Level11 provide?
Union. This is a fusion of live DJs and live musicians. We were the first entertainment company to bring this to events and it is a huge hit. The DJ plays the music and a percussionist, keyboardist and sax player play along with the music giving a live band feel to a DJ performance. If you have never heard this before, it will blow your mind!
Virtual Graffiti Wall. We are the exclusive provider of the original Virtual Graffiti Wall. With two sizes, it is perfect for any event – large or small. You and your friends get a picture taken and it immediately pops up on a screen (10’ screen or 50” TV). You then use spray cans or markers to “tag” the photo to make it unique. We have custom stencils and stamps to help the creative juices, or guests can simply draw whatever they feel. One cool wedding application is to display a photo of the couple and use it as a sign-in board so guests can create their own art!
Lighting. We have an extensive lighting division that can do anything from simple uplighting to the most intricate lighting design you can imagine. Lighting is a very popular trend in decorating a space, because it is value priced and can change throughout time. Lighting has the power to really affect mood as people enter into a space. With the added flexibility of being able to change light throughout the night, it is a great addition to any event.
What kind of event is perfect for the virtual graffiti wall? The virtual graffiti wall is perfect for any event where you want your guests to have a totally unique, interactive and fun experience. The interactive piece is key. With photo booths, there is no interaction: sit, smile, get picture. With the virtual graffiti wall, guests interact with each other and let their creative energy explode with art!
How does a venue play a role in lighting design? Every venue is different. From ceiling height, wall color and texture, space design, ambient light, power, etc. It is important to design a lighting plan that fits your event, but also fits the space. For example, certain spaces are not conducive to uplighting at all, but perhaps wall splashes would be better. Some venues allow lights to be hung from the ceiling, so the light “magically” illuminates the subject without even seeing the fixtures.
How does Level11 customize entertainment services for each event? We start by listening. That is the most important tool. We need to understand what the client wants. Then, we turn their vision into reality! Every event is different and we treat every client as if they are family. Also, our clients work through the planning process with the actual DJ for their event – not some random office staff person!
Tell us your secret! How do the DJs encourage guests to participate in the events activities? If we told you that, it would not be a secret, would it! In all seriousness, it is quite simple. Focus on your clients and treat them as you want to be treated. The rest simply follows naturally. Of course, you need to have our level of experience.
What is the best advice for couples hiring entertainment services? Follow your gut and hire based on the experience of the DJ that will actually be at your event. If it sounds too good to be true, there is probably a reason. In the world of entertainment, you get what you pay for. So don’t shop on price, shop for value. There is a big difference!
Venue Feature: Muse Event Center
As if we needed another reason to love the North Loop neighborhood, we are so thrilled to welcome a new friend just down the street!
As if we needed another reason to love the North Loop neighborhood, we are so thrilled to welcome a new friend just down the street - and it just so happens to be a new venue! Our friends at Crave Catering have transformed the old Trocaderos nightclub into Muse Event Center, a chic, fresh spot for weddings and more. Tonight marks the new space’s grand opening and once the clock strikes five, our team is packing up and heading over to mingle with our favorite industry folk! Our planners were lucky enough to tour the space during the renovation and we must say, we like what they have in store. For more information on this great new space, check out the Q&A with Noelle Singerhouse, Catering Sales Manager, below! What was the vision for the space? We were looking to offer a fresh and unique venue that captured the essence of Minneapolis culture and the capacity to host small and large-scale events. We also wanted the venue to be a blank canvas for clients to use as a source of inspiration to create their perfect event. With CRAVE Catering being one of the fastest growing catering companies in Minnesota, it was the company’s organic growth that made purchasing an event space the next logical step in offering an exceptional experience to our clients and their guests.
Tell us about the venue transformation from Trocaderos to Muse. We wanted to give Muse a serious face-lift, from a nightclub to a refined event center. We started by making minor infrastructure changes and completed it by carefully selecting the perfect finishes. The finishes include the walls painted in a slate blue, with rich stone accents on the bars and a unique acid wash on the floor. The structure of Muse is beautiful and gives our clients a canvas to add their personal touches of décor and style.
Photo: Bullis Photography
What sets Muse apart from other venue spaces in the Twin Cities? Muse is a multi-level facility that is able to host both large-scale and small-scale events. Although Muse is a big space it still provides an intimate vibe for the guests. Our building contains multiple windows on all levels offering guests the choice of having natural light for their event. The unique finishes and fresh color palette offer clients an exceptional space to host their event.
What perks does the venue provide for those booking the space? CRAVE Catering is the exclusive caterer for the space and will offer some of the restaurant’s favorites. CRAVE Catering will assist clients in designing a custom menu and offers a tasting to be sure guests will enjoy the selections. Muse features a full suite of audio and visual capabilities that allows for full customization of lighting, sound and video. Muse offers valet parking or street parking for events.
What contributions can Muse bring to the North Loop neighborhood? CRAVE is a strong partner with the Minneapolis community. The North Loop neighborhood is a great neighborhood for Muse to be in. The missions of the North Loop Neighborhood are in line with CRAVE’s values. We want to do our part to encourage community involvement, promote doing business with local merchants, and add value to the vibrancy of the neighborhood.
Photo: Bullis Photography
What sort of spaces are available for rent and how many guests can the venue accommodate? Muse Event Center features a variety of spaces that can be utilized together, or a la carte, to accommodate events of any shape or size. We can host eight to 500 guests for a seated event or 25-1200 for a cocktail reception.
What types of events can guests expect to experience at Muse? Muse will host weddings, galas, fundraisers, fashion shows, corporate events, and many other events. From a casual affair to the most refined, Muse will transform to match the host’s vision.
What sort of clients will be attracted to Muse? Muse will attract an array of clients. The uniqueness of the space allows us to create events to meet anyone’s vision. People who have an imagination and vision will love planning events at Muse.
Vendor Feature: Munster Rose
Meet Jackie Reisenauer, the artistically chic chick behind the one and only Munster Rose Floral Studio.
Meet Jackie Reisenauer, the artistically chic chick behind the one and only Munster Rose Floral Studio. Whether you are looking for a lush, neutral, delicate arrangement, or an artistic, dramatic, spilling bouquet, Jackie and her fabulous partner {and mother!} Barb, aren’t afraid to put their creativity to the test. Specializing in wedding and event floral design, Munster Rose caters to clients with all types of styles and aesthetics. Of course, we are partial to the floral industry seeing as we enjoy all things pretty, but we encourage you to enter a fabulous floral frenzy by checking out Munster Rose’s work! Be sure to check back after September 9th, when Jackie launches her new website with even more images of her glorious creations! What’s the history of Munster Rose? The name itself was pulled from pieces of my past. “Munster” is the name of the street on which my family’s teeny tiny little yellow house sat. “Rose” is my middle name and also happens to be my absolute favorite flower. Ever. The business itself was a long time in the making. I worked in a floral shop in high school and then went to college for Interior Design. After graduating and working in the design industry for years—creating store displays, styling accessories for photo shoots, being a buyer for a small retail shop—I realized my passion lay where I started, in floral. So I worked hard for a bunch of great florists, learning everything I could, then opened up my own place. Here I am now.
Top Photo: Photogen Inc., Above Photo: Canary Grey
What is your signature style? Our big big big priority is to deliver pieces that fit into the style and personality of our client and work in the context of the room we’re going to beautify. When we do work for weddings, I would say we specialize in a natural, modern, romantic style.
What are some upcoming trends in floral arrangements this season? There’s a general trend toward more natural arrangements. This means more foliage, fillers, and movement -- arrangements are looser, more airy. Not as tight and symmetrical as it has been in the past. And we love it – it means we don’t have to design any more single-hued, basketball-shaped bouquets!
Photo: Geneoh Photography
Do you prepare sample centerpieces or bouquets for prospective clients? We certainly do. And can. Though we do it less than we used to; our clients today are far more savvy & organized than even five years ago. They come prepared with ideas from blogs and sizable style boards (Pinterest!) that we tweak throughout the planning process. By the end, we’ve usually got it pretty well nailed down.
What other decor items can you provide for clients? Boatloads. We like to think we have a pretty unique inventory and if we don’t have exactly what you want, we are able to source almost anything. We have a huge selection of lanterns, candle pedestals, candleholders, shepherd hooks, ceremony backdrops, ribbons, fabrics, cake stands, lace, wood elements, and probably any vase you could ever want.
Photo: Laura Ivanova Photography
Where is your amazing work featured? We’ve been lucky in the past few years and have been featured in a variety of places. Most recently, our work was in Brides Magazine- the UK edition. We’re pumped about that. We’ve also been seen in Style Me Pretty, Design Love Fest, Minnesota Bride, Wisconsin Bride, Green Wedding Shoes, Grey Likes Weddings, 100 layer cake, Wedding Chicks, MSP Weddings Magazine, The Knot-MN, Elizabeth Anne Designs, Ruffled, A Northwoods Wedding, The Sweetest Occasion, and Lavender Magazine.
What is one thing you would like your clients to know about your personal style/approach? As a client, you have a unique personality and a unique event. So we approach every client with a 100% start-from-scratch mentality. We try our best not to brainlessly make the same thing, over. And over. And over. Again. It’s boring!
Photo: Canary Grey
Where do you go for inspiration?Instagram. It’s insane. You can see what artists are doing across the world, as they’re doing it. There are so many great designers, photographers, and florists in the Instagram community. It’s a great and easy way to connect to new ideas. LOVE it. Totally addicted. Other sources; Cereal Magazine, Kinfolk, Style Me Pretty, Once Wed, Design Love Fest (that lady is crazy motivated and inspiring), plus all the usual wedding blogs.
How does Munster Rose differ from other florists? I am a designer who does floral. Not someone who went into the floral business to get out of my day job. Because of that, I think we offer a skill set outside of floral that can be extremely valuable to our clients. Big picture stuff like overall theme, color palette, and style that in turn feed the floral design and décor.
Photo: Krysta Manthe
Venue Feature: Aria
Say hello to Aria, our fellow North Loop neighbor and one of our favorite venues in town!
Say hello to Aria, our fellow North Loop neighbor and one of our favorite venues in town! Formally know as the theatre de Jeune Lune, First & First Creative Real Estate kept creativity and artistic expression top of mind while transforming the space from a theatre to a one-of-a-kind event space. Aria’s exposed brick and {beautifully} tarnished walls combined with the unique art and twinkling chandeliers makes for the perfect juxtaposition between historical roots and elegance. The VIP Lounges, complete with funky soft seating, overlook the main event space and provide a great setting for guests to sit back, relax, and watch the action below. The options for creating different looks are endless with the additional decor options available for rent such as additional vintage furniture pieces, draping, café lights and uplighting. And Aria is the only venue in town that allows you to paint the floor! Our team of wedding planners has had many opportunities to plan and execute awe-inspiring events at Aria {with many more to come}, while our team of public relations strategists and branding experts at our sister company, Brand-Architects, has worked closely with Aria on various projects such as Christie’sAndy Warhol art exhibit and David Byrne’s “Playing the Building.” If you have an event coming up, we encourage you to check out this amazing space. But hurry… it books up fast!
Why is Aria such a great addition to the warehouse district in Minneapolis? What do you like about being in this particular location? The Warehouse District is an iconic part of the Twin Cities landscape, and the North Loop is well on its way to becoming the hottest neighborhood in the city. With our parent company First & First Creative Real Estate behind us, our foundation (reflected both the in building itself and our company culture) is one that puts creativity at the top of the list. Aria was revitalized to be a place that inspires people, clients and guests alike.
photo credit: Jeff Loves Jessica Photography
Can you tell us the history of the building as Theatre de la Jeune Lune? While our history stretches all of the way back to 1895, the most noted time frame for the building was during the Theatre de la Jeune Lune from 1992 to 2008. The Theatre had a rich and innovative catalog of productions, and was mourned by the artistic community at large when they closed their doors. We are happy to be able to use the space for some public events, as well as our private functions, so that the space is still accessible to the community at large.
photo credit: Vick Photography
What types of events are hosted at Aria? The events we host here run a wide gamut. We have gone from shooting a television commercial, to a grand fundraiser gala, to a wedding all in one week. We have also had the opportunity to do some in house programming, such as the David Byrne “Playing the Building”, and work with great artistic partners, such as the Christies Auction House “Warhol in Minneapolis” event. Every week brings something new and exciting to the table.
Can you explain the whimsical artwork and other featured pieces throughout the space? Creativity and artistic expression are a part of our daily lives here. The artwork throughout the space is ever evolving, but continually strengthens our culture of creativity, innovation, adventure, and a sense of humor.
photo credit: Studio Laguna Photography
What type or style of client is attracted to Aria? We find that we tend to attract people with vision (or they hire planners that do!) and a lot of style. The space, although it has those artistic and eclectic elements, is one that people use as an empty shell to construct their unique events. Because the space does have a whimsical aura, we see many weddings. It is a perfect location for a bride to create the day she's been dreaming of. There is so much you can do with the space to make it your own; that is one of the many reasons we all love it so much.
photo credit: Jeff Loves Jessica Photography
What makes Aria such a unique venue space? There is truly nothing like Aria in the Twin Cities. Thanks to our history as a theater, there are many elements that make it easily transformed. The catwalks are a unique feature to the space and allow people to use the space vertically in a way that you often aren’t able. As a team we also strive to provide a unique experience. The team at Aria understands the people that are attracted to this space are those with vision, and we work everyday to make their vision come to life. Sometimes their vision stretches the limits of what we think is possible, but we welcome the challenge and opportunity to grow as an organization.
photo credit: Maia Baldauf Photography
What is the most unique event held at Aria since you opened? It would be hard to pick just one, every day feels like an adventure here! Some of our highlights would definitely be “Playing the Building”, and a commercial shoot for Affinity Bank. “Playing the Building” was an amazing use of the space and great way to bring in the community. It was hard for some of us to even conceptualize until it was actually installed, and really like nothing else. The commercial shoot for Affinity Bank was just fun to see progress. They basically built and then tore down an entire circus within 48 hours, complete with clowns and a cannon! We are lucky to have a space that can be so transformed; it truly feels as though each and every event is unique and special.
Vendor Feature: Martha's Gardens
Meet Martha Lunde, the creative mind behind one of our favorite floral studios, Martha’s Gardens.
Meet Martha Lunde, the creative mind behind one of our favorite floral studios, Martha’s Gardens. Martha is not only one of the sweetest women you’ll ever meet, but her whimsical and artistic design aesthetic makes for truly beautiful floral arrangements. Martha has an uncanny ability to listen to couples and really amp up their ideas and turn them into a true, wedding-day floral reality!
Where do you find inspiration for your floral arrangements?
I keep my eyes open and find inspiration in the most unexpected places. Whether I’m spending time outdoors, on the internet or on Pinterest, shopping at specialty delis and food stores or at an art museum, I usually walk away inspired.
How do you incorporate your client’s personality into the floral arrangements?
Listening to my clients and asking them the correct questions is key. I can usually tell what “look” they love by their descriptive word choices. I love when I draw out a sample and I see that “wow” look in their eyes.
What floral trends are you seeing so far for 2013?
This year, I’ve seen a lot of floral trends that mirror the fashion runways. I am seeing a lot of mint and other mixtures of greens.
Is there a flower, color, or décor element you are itching to use in a floral arrangement?
Recycled paper... I just love it. There are so many natural elements to it and my mind goes crazy with all the ways I can incorporate it. Stay tuned and watch my website for future photos.
Besides floral, what rental items does Martha’s Gardens provide?
I have some beautiful collections of votive candles, candelabras, clear glass, silver pieces and mercury glass. I have both vintage and contemporary pieces to choose from.
Where can we find your work featured?
MN Bride Magazine, Lavender Magazine, Mpls St. Paul Magazine, our website and Facebook. I am also lucky to be featured on other vendors websites!!!
What advice would you give prospective clients when choosing a florist?
Make sure you feel excited and have fun. It’s important to feel comfortable with your florist. It should be a pleasant experience and memorable time for the couple.
Vendor Feature: Gateaux Inc.
Meet Robin Martin, cake boss and owner of the infamous Gateaux, Inc. Robin specializes in designing beautiful and customized cakes and desserts for weddings and special events. Style-Architects is completely head-over-heels for Gateaux, Inc., and apparently, so are the celebrities! Whether she’s creating Betty White’s 90th birthday cake {delivered, no less, by Robin on the General Mills Corporate Jet} or Justin Morneau’s wedding cake, Robin steps outside the box and delivers stunning results. Lovely Robin’s cakes have been featured nationally in Bride’s Magazine, People, InStyle, and Grace Ormonde Wedding Style. Is there anything this woman can’t do or create? Go ahead, we dare you to challenge her!
How did Gateaux Inc. get its start?
I was working as a photographer when I decided to start making wedding cakes. I was newly married, and wanted to find a job that didn’t require me to work evenings and weekends so I could actually see my husband from time to time. I opened Gateaux Inc. and haven’t seen him since.
I gave notice at the photo studio, and bought a cake decorating book (Colette’s Wedding Cakes). Six months later, having never made a cake that wasn’t frosted Styrofoam, I did my first wedding fair and booked 40 wedding cakes.
What sets Gateaux Inc. apart from other wedding cake specialists?
We’re not your typical bakery. We specialize in wedding and event cakes. Each cake is designed to its specific event, and we rarely repeat a design. Most bakeries and cake shops prefer to focus on a number of simpler designs that they can execute quickly and efficiently. I bore easily and want each cake to be a new challenge.
We limit the number of events that we’ll take each week to three so that our entire staff can spend a full day decorating a single cake. This allows us to spend the time necessary to make each cake one of a kind and often ridiculously detailed.
With that type of decorating schedule, we don’t have to mass produce any cakes. This allows us to bake everything fresh. We don’t even have a commercial freezer in the shop. Fresh baked cakes make all the difference. They are always moist and delicious.
What other services does Gateaux offer besides beautiful and customized cakes?
We’ve always made wedding cakes and edible favours. Our favours range from handmade truffles and petit fours to elaborately decorated sugar cookies.
We’ve offered dessert displays for years, but have just recently added Gourmet Popcorn Buffets (served out of silver champagne buckets) and S’mores tables.
About thirteen years ago, we began doing custom wedding invitations and stationery. It started as a way to keep busy during the slower winter season, but has become another vehicle for us to customize our clients’ event from start to finish. We work with letterpress companies that will allow us to provide the art for our clients, so that we can create completely unique invitations for each couple. If that means hand-making hundreds of ribbon rosettes, so be it!
Every Gateaux design has a unique expression of the particular client or event, similar to a brand. How do you ensure that no two designs are alike?
That’s simple. No two weddings are alike! If the couple allows their own tastes and personality to shine through, their wedding will be like no other. I often sit across from clients who claim to have no theme to their wedding. That’s good! Theme weddings have a high potential to be overdone and cheesy. What these couples often have is a design scheme. Whether it be as pronounced as a Beatles design scheme, or as subtle as a simple collection of the things that the couple loves, each wedding develops its own look. Cake ideas can come from the least likely of sources. I’m constantly saving things online that intrigue me, from home décor patterns, to ethnic pottery, and graphic design.
Tempt us with your flavors! What is your favorite cake flavor? Do you create custom flavors?
My personal favorite is listed on our menu as our Cream Cheese Nirvana. It is my favorite wedding cake flavor for any season. It is lemon cake with cream cheese filling and fresh raspberries, and it is delicious. My true favorite, is more of a seasonal flavor, but I could eat it year round. It is our Pumpkin Walnut cake with cream cheese filling. It is love on a plate.
We customize our flavors just like we customize the look of our cakes. I recently had a groom that didn’t like sweets at all. When I asked him what he did like, he answered “Jack Daniels”. So, we made them a “Whiskey Sour” cake. The cake was flavored with lemon zest and Limoncello, and we made a Whiskey infused mousse filling. Layered the Mousse with lemon curd, and it came out as a velvety-smooth sophisticated flavor.
What are your current favorites from among your cakes?
That’s kind of like asking a mother to choose her favorite child. They all have their charms as well as their problems. You always love them, but some days you don’t like them all too much. My current favorite is a graphic wedding cake that we copied from the bride’s beautiful wedding invitations.
The best engineering feat would be the 80th birthday giant sundae cake or our Taj Mahal cake, complete with light-up minarets.
Venue Feature: Minneapolis Institute of Arts
Style-Architects spotlights the historical Minneapolis Institute of Arts.
Style-Architects is excited to be designing and executing one of the very first weddings at the historical Minneapolis Institute of Arts. With stunning outdoor space for the ceremony, gorgeous marble foyers for cocktails, adjacent art galleries, and the built-in lighting and ambiance of the Graves Reception Hall, the Minneapolis Institute of Arts should definitely be on the tour list of all discerning brides. What types of events are held at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts?
The MIA has recently opened up its elegant surroundings to host social events such as wedding receptions, engagement parties, anniversaries, birthdays, and Bar/Bat Mitzvahs. Beautiful reception areas and meeting spaces are located within or adjacent to the museum’s renowned galleries, so guests feel immersed among the world-renowned collections.
What makes the Institute such a unique and attractive venue for events and weddings?
Every couple wants their wedding to be special, unique, joyous, and memorable. Weddings, after all, are direct reflections of a couple’s personalities, individually and together, and unique interests. MIA spaces offer distinctive, refined, stylish appeal to any modern bride or groom, with the ease of event-planning professionals who handle all the details.
Tell us about the spaces that are available to events at the Institute.
Graves Reception Hall:Designed by internationally renowned architect Michael Graves, this magnificent reception hall was completed in 2006. Crowned with a barrel-vaulted ceiling, the maple-paneled room is an elegant, spacious setting. The adjacent MacMillan Atrium, with its marble floors and dramatic sightlines, is a perfect space for a cocktail reception.
Regis Fountain Court & Bruce B. Dayton Rotunda: The majestic marble hall and elegant rotunda, complete with marble fountain, offers dramatic sightlines with soaring ceilings and enchanting balconies. It is surrounded by iconic masterpieces that form a backdrop to hosted events.
Villa Rosa Room:This elegant third-floor dining room has floor-to-ceiling windows that offer beautiful treetop views of Target Park. The space is perfect for roundtable discussions, lectures, luncheons, or dinners. Adjacent to gallery space, it offers an opportunity for guests to feel immersed among the artwork.
Wells Fargo Community Room:This versatile, light-filled room is ideal for a more intimate wedding reception. A patio area opening onto Target Park is a wonderful amenity, weather depending.
What are some of the benefits of hosting an event at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts?
The MIA offers an unparalleled environment in which to connect with art, ponder it, marvel at it, and celebrate the important moments of life in a creative, elegant, historic atmosphere. Guests will always remember any event held—flawlessly—at the museum.
What is your favorite part of working with event planners and brides?
It’s exciting to collaborate closely the host or the event planner to ensure the execution of a flawless event. The MIA team meets with clients to brainstorm about their vision. Then our friendly, well-trained staff works to make it happen, delivering professional service and attention to detail from setup to cleanup. The joy witnessed on guests’ faces is priceless and incredibly rewarding.
What types of clients are drawn to your venue?
The MIA special events staff caters to a diverse group of people who love the arts and appreciate the sophisticated ambiance offered by the museum’s facilities. Its unique, versatile spaces invite hosts to use their imaginations. Clients frequently come to us with their creative vision, or look to us for ideas. It’s our job to make that vision a reality, which is what makes the job so fun.
Capturing It All With Armour Photography
One of the many perks of being a fashion stylist is getting to work with some truly amazing creative talent to bring our visions to life. Recently, our team had the great pleasure of collaborating with world renowned photographer Jake Armour, of Armour Photography, on a couple creative shoots and we wanted to share them with our lovely readers... Enjoy!
Vendor Feature: Patisserie 46
Here at Style-Architects, we are absolutely head-over-heels for Patisserie 46, and we aren't the only ones! According to the New York Times, Patisserie 46 “has achieved cultlike status for its French style offerings: the croissants are crisp and light as air, the macarons evaporate in the mouth.” This is just one of the many accolades this South Minneapolis treasure has received in their first two years of business. We have been so fortunate to partner with this amazing bakery at a number of events including our Happily Ever After Hour at the Ivy Spa Club. This week, we sat down with Mandy Heathcote, Patisserie 46’s Event Planner, to discover some of their secrets to their sweet success and to chat about all things Patisserie 46!
1.) How did Patisserie 46 get its start?
Our three owners John, Jason and Dawn set out to find a quiet, quaint, family friendly atmosphere in the Midwest area a few years back while they had been living in Chicago, where Chef John was teaching at the French Pastry School. After much patience they came upon the corner of 46th & Grand. An area that in the past had not brought much excitement. So of course, the neighborhood quickly became aware of this new establishment that was emerging. This multi-talented family did almost all the renovation work themselves. As neighbors passed by this new development, they bonded, they built relationships that would soon create an even stronger community in the Kingfield neighborhood. Their goal as entrepreneurs, was to create a respite, a place where someone can pause and enjoy this moment. With the heavenly food from our talented chefs to the warm energy that Patisserie 46 carries, they have indeed succeeded in their goal.
2.) What are some of the perks with planning an event with Patisserie 46?
The most common thing I hear from our clients is how happy they are that they get to share what they have experienced at our shop with their friends and family. We make everything in-house and strive to use organic and local products as much as possible. Our customers and clients take pride in us, and we take pride in them. We provide an experience that allows you and your guests to partake in edible art. Not only do we offer outstanding pastries, but our in-house chocolatier Josh intricately designs and creates confectionary masterpieces.
We have the ability to cater to a variety of clients -- from creating a beautiful display that we call a 'sweet table' for your celebration, a 'morning after' your event brunch, or provide your next corporate event with boxed lunches.
For couples headed down the aisle - we very often we have clients that don't want a traditional wedding cake so they will come to us for a sweet table that may include french macrons, bouchon, chouquettes, individual cakes and tarts.
3.) What is your favorite part of working with clients and planners?
I love being able to put a nervous soon to be bride or groom at ease. I love people, not one client is alike, and it gives me an understanding while working that we are helping to create a wonderful moment in that persons life that hopefully will help to create a memory. The best way for me to describe working with other planners is like when you are pregnant and you meet another pregnant woman. Before exchanging words, there is a bond, you are alike, you know what is going on, and sometimes the best advice for what is to come in your future comes from someone who is in your shoes. I have worked with some amazing people, on both sides of the catering spectrum, and am very grateful for that.
4.) With all the gorgeous desserts at Patisserie 46, what is the hottest seller?
Hands down our almond croissant. But people have traveled miles to taste our french macarons. Two of the favorite pastries among our clientele are the Rory and the Tristan, named after John and Dawn's two sons.
5.) What sets Patisserie 46 apart from the other bakeries/caterers in town?
We all know that it starts from the top. I believe the ownership team has changed the face of owning a business because they take pride in the employees that work hard everyday, and each and every customer that walks through the door. We know about 80% of our customers by name. That love and energy translates. Our owners have provided a second home for so many, whether you are a customer or an employee, it sets the tone for any new customer that walks in, and then you taste what our wonderful chefs create and it is an experience in itself. They have created a haven. They have created honest soul food.
Patisserie 46, 4552 Grand Ave, Minneapolis MN 612.354.3257 www.patisserie46.com Contact: Mandy Heathcote - Event Planner mandy.heathcote@gmail.com