Love happens when you least expect it.

Love makes those little hairs on your neck stand up, giving goosebumps over your skin.

Loves gives you the laugh, that good laugh, way down there, a good belly laugh.

Love creates eyes that were blue-ish, now neon-sky blue.

Love makes you feet swift, your hair the best it’s ever been and your energy at it’s highest.

Engagement shoots can be anything you want them to be. I want clients to be themselves, which is how the photographs are so exciting and fun.

When you’re in love, the photoshoot is simple. Easy.

Thank you Elizabeth & Mark for such a fun engagement shoot! I can’t wait for your September wedding celebration!

“I was waiting for you, for the longest time…and then…you were there, standing in front of me”

Angie was the first friend I made when I moved to Minneapolis back in 2003. (That makes me feel very very old at the moment! ) She took me under her “city wings” and made me feel at home with her and her friends. Her sister Kathy followed in friendship and they became my sisters and 2 of MY Rocks of Love. Through the years they’ve never failed to be supportive, encouraging and amazing.

Angie and Oran are the epitome of Love. I’m never without smiles when I’m around them. To photograph their wedding celebration was such an amazing gesture. I love LOVE and am never without it with my lovelies, so the day was a day I felt I got the best gift to have and give, as I recorded their love.

This is the wedding celebration of Angie & Oran.

Special thanks to the amazing vendors :

Bride’s Dress : Che Bella

Groom Attire : Elsworth Menswear

Hair : Jennifer at Moxie Salon, St. Paul

Bride’s Makeup : Nan Fletcher

Wedding Ceremony & Reception site : Private home of Groom’s Grandmother

Officiant : Groom’s Grandmother

Food : Prepared with Love by Groom’s Mother

Table & Linen Rentals : Apres Party and Tent Rental

Bride’s Earrings and Pearl bracelet : Made by the Bride

Bride’s Vintage Clutch : Gift from sister

Groom & Groomsmen watches : Groom’s vintage collection

(I’m never in my friends’ photographs, as I’m usually the one photographing. So…I include one sneaky sneak to start)

“If I know what love is, it is because of you.” – Hermann Hesse (1877-1962) German-born Swiss Novelist, Poet

Wedding Venue: Spill The Wine

Flowers: Jackie of Just Bloomed

Wedding Planning: Laura Mullen Event Design

Desserts: Cocoa & Fig

Wedding Cake: 3 Tiers Bakery Bistro

Wedding Invitations + Paper Goods: PAPERISTA

Bride’s Hair + Makeup: Julie Swenson, Beauty PhD

Bridal Party Hair + Makeup: Smart & Chic Bride

Bride’s Shoes : Kate Spade

Bride’s + Bridesmaids’ Clutches: Nelle Handbags (The Bride’s Company)

Custom Wedding Gown: Tara LaTour

Bride’s Belt: DIY by the Bride’s Mother

Bridesmaids’ Dresses: J.Crew

Silk Screens: Miles and Lucy of Faux Poco

Rings: Style by Max + Covet NYC

Rentals: Midway Party Rental

Groom’s Attire: Heimie’s Haberdashery + J.Hilburn

Wire Orbs + Magnetic Bow Ties: DIY

Typographical Elements + Decor: The Groom

Valentine’s Day … St. Valentine…Valentinus

(I’d like to say Thanks up front to my Art History professor from years ago, Kathleen Enz Finken, for providing so many historical fun facts about all the art we studied…as it fills this post)

February 14th is the date Valentinus, Sainted later in history and then had his sainthood revoked only to be reinstated yet not recognized by the Roman Calendar, died for something he believed in; his faith in Jesus & for marrying Christians non the less. Saint Valentine is acknowledged by the Catholic Church to be the former Bishop of Terni, a city in southern Umbria, which is central Italy presently. February 14th is also often referred to at the Feast of Saints, celebrating a different Saint Valentine.

The emperor of Rome at that time, Claudius, wasn’t a strong supporter of the Christian faith, nor of Jesus and gave Valentinus a choice, stop marrying Christians, or die. Valentinus being strong minded, with love in his heart, refused to stop. This however wasn’t without some inspiring thoughts on Valentinus’ part, as he tried to get Claudius to see Jesus as good. This is considered the martyr way of life, trying at all costs to stick behind what you believe in, what is good, what you feel to be right.

Claudius refused to see Valentinus’ ways and had him executed on February 14, 269 AD.

Saint Valentine’s partial remains are exhibited in the Basilica of Santa Maria in Cosmedin, Rome.

May we all find the LOVE in our hearts on this ritualistic day to see the value in LOVE, the value in compassion, the value in treating everyone we meet with LOVE on every single day of our lives…regardless if chocolates, flowers, and lovely Valentine exchanges are involved.

“I have often walked down this street before; But the pavement always stayed beneath my feet before. All at once am I several stories high, knowing I’m on the street where you live. ” Freddy Einsford Hill, My Fair Lady.

When you fall in love, I think something is created within you and the person you share this deep, amazing and thoughtful love with. It’s as if you’ve gained something you didn’t have physically, when in reality, it’s simply a feeling. But it’s that feeling that finds us loving and adoring romantic, fairytale movies and finding ourselves clutching a tissue in our hand as we blot a tear here and there from our eye as we watch a bride walk down the isle to meet her future husband.

I am without the ability to hold in my watery eyes when I photograph each and every bride, as she walks down the isle, almost floating as she makes those last few steps as a single woman. I turn around to get a few glimpses of the groom, which often make my watery eyes overall flow and my tears make the back of my camera all wet, but its worth it, each and every single time. I get that one intimate view of a moment between two people who’ve found LOVE with the other. I hold my tearful moments in my heart as blessings to know LOVE is amazing!

This is the Love Story of Laura & Cameron.

Laura & Cameron were married and celebrated with friends at Spill the Wine in downtown Minneapolis. They made careful consideration when planning their event in order to incorporate all the lovely things they enjoy about the other. With Cameron’s design aesthetic and Laura’s romantic side, their vision was to combine their likenesses into all the decor and ambiance.

With the help and coordination of Laura Mullen Event Design the event flowed seamlessly from one floor to another. Laura Mullen and her team hung one of a kind screen prints designed by the bride and groom and created with the help of Miles & Lucy at Faux Poco. Additionally, the bride and her friends created much of the additional decor seen including the magnetic ties the bride made for each guest to wear. Florals arranged and designed by Jackie Just of Just-Bloomed filled the room with the perfect fragrance.

The bride was stunning in a one-of-a-kind custom couture gown made by Tara LaTour. Laura is the brainchild behind Nelle Handbags and created a handbag for each bridesmaid to carry. The talented Julie Swensen did the bride’s hair and makeup and the team from Smart Chic Bride took care of the Bridal Party.

To announce the event, invitations were designed by the groom and printed with the help of Paperista. After dinner, guests were treated to an array of delicious goodies from Cocoa & Fig.

Thank you Laura & Cameron for having us document your wedding day!

Special thanks to my assistant Ryan Lodermeier for his amazing help and photographs as usual!

The bride with Tara Latour, the wedding dress designer.

The bride and the talented florist Jackie Just, owner of Just-Bloomed.

Their ceremony took place a mini-walks distance from the main barn which would hold the reception and dance. Guests were able to view the working farm’s sheep as they grazed in the pastures. To my amazement, I learned a little about sheep. They work best with llamas, which were eager to greet all those who’d traveled to celebrate with the bride and groom.With the couple’s dog in tow, Boola, the couple celebrated under sun filled skies.

The couple exchanged vows under a gift hand made from a friend and followed guests to another pasture, where drinks and hors d’oevre’s awaited. Fabulous Catering lavished guests with amazing menu items that included the Star Thrower Farms signature sheep’s cheese. With dinner, loved ones, joy and dancing, the evening was blessed with a star filled sky! (I hadn’t noticed while shooting, but the Big Dipper glowed above in the night’s sky, happy I stopped to take a few shots!)

Thank you James & Laurel for having us to document your beautiful wedding day! Many Blessings!

Wedding Planning : Mother Of the Bride Weddings – Nicolle Sellers

Ceremony & Reception Location : Star Thrower Farm

Catering : Fabulous Catering

Floral Design : Sally Berry of Mother Of the Bride Weddings