Van Dusen Mansion

Last week I attended this month’s Twin Cities NACE meeting which was held at the very stunning Van Dusen Mansion in Minneapolis. One of the things that I love about this place (and there are many) is that when planning a wedding (or other significant event), you can have your guests gather & mingle, hold the ceremony and dine all right there on the premises! It really is a gorgeous backdrop and would certainly punctuate any event! (I will return to the Van Dusen, this coming week, to photograph the newly renovated Carriage House once the new furnishings are set in place!)

Mintahoe is in charge of the catering at this venue and they really do an outstanding job! Mintahoe serves several venues and they boast award winning catering!

Bruce Vassar and Matthew Trettel of The Wedding Guys held the program this month and closed with some insider details and remarks about their recent voyage across the pond for the Royal Wedding of William & Kate! Check out their blog!

Thank you’s can also go out to Apres for supplying the linens and Matthew Sherry of Complete Music for supplying sound!

Another successful collaboration of extraordinary talents!

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rain or shine

Photographing weddings on rainy days can be challenging, to say the least. But I’ve come to realize that when a couple’s wedding day rolls around…if it’s raining or there’s even a threat of rain, they seem to go with the flow.  We photographer’s know that an overcast day can actually be a delightful circumstance for capturing a couple on one of the most important days of their lives…but rain? that takes a bit more planning and patience. I prefer to take a moment to let the couple know that “all is not lost…we’ll get this!” Many times it’s those rainy days that push us to really think on our feet and get creative and the result is just as magical….sometimes more so.

Spring is a tumultuous time…a season of surprises, where the weather is concerned. Like the thousands of tulips, planted at Buckingham Palace, that were meant to be in full bloom the day of William and Kate’s wedding. Due to the unusually warm temps leading up to April 29, they had already bloomed. Disappointing? Sure. Would it have been a lovely detail? Absolutely. Did it ruin the day? No. I assure you that the guests and onlookers were not there to see the tulips. When it rains, I do 2 things….move quickly and enlist help!  All this said, I pray that your day, no matter what the weather, is everything you ever wished for!

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may day! may day!

May Day? Well, it is the 1st of May according to the calendar but you sure wouldn’t be able to tell. Temps hovering around 40, here in Minneapolis, makes me want to…call a Realtor! Seriously though, eventually, like letting out a breath after holding it for awhile, the sun will come out and the mercury will rise. I’m not ready to take the electric mattress pad off of our bed just yet and even Boo is getting restless but clearly I get the impression that the person that came up with the phrase “to weather” something was from Minnesota. I also understand that I have elected to live here and for many reasons I’m  happy to be here but waiting for Spring after such winters like we’ve just had is….well….painful! We are at 39 degrees in the middle of the afternoon and I’ve just learned that we are a solid 26 degrees below normal. The good news is that, well okay 2 things really…we still have our gorgeous blooming season to witness AND…..no mosquitos….yet!   Happy May Day!

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Mystic Lake Casino-your next event venue!

Recently, I was selected to photograph an event at Mystic Lake Casino in Prior Lake, Minnesota by the lovely Jennifer Christenson (Catering Sales Manager Extraordinaire!). I knew that this would be over the top but when I walked in I was blown away by the decor & floral designs. This event was a surprise 30th birthday party, thrown by the husband, for a guest list of about 50 and patterned after MTVs  hit series “My Super Sweet 16” (one of the guest of honor’s guilty pleasure shows!).

Not only was she surprised but the guests were in for a few surprises too, as they were guided from one event space and experience to another (4 total). Everyone soon realized that this would not be your ordinary birthday party…this was a full on, pull out all the stops, birthday BASH! Starting with a reception area where the surprise would occur to the dining area then on to a dessert area (reception/surprise area) that was converted to form a brand new space experience and finally through the doors into a groovy, lounge area for a rockin’ dance party complete with Lady Gaga singing all of her top hits!

This event brought together many talented people/organizations that worked in unison to pull off, perhaps, the event of the season (Royal Wedding has it’s own category!). A huge “Thank you!” to all of my fellow NACE members! Tireless efforts pay off!

Be sure to add the following event professionals to your list of folks to contact and discuss your dreams for your next event!

Venue: (Jennifer Christenson) Mystic Lake

Decor/Floral: (Jennifer Braun/Matt Johnson) Festivities

Lighting/Scaffolding: (Jon Nordos) Creative Concepts

Sound/DJ: (Matthew Sherry) Complete Music & Video

Lady Gaga Impersonator: (Mo!) A Party Crasher

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Tips on Dying Easter Eggs…

Get a good kit…

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Measure properly…

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Laugh a lot….

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Show off your successes….

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…even if they’re not perfect…

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…Keep an eye on your aunt!

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always double dip…

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But always remember….

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HE  IS  RISEN!

 

 

 

Apres Party & Tent Rental

Last week I had the privilege of attending a really cool Open House! Apres Party & Tent Rental threw an Open House Social to showcase all of their new products. While I received an invite to attend as a guest I could NOT resist bringing my camera along because, well, Apres (a fellow NACE member) knocks it out every time! I knew this would be a feast for the eyes and I just couldn’t wait to photograph all the GORgeous place settings and decor details!

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Next time you are looking to add some dazzling decor to your event(s), be certain to give Apres a call and let them dream up something FABulous for you! From the smallest to over the top, they are in it to come along side and get all of your senses going!

happy twirthday to me…..

Today is my 3rd anniversary of tweeting. Wow! Want to know how long you’ve been on twitter? Simply enter your twitter name HERE!

I’d like to thank Vu Bui for introducing me to twitter on his blog back in 2008. What a tool it’s become! Thanks Vu! I tried to locate the original post but was unsuccessful. I’ll contact him and see if he can help me and I’ll post it here at a later date.

Go Twins!

April Birthdays

One of the great things about April birthdays is….well, mine is one of them! This year I will usher in the last year of a decade and that got me to thinking….Why wait until you add a zero to your age before you make a change for yourself?  I mean, I feel like we are always waiting for something… a person, an event, a bus, a season etc. Well I, for one, grow tired of waiting and so as I approach this birthday I will remind myself and you all that waiting is silly and a waste of time. I will make this year less about waiting and much more about doing! And I can’t wait to get started!

Happy Birthday to all my fellow April babies out there!!

 

 

…there’s no place like home…

As I sit in the lower lobby (where I’ve sat each morning for the past 6 mornings) looking out at the ocean, palm trees I have to come to the conclusion that no matter where you are, a week flies by. The first few days you say “Wow! We still have 5 whole days!” and then, in what seems like 20 minutes, you’re cab is waiting out front. Thank goodness for cameras. For if it weren’t, we’d have to rely on our memories and other’s memories of the moments that take place, the things we see and the people we love. That said, I bring to a close yet another get away with my sister and her family. Traveling with them is always a magnificent memory maker! We packed a ton into this trip and relaxed just enough.

Yesterday, being my last full day here in Nassau, we hung out on the beach most of the day. Dinner last night was my choice so I elected to return to the “Fish Fry” but this time we tried the “Big 10″ for more Bahamian Grouper! The buses ($1.25 ea. way) run often so we walked to the street and hopped on and headed all the way to the end of the bus line in town (right by the cruise ship docks) and walked around. Eventually made our way up the beach back to the Fish Fry. Along the way are all these darling, colorful huts & stands where they sell all sorts of stuff including drinks. Taking pictures all the way. Ships, docks, people, palm trees…everything! Trying to soak it all up!

We returned to the hotel and located an ice cream parlor (Beaches and Cream!) on the property (thank GOD we found it the last night!!) and stopped in for a couple of scoops and ate it right across the way and sang some Karaoke! WHAT?!!  Once we finished butchering a couple of crowd favorites we settled in down in the lower lobby with some other fans of American Idol and watched last night’s performances. That was fun, actually…talking Idol with a bunch of strangers! I’ll miss the results show as I’ll be landing about then. I’ll survive!

As I go through this travel day (on my own…Baker’s stay ’til Saturday), I know I won’t be able to wipe the smile off my face. Thanks Baker’s for allowing me the opportunity to join in again this year! I love you all very  much. See you soon!

 

(P.S.) For some strange reason, my incoming e-mail as quit. I’ll get to e-mail once I return home. Thank you for your patience.

Stuart Coves~Shark Dive

As promised……

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