Sometimes, we photographers get the opportunity to share our lovely wedding imagery with folks in a most unique way. Imagine how thrilled I was to be asked to provide images from Lauren & Spike’s September 3rd wedding for an upcoming publication of the Southwest Metro Magazine (Spring Issue). With Lauren & Spike’s approval I chose some favorite moments in their wedding day and sent them off. Here are a few others…enjoy.
Last week, I gathered with my fellow Twin Cities NACE members at The Depot for our annual fundraiser for Open Arms of Minnesota. This was our 6th year raising funds and awareness for this organization. Named “The Palate of Decadence”, this year’s gala attendees (ALL are welcome!) were treated to 6 outstanding food stations from; The Depot, The St. Paul Hotel, The Minneapolis Hilton, Mystic Lake Casino Hotel, Macy’s Design Cuisine and even the folks from Open Arms of Minnesota. Each food station was paired with a decor company. Providing the decor for the event were: The Wedding Guys, BeEvents, Linen Effects, Apres, Ultimate Events and Festivities and the outcome was phenomenal! Top the evening off with the sounds of The Metro Jam Band and, well, you get the picture! Our silent auction and ticket sales brought in over $6,000…our highest intake for this event to date! Congratulations to everyone!
Please consider joining us next year and help us give back!
~Apres~
~Macy’s Design Cuisine, The Wedding Guys & Be Events~
~Ultimate Events & Minneapolis Hilton~
~Festivities & The Saint Paul Hotel~
~The Depot & Linen Effects~
~Linen Effects~
~Mystic Lake Casino Hotel~
~Open Arms of Minnesota~
It’s summer, in Minnesota, and folks are going to divi up their summer calendars with trips, projects, gatherings and outings. Have you considered a day trip to the Como Zoo & Conservatory in St. Paul? It’s got something for everyone…gardens, animals, picturesque views, amusement park (ComoTown!) and it’s become a destination for events as well. Come early, pack a lunch, bring your camera and plan to stay a while. There’s lots to see and do and the best part? It’s FREE (1 & 2$ donations are encouraged at the entrance but not required)!
I recently zipped out there (directions are simple) for a NACE meeting. Lancer Catering is the on site caterer at the Zoo & Conservatory and they are, simply put, outstanding! Midway Party Rental provided our event decor!
Whether you are looking for something fun and different when planning an outing, portrait session or wedding…consider the Como Zoo & Conservatory in St. Paul!
Here’s to a yummy, fun Summer…wherever you go!
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!
I’ve recently returned from a working vacation in Mexico. The city of Playa del Carmen, located in the state of Quintana Roo (Q. Roo as it’s known), boasts many hotels to say the very least and even in the midst of a recession, that list is growing. That said, it is this photographer’s opinion that Lunata is among the most quaint. I’ve stayed there and photographed it so many times that I was requested to bring my gear along on this trip and capture it’s essence to later be shared on their website and other media materials. How do you turn that down?
This hotel is located on the famous 5th Ave, a completely pedestrian walk way filled with shops ranging from Swarovski to the local silver vendors and restaurants ranging from the very local Ajua to the very American and sought by some, Starbucks. Kids picky about food or not feeling adventurous? There’s both a McDonald’s and a Burger King. If you can’t find it on 5th Ave., you don’t know what you’re looking for. Whether you have pesos or US dollars, it makes no difference here. But we like to exchange US for pesos ‘cuz, well…it’s part of the experience and it’s more colorful! 
Back to Lunata. This darling gem is located on 5th Ave. between 6th and 8th street and consists of only 10 rooms. 6 that face 5th Ave. and 4 that face the serene, lush garden. What I love is that they have decided to name the habitaciones (rooms) rather than number them. My favorite? tough to pick…but twice I’ve stayed in “Cordelia”…large, 1 King bed on the 5th side (all the rooms on the 5th side have sweet little balconies overlooking the street so you can people watch from the comfort of your own room!). I’ve also stayed in 2 of the garden side rooms. I just simply recommend that you stay. Let Fabiola pick for you and you won’t be disappointed. With breakfast available each morning in the garden at 8am (included in the cost of the rooms) you can wake up slowly and even get to know the other guests of the hotel. Don’t bother wasting valuable space in your luggage with beach towels either as Lunata has those available to their guests as well. All of the little details are covered and while they have WiFi in all the rooms Lunata now has a community computer for you to check your flight, your bank balance and even your e-mail and, if you must, you can even update your Facebook status! Creature comforts….covered.
I love this hotel. You will too. Tell Fabiola I sent you! She truly is FABulous!
I’ve posted some shots that I took on this most recent trip on my Facebook Fan Page.
Lisa Brenna of the Mintahoe Hospitality Group put on quite a program Wednesday night at the Minneapolis Central Library. While this, nearly, 5 year old venue bares a photo session all on it’s own with beauty and light at every turn, that evening it served as a backdrop for this month’s NACE event entitled “Exciting Twists on Beverages and Presentation”.
Oh sure, all the usual suspects were on hand which just makes attending these monthly programs a grand outing in themselves (even tho’ my raffle tickets yielded nothing this go ’round!).
Once everyone found their way to the 2nd floor we were all greeted with sumptuous libations and butler passed hors d’oeuvres hosted by Mintahoe and Jeffery Cook of Passport Beverage.
Then we moved to the presentation room where we were tempted with yet more delights for the senses!
If that weren’t enough…we adjourned to the lower level for deserts and dancing! Our DJ for the event was Jay Brian Kochendorfer, Director of Operations at DJSound!
The Minneapolis/St. Paul Chapter of NACE meets once a month at fabulous, local venues year ’round…excluding July, which is reserved for Nationals, where NACE members (nation wide) meet up for a National Conference to share industry trends. It’s been like home to me. To coin a phrase…membership has it’s advantages!
I recently returned from an 8 day trip to Mexico. First, I spent 3 reflective days, by myself, in Play del Carmen then traveled north to join my sister and her family in Cancun for a little more action. I brought along a camera that “crapped out” on me upon my arrival and was forced to shoot with my iPhone. Fortunately, I wasn’t there to shoot a wedding! Besides, when I head out to photograph a wedding be it over seas, across a boarder or in the next county I always bring along plenty of back up! Thankfully, I was able to arrange for Anne to swing by my house, grab my other camera and bring it down with her!
I have to say, and I know I’m not alone on this one, that while destination weddings are a lot of work the rewards and results are always outstanding. Gorgeous backdrops are a given but getting to spend more time with the entire group of guests, leading up to the big day, makes you feel like family and everyone seems to loosen up more!
(Destination Wedding pricing is quoted individually and available upon request)
My sister’s family and I were poolside as the staff at the Marriott was prepping for a beach wedding on Palm Sunday. I grabbed this shot before things got crazy, I couldn’t resist!
This trip was pure pleasure and relaxation for me and an escape from the past 5 months of my mother’s illness and passing. It was so good to be there with family!
Pete, my brother-in-law, turned and asked me if I’d like him to take my photo and I handed him my camera and he got this great shot of me. Thanks, Pete! Thank you for everything!
I’m waiting to get shots off Pete’s underwater camera from our dive & I’ll post those another day. Above sea level, below sea level, we had a fabulous time!
Thanks, again, Bakers! I love you.
Wednesday afternoon I had the pleasure of attending a NACE luncheon at the magnificent Millennium Hotel in Minneapolis where Tara Guerard was the speaker. I confess that I didn’t know her before this day but I did know Liz Banfield who was not only in attendance to introduce Tara but she has done a ton of work for Tara, as well, and it was so fun to see the two of them together showing off their style! The topic was “The Next Decade Bride” and Tara, who holds nothing back and is self proclaimed ‘opinionated’ gave it to us straight! She shared, with us, that Pink and Gold are hot trends in weddings and that traditional standards are returning. Vintage pieces are trending as well as tiny, bite-sized, passed hors d’oeuvres. Liz’s photography is really outstanding and what I wouldn’t give to work along side her someday! I, of course, brought along my camera to capture some of the elements of the luncheon. Thank you, Tara and Liz, for making yourselves available to our local NACE chapter for the afternoon and sharing your ideas & successes!
I am so excited! I can only imagine how Jenny & Andy are feeling. Today they wed at Mt. Olivet in Minneapolis and the celebration will continue atop the IDS tower downtown at Windows. The day begins with snow so I’m going to pack an extra sense of humor and a smidge more patience in my camera bag! The weather will undoubtedly be much different from the engagement shoot that took place earlier in the year!
What I know for sure is, despite the weather…..this is gonna be a HOT one! Lots of love here, folks!
Wow! Megan was right! What an opportunity. She flew me to Chicago to shoot this wedding with her, yesterday, and I can’t stop thinking about it. What an incredible couple….and the location, Salvage One, was SUCH an outstanding backdrop for what turned out to be a specTACuar day (and evening). Now, for some reason, Megan is not a blogger (but we can’t all do everything, right?) so I thought I’d put some images up so that you could see that I am NOT making this up! I wonder if there is a venue like this in Minneapolis???
Here’s Caroline & Sean…
How about some exterior shots?
Everything inside and out is for sale! All of the vintage tables and chairs were not only positioned and decorated for the event but each piece had a price tag displayed so perhaps at the next wedding reception, because they are all priced to sell, some may not be there!
End of the night, a tender Father-Daughter dance…
