Mintahoe at the Minneapolis Central Library
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!
Destination…Mexico.
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.
Lunch with Tara Guerard
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!
Jenny + Andy
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!
Salvage One in Chicago.
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…
Sonja + Patrick
Sonja and Patrick married yesterday at Mt. Olivet in Minneapolis and held their reception at the very fabulous Science Museum of Minnesota. With plenty of time before, during and after, we (I) got to play a little and get some really nice and some pretty crazy fun shots! I just love when a bride shows up with props so we had a bunch of fun with the parasols! These two were quite the willing participants as well as creative art directors themselves and so we had a lot of fun!
Happy Thursday!
Good Day to you all!
LOTS going on in the next several days.
And of course I can’t leave out the fact that my brunch at
Interlachen Country Club yesterday for NACE was fabulous,
delicious and a nice break in the middle of the week.
And Kudos to Interlachen, 2009 marks their 100th anniversary!
I set up a table, an easel, set out all sorts of albums, guest
books, proof books, framed images etc…then I ran a 200+ image
slide show of some of my favorite images that I’ve shot for NACE
since I started on that fateful day that the 35W bridge collapsed
into the mighty Mississip nearly 2 years ago.
The slide show was a HUGE hit! Next time I’ll bring my 24″
monitor! 
I just couldn’t swing it yesterday. Everyone
gathered around and reminisced as it looped.
You see, each NACE meeting is really like a mini wedding
reception from decor to floral to signature drinks, not to
mention the venues! Really, a lot of fun.
Tonight I will head up to the Metropolitan to cover a MOFAS event.
Pregnant Pause, being held tonight, is their 4th annual awareness
event for expectant moms.
Tomorrow, I am photographing a fun wedding out at the
Como Park Conservatory.
Yep, another Friday wedding!
Saturday my niece, Amanda, has a dance recital that I wouldn’t
miss for the world!
And Sunday is Mom’s day, of course..ahhhhh.
Renee & Shane.
Originally there was rain forecast for Renee &
Shane’s wedding day but it held off until early
the following day. Prayer works!
This unique day started with the fact that they
had chosen the Chapel at Ft. Snelling in St. Paul
for the ceremony, they selected Ft. Snelling State
Park and Rice Park for their formals and finished
up at the very lovely St. Paul Hotel.
A group of only about 80 but enough faith, hope
& love to fill the new Twins stadium and enough
celebration to last a lifetime 
Congratulations Renee & Shane!
A sneak peak…
Alicia & Matt.
What a day this was!
Alicia padded the day with TONS of time
for me to capture all sorts of fun at several
spots…it’s not common to have that luxury.
Congratulations Alicia and Matt!
I thank you for allowing me the privilege to
come along side you for the day.
(Oh, and p.s. slide.com is working on making
the images larger, I’m told, so I apologize
for the postage stamp sized images.)
Alicia & Matt.
What a day this was!
Alicia padded the day with TONS of time
for me to capture all sorts of fun at several
spots…it’s not common to have that luxury.
Congratulations Alicia and Matt!
I thank you for allowing me the privilege to
come along side you for the day.
(Oh, and p.s. slide.com is working on making
the images larger, I’m told, so I apologize
for the postage stamp sized images.)
