Minneapolis Wedding Photographer Blog

Ben + Marissa had a picture-perfect wedding day at Hope Glen Farm in Cottage Grove MN. The sky had only a few fluffy clouds and the grounds were perfect. I was so excited to be their Minneapolis wedding photographer!

They began prepping for their big day at the farm. When they were finished with their preparations, we held their first look under a shady tree near the back of the large barn. We spent some time with the two of them taking portraits together. Once their portraits were complete, we held their wedding party photos as well as their family photos. Then it was time to gather in the Corn Crib to prepare for their wedding ceremony.

MN Farm Wedding Ceremony

Ben + Marissa’s wedding ceremony was held outdoors on the grounds of Hope Glen Farm, near the new vineyard and looking to their new vine pergola with crystal chandelier. Marissa’s cousin Anton was their officiant, ensuring a very personalized ceremony. Once their ceremony was complete, they headed back to the Corn Crib to toast with their wedding party and sign the marriage license.

MN Farm Wedding Reception

Ben + Marissa headed out to join their cocktail hour and share drinks, stories and hugs with their guests. Guests especially enjoyed the bean bag and Jenga games. After their grand entrance, they began dinner and toasts. Ben’s dad brought laughter and tears by surprising them with a guitar song.

After their dinner, Ben + Marissa held their first dance along with dances with both of their mothers. Fun continued into the night with dancing, desserts and an addictive game of Minnow Racing.

Thank You!

Ben + Marissa, thank you so much for working with me as your wedding photographer. I had such an awesome time on your wedding day, and I wish you both the best in your life together!

Are you considering a Hope Glen Farm wedding? Contact me soon to see if we’d be a great fit to work together!

Take a look here if you would like to see more MN farm weddings, MN barn weddings or rustic MN weddings too!

Take a look at more of their images in their slideshow too:

VENDORS
Venue: Hope Glen Farm
Catering: This Little Piggy Catering
Wedding Dress: The Wedding Shoppe
Bridesmaids Attire: Venus
Hair/Makeup: BB Makeup + Patrick Walker
Groom/Groomsmen Attire: Men’s Wearhouse
Wedding Rings: Helzberg
Stationery: Lovepop Cards
Florist: Custom Floral Design
Desserts: Kowalskis
DJ: Adagio DJ

Brewery + Farm Wedding Photos | Stacia + Tyler

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Brewery Wedding Ceremony

Stacia + Tyler had an amazing wedding day planned. They were going to have both a brewery AND Stacia’s family farm wedding. Coming from a family with a farm too, I had a special place in my heart for their big day. I was so incredibly excited when they decided to hire me as their MN wedding photographer!

Their day began down in Northridge Iowa. They prepared for their big day at both Worth Brewing Company as well as across the street at their friend’s store, Fringe & Lace. Once the two of them were ready, they decided they wanted to drive over to a beautiful vineyard near the edge of town for their first look. The area was small but stunning! From there, we headed over to the main park in town for a few more photos of them as well as photos with their wedding party. And finally we headed up to Worth Brewing for family photos before the ceremony.

After their beautiful ceremony, they had a cocktail hour in the main brewery. Then dinner and toasts were back upstairs in the party room. Once the brewery celebration was complete, we headed up to Hayward MN for their family farm reception.

Family Farm Wedding Reception

Stacia + Tyler’s reception was held at Stacia’s family farm in Hayward MN. The party and dancing was held in the large shed, and there was plenty of space to wander around and capture more photos of the two of them as well. After dancing had begun, they had the added bonus of candle-lit lanterns once it was dark. And then we followed with a sparkler exit as well.

Thank You!

Stacia + Tyler, thank you so much for including me as your Minneapolis wedding photographer on one of the biggest days of your lives. I am so happy for you as you begin your new lives together!

If you are planning a brewery or farm wedding, contact me soon to discuss how we could work together!

Take a look at another family farm wedding and MN barn wedding here too!

Check out more images from Stacia+Tyler’s day here!

VENDORS
Ceremony Venue: Worth Brewing Company
Reception Venue: Family Farm
Wedding Dress: The Wedding Shoppe
Bride’s Accessories: Fringe & Lace
Hair/Makeup: Expressions
Groom + Groomsmen Attire: Jos. A Banks
Wedding Rings: Jared’s
Catering: HyVee
Rentals: Western Rentals
DJ: Audioworks
Invitations: Shutterfly

Mississippi Gardens Wedding Photography | Rachael + Nishant

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Leopold’s Mississippi Gardens

Rachael + Nishant met in Georgia through friends several years ago. She was from Minnesota and he was from New York. Once they got engaged, they decided upon on a Hindu/Christian fusion wedding. A fusion wedding is essentially two different weddings, one for each person’s culture. I was so honored to have been chosen as their Minneapolis wedding photographer!

Their Indian wedding ceremony began early in the day – take a look!

Mississippi Gardens Wedding

Later in the day, the Christian portion of their wedding day was held at the beautiful Leopold’s Mississippi Gardens in Fridley, MN. The wedding began shortly after their arrival and short prep time. Once their ceremony was complete, we worked on their formal portraits with family and wedding party. Then a few minutes for the two of them alone.

Once their photos were complete, we headed back to cocktail hour and on to dinner. During dinner, their Maid of Honor began a beautiful dance routine. She was soon joined by the other bridesmaids, and they then pulled Nishant onto the stage and they danced a choreographed routine together! After the dance fun were toasts, with a surprise video speech given by Rachael’s brother who was stationed overseas in the military.

After dinner Rachael + Nishant kicked off the dancing with their special parent dances. They then announced they were going to hold a “dance-off” between members of each side of the wedding. Rachael’s side began with a fun choreographed routine, and they were followed with another routine by Nishant’s side (featuring Nishant himself!) The crowd was then supposed to cheer to vote for their favorite, but both sides were tied with a deafening roar, so they all won! It was so much fun with tons of cheers and laughs! The whole crowd then danced the night away.

Thank You!

Thank you, Rachael + Nishant, for including me as your Minneapolis wedding photographer for your absolutely spectacular wedding day! I am so honored to have gotten to know you, and I wish you every happiness in your new lives together!

Are you considering a Leopold’s Mississippi Gardens wedding? Contact me soon to see if we’d be a great fit to work together!

Take a look at their slideshow too!

VENDORS
Venue: Leopold’s Mississippi Gardens
Wedding Planner: Kerry Hollenback, The Simply Elegant Group
Wedding Dress: Kitty Chen Couture
Catering: Mintahoe
Florist: Tulips and a Kiss
Hair/Makeup: Warpaint International
DJ: Instant Request
Transportation: Northfield Lines

Hindu Temple MN Indian Wedding Photography | Rachael + Nishant

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Indian Wedding Photography

The Hindu portion of their wedding day was held at the beautiful Hindu Temple of Minnesota. The day began with Nishant’s Baarat – he rode in on a white horse amidst celebratory music and dancing with his friends and relatives. Once they arrived at the Temple entrance, they were welcomed by Rachael’s family. Her family escorted Nishant to the Mandap inside the Hindu Temple. After Nishant’s portion of the ceremony, Rachael was escorted to the Mandap by her brothers.

Hindu Wedding Ceremony

The beautiful Indian wedding ceremony proceeded with exchanging of garlands, knotting their sari and scarf together, and circling the sacred fire. They moved on to their seven wedding vows, a special groom’s promise, and then exchanging of rings and a final blessing. They were now officially married! We quickly followed with formal family photos, wedding party photos, and photos of Rachael+Nishant in their beautiful Hindu wedding outfits.

We then had time to have some fun photographing the wedding party with brightly colored smoke bombs. Afterward, we captured Rachael+Nishant alone by the Hindu Temple’s golden doors and more smoke bombs. Everything looked so amazing! The Hindu portion of their wedding day was now over, and they headed back to their hotel for some rest and also to begin preparing for the second part of their day – their Christian wedding ceremony. Take a look at their Leopold’s Mississippi Garden wedding photos too!

Thank You!

Are you considering an Indian wedding? Contact me soon to see if we’d be a great fit to work together!

Take a look at some of my other Hindu wedding photography and Indian wedding photography too!

Take a look at their slideshow too!

VENDORS
Venue: Hindu Temple of Minnesota
Wedding Planner: Kerry Hollenback, The Simply Elegant Group
Catering: India House
Florist: Tulips and a Kiss
Rentals: Avant, Apres
Hair/Makeup: Warpaint International
Transportation: Northfield Lines

Basilica + Saint Paul Hotel Wedding Photography | Daniel + Divya

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Basilica + Saint Paul Hotel Wedding

Daniel + Divya met when they were at college in Atlanta. Once they were engaged, they decided they would like to settle down in Daniel’s hometown of the Minneapolis area. While Daniel moved back to the Cities, Divya was still located down South all while planning their wedding. It made things a little tough, but they were able to organize a beautiful Basilica of St Mary wedding and Saint Paul Hotel wedding reception, nonetheless!

Basilica of Saint Mary Wedding

Their day started at the Basilica of St Mary in Minneapolis. Even though it was raining, the church gave just enough cover for a great First Look location right out the gorgeous front doors! We then headed indoors for Basilica wedding family portraits on the stunning altar.

Saint Paul Hotel Wedding Reception

After their beautiful ceremony, we headed over to the Saint Paul Hotel for Daniel + Divya’s wedding reception. While the guests mingled in the James J Hill Room during cocktail hour, Daniel + Divya spent a few minutes with me taking couple portraits on the regal Saint Paul Hotel staircase, underneath the stunning crystal chandelier.

Following their portraits, the two of them headed into the James J Hill Room to applause from family and friends. Their cocktail hour was followed by dinner and a warm toast from Daniel’s father. They enjoyed a fun cake cutting too.

Thank You!

Daniel + Divya, thank you so much for choosing to work with me as your Minneapolis wedding photographer. It was so great meeting you and seeing your happiness on your big day. I wish you the best in your new lives together!

Are you considering a Basilica of St Mary wedding? Or planning a Saint Paul Hotel wedding? Contact me soon to see if we’d be a great fit together!

Be sure to take a look at some of my other Basilica of Saint Mary wedding photos and Saint Paul Hotel wedding photos too!

Take a look at more of Daniel + Divya’s beautiful Basilica of St Mary and Saint Paul Hotel wedding photos here too!

VENDORS
Wedding Venue: Basilica of St Mary
Reception Venue: The Saint Paul Hotel
Catering: The Saint Paul Hotel
Wedding Cake: Buttercream
Florist: Martha’s Gardens

Como Conservatory Wedding Photography | Naiyuan + Bryan

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Como Conservatory Wedding

Naiyuan + Bryan were married at the beautiful Como Conservatory in St Paul MN on a warm June day. They chose the venue because it was the location of their second date! They wanted to keep their celebration small and intimate, with about 30 of their closest friends and family in attendance.

We started their beautiful Como Conservatory wedding day shortly before the ceremony. We began by taking photos of the two of them alone, as well as a few with their parents. Once we finished, it was time for them to prepare for their ceremony.

Como Conservatory Wedding Ceremony

The ceremony itself was so beautiful. It took place in the gorgeous glass conservatory surrounded by a fountain, pond and numerous blooming flowers and green shrubs. They were serenaded by a string quartet. It was late in the day so the sun was low in the sky, and the air was still and perfect.

Following their ceremony, Naiyuan changed out of her elegant white lace wedding gown. Meanwhile, the guests headed over to the Ordway Garden to begin the cocktail hour. Naiyuan emerged in a beautiful red lace reception dress. We had a few minutes to capture some images of them alone inside the Sunken Garden.

Como Conservatory Wedding Reception

After their final couple portraits, they headed in to the reception to fanfare from family and friends. Before dinner began, they headed out for Naiyuan to toss her bouquet. (Her sister caught it – she was so excited!) Afterward, they held their cake cutting. They finished the evening with an amazing dinner amongst the bonsai trees of the Ordway Garden.

Thank You!

Naiyuan + Bryan, thank you so much for choosing to work with me as your Minneapolis wedding photographer. It was so great meeting you and seeing your happiness on your big day. I wish you the best in your new lives together!

Are you considering a Como Park Conservatory wedding? Contact me soon to see if we’d be a great fit together!

Be sure to take a look at some of my Como Conservatory winter wedding photos and my Como Conservatory summer wedding photos too!

Take a look at more of Naiyuan + Bryan’s beautiful Como Conservatory wedding photos here too!

VENDORS
Venue: Como Conservatory
Catering: Lancer Catering
Cake: Buttercream
Officiant: Positively Charmed

Minnesota Boat Club Wedding Photography | Robyn + Jamie

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MN Boat Club Wedding

I met Robyn years ago when both of our daughters were newborns. We took a local ECFE class together and got to be friends. Even though we discontinued ECFE classes years ago, we remained in touch. Fast forward to last year when Robyn announced that she was getting married to her new beau, Jamie, and then they asked me to photograph their wedding! I was so happy for the two of them! (Not only was I excited for them, but also for Robyn’s daughter and Jamie’s three daughters.) I was also excited to have the honor of being their Minneapolis wedding photographer for their Minnesota Boat Club wedding on Raspberry Island in St Paul, MN. I couldn’t wait for the day to arrive!

St Paul Wedding Photography

Robyn + Jamie had chosen a weekend in May for their big day, hoping the weather would be cooperative before the heavy summer heat settled in. Unfortunately, the weather had other plans. We had a heat wave that weekend, with temps around 100 degrees! Whoa! Despite the heat, Robyn + Jamie were just happy their wedding day was finally here, and it was so awesome!

They began with preparations at the Intercontinental Hotel in downtown St Paul. From there, it was a quick walk with an amazing view over to the Minnesota Boat Club. Robyn + Jamie held their first look under the shade of the trees near the beach. We then spent some time together with couple portraits around the venue. We added in a number of large group portraits too before their ceremony time arrived.

For their ceremony, Jamie’s three daughters were flower girls and ring bearer, and Robyn walked down the aisle with her daughter Emma. It was so sweet how they included their daughters in such an important way! After the ceremony and wedding party photos, Robyn + Jamie had a few minutes to slip away for some portraits on the Minnesota Boat Club beach.

Next they headed into the reception including dinner, toasts, cake and dancing. The sweltering heat could not stop anyone from having an amazing time on their wedding day!

Thank You!

Robyn + Jamie, thank you so much for including me on one of the biggest days in your lives. I’m so happy for you and the girls as you begin your new lives together, and cannot wait to see you again soon!

Thinking about having a Minnesota Boat Club wedding? Contact me soon to discuss how we could work together!

Take a look at more of Robyn + Jamie’s beautiful Minnesota Boat Club wedding photos here!

VENDORS
Venue: Minnesota Boat Club
Preparations: Intercontinental Hotel
Wedding Dress Store: The Wedding Shoppe
Bridesmaids Dresses: David’s Bridal
Groom/Groomsmen Attire: Men’s Wearhouse
Jeweler: R.F.Moeller
Florist: Whole Foods
Catering: Mintahoe
Cake/Cupcakes: Buttercream
Band: The Riverside Allstars
Invitations/Stationery: Paper Source, Paperless Post

Wedding Photo Album Minneapolis | Stephanie + Travis

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Luxury Wedding Photo Album

Today I’m excited to share my latest wedding photo album. Stephanie + Travis were married on a beautiful August day in 2016. Their wedding was held in the gorgeous, vintage glamour of the Minneapolis Club in downtown Minneapolis. You can see their wedding photos from their beautiful day here too.

Graphistudio Wedding Photo Album

After the wedding, Stephanie + Travis wanted a custom Graphistudio wedding album. They have been produced for almost 40 years now, and are handmade in Italy. Together, we designed a wedding photo album that perfectly reflected their day. We started with their album box, and they chose a silky, wood-patterned Maple material. Their names were foiled on the top in classic silver. The box was finished with a sky blue satin ribbon, which was their dominant wedding color.

The album features an elegant crystal clear cover with a photo of Stephanie + Travis in front of the Minneapolis Club. The album is bound with matching Maple material which ties it together with the box. The pages are printed on professional photo paper and bound into a patented lay-flat binding system. The pages are finished with a satin coating to protect against fingerprints, dirt and oils.

Thank You

Stephanie + Travis were thrilled with their album. It is such a wonderful heirloom for them to share with family and friends. They can enjoy it time and again over the years. Congratulations, Stephanie + Travis. It was such an honor and joy to work with you as your Minneapolis wedding photographer. I wish you the best in your lives together!

Take a look at some of my other heirloom album options too:
Signature Albums
Premium Albums

I’ve got these and other wedding photo album samples to view. I’d love to meet you at my Minneapolis wedding photography studio to show you them to you. Contact me soon!

Hiring a Professional Wedding Planner | Carina Photographics

By Joanna Carina 1 Comment

Hiring a Professional Wedding Planner

Have you ever wondered why Jennifer Lopez made such an impact with her movie The Wedding Planner? It’s because after watching it, many people finally understood the importance of working with a wedding planner!

Hiring a wedding planner is really a matter of personal taste. If you believe that you and your fiancé(e) are up for the challenge of planning your own wedding, then go with your gut. But if the idea of planning your entire wedding celebration seems tedious or makes you nervous, then it might be time for you to consider hiring a wedding planner.

Generally, a wedding planner (also called an organizer, coordinator or designer) is someone who is proficient with wedding planning strategies. There are a number of benefits to hiring a professional wedding planner.

Benefits of Hiring a Professional Wedding Planner

1. Time Savings
Planning a wedding can be a difficult job. It can be even tougher if the bride or groom is doing all the work! Planning a wedding does not happen overnight. It can often take 200-300 hours of conceptualizing, research, coordination, etc. To conserve you time and effort, it can be best to work with a wedding organizer.

2. Cost Savings
The reason many people do not work with a wedding coordinator is that they feel it will simply be an added expense. However, hiring a wedding planner can actually save you money. Most wedding planners have already developed strong bonds with numerous wedding vendors. They know about getting great value for the money, reasonable pricing for services, etc. They can guide you along the way to the right strategies for your budget.

3. Organized Timeline
With wedding planners, weddings can be better organized. Wedding coordinators plan every single detail of the wedding day. They have timelines they follow closely so all the details and events are well-prepared. If changes need to occur, they are adept at re-organizing on the fly.

4. Personalization
With wedding organizers, the decisions still rest with you. The wedding planner will simply direct, offer recommendations, and help you make the best decisions. You will still have your own style and personalization on your big day.

5. Less Stress
With wedding organizers, the events of your day do not need to be managed by you. The couple, wedding party and families are more free to relax and enjoy the event. If any problems arise, the wedding planner is there to manage solutions. They coordinate vendors, handle minor emergencies, etc. They can definitely be worth their weight in gold!

6. Confidence-Booster
Another great feature about hiring a wedding coordinator is that they function as confidence-boosters. If you are feeling rushed, jittery or nervous, looking to your wedding planner will help calm you down. They are usually positive and confident that your wedding day will be perfect since they personally managed all the details.

Hiring a Professional Wedding Coordinator

For a well-managed wedding, consider hiring the services of a wedding planner. As a Minneapolis wedding photographer, I can recommend several excellent wedding planners. Don’t hesitate to contact me if you’d like to talk more about working with a professional wedding planner!

Also, take a look at some articles written by my wedding planner “friendors” with some advice they have given on wedding planning:
Top 5 Wedding Planning Mistakes
Top 10 Tips for Barn Weddings
How to Plan Your Wedding Day Timeline

Muse Event Center Paper Wedding Dress Styled Photoshoot

By Joanna Carina 7 Comments

Muse Event Center Paper Wedding Dress Photos

I’m so excited to be sharing my paper wedding dress side project. Why a paper dress? For years I had been fascinated by paper dresses. Not sure why, but the artistry of combining fashion and paper was intriguing to me. I occasionally told random friends about my interest in working on a project with a paper wedding dress. I never found anyone who knew much about them.

Then, one evening earlier this year, I was lazily scrolling through my Instagram feed when I happened to see a post by a couple of artisans who specialize in paper displays and backdrops, including some work for weddings. When I searched for their info, I discovered they were located in Minneapolis! In one of my “What have I got to lose?” moments, I sent them an email asking if they would be interested in creating a paper wedding dress for a styled wedding photoshoot. They said YES!!! I think my jaw actually might have hit the floor when I received that email – I was SO excited!

From there, I asked my friend Maddie of Ask for the Moon Events about her interest in the project. She loved the idea too, and was happy to be on board! My dream was about to become a reality! We got together for coffee with the amazing Suzanne and Lisette of Black Crane Studio. We talked over some ideas, and Suzanne put it best when describing the dress they would create: “Go big or go home!” So while our Black Crane friends worked their magic, Maddie took the reigns and coordinated a stellar team of vendors for the photoshoot.

Paper Dress Styled Photoshoot

The day arrived, and everyone was so excited. It was awesome to see Black Crane’s stunning dress up close and in person. The entire dress was created of paper. The majority of the dress was composed of cupcake wrappers. The underskirt was folded tissue paper, the flowers were cut construction paper, and the “beads” were created out of papier-mâché. Everyone brought their A-game to the event, and we are all thrilled with the results.

Take a look at the amazing images below as well as the spectacular team of vendors. And watch for our photoshoot to be featured on Minnesota Bride’s website later this year! Thanks again to my amazing “friendors” – I am so happy to have worked with you as your Minneapolis wedding photographer!