Wedding Tea Ceremony Minneapolis | Jing + Alex

Chinese Tea Ceremony Wedding

Today’s blog is a two-part story. Jing + Alex had a busy day planned for their wedding. Their big day featured not one but TWO wedding ceremonies! They planned for a Chinese Tea Ceremony for the first half of the day, followed by a more traditional American-style wedding for the second part. Today’s blog post features their amazing Chinese Tea Ceremony!

Saint Paul Hotel Wedding Day

We began their day with preparations for their Chinese Tea Ceremony. Jing used their suite at the Saint Paul Hotel, while Alex prepared at their home in New Brighton. Once everyone was ready to go, the guys traveled down and arrived at the suite’s door. They began an hour of fun and games to encourage Jing’s family and friends to “agree” to let Alex marry her! They asked Alex tons of questions about Jing, including her favorite movie stars, favorite color, birthdate and more. They hid her shoes and made Alex find them. They even had the groomsmen working on “feats of strength” including doing squats, lifting each other up, passing chopsticks without using hands, balloon-popping, and eating interesting and unusual Chinese foods!

Once the fun was over and Jing was given the “OK” to marry Alex, they held their Chinese Tea Ceremony right in the suite. Their wedding party and families were both witnesses to their fun event. Once their ceremony was complete, we had a chance to capture a few photos of them together as well as with their families. Afterward, they headed back to the suite to prepare for the second half of their day, their American-style wedding ceremony.

Stay Tuned!

Jing + Alex, thank you so much for including me as your wedding photographer for your amazing Tea Ceremony!

Be sure to take a look at Jing + Alex’s beautiful Como Conservatory Sunken Garden wedding that happened afterward! Also, be sure to take a look at another wedding that included a Chinese Tea Ceremony I photographed too!

Be sure to take a look at Jing + Alex’s Tea Ceremony wedding slideshow too!

VENDORS
Venue: The Saint Paul Hotel
Hair/Makeup: A-List Bridal Hair and Makeup
Wedding Rings: Etsy
Stationery: Mixbook, Paper Source

Minnesota Landscape Arboretum Engagement Photos | Katharine + Zach

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MN Landscape Arboretum Engagement Photos

Katharine + Zach’s Minnesota Landscape Arboretum engagement session was so perfect. The two of them love to spend time together in the beautiful outdoors, going hiking, visiting National Parks, etc. In fact, they were engaged right in Zion National Park! So when we began to plan for their engagement session, they really wanted a place with beautiful outdoor landscapes. The Landscape Arboretum was the perfect choice!

Minnesota Landscape Arboretum Engagement Session

We started their session at the Arboretum near the waterfalls. Since Zach is an architect, he is drawn to bridges and other interesting architectural features, so the bridged waterfall gardens were a great choice. We started with a more hidden waterfall, then moved on to the woodlands garden and the frog pond with waterfall too. A bonus feature was Patrick Dougherty’s giant willow sculpture that is currently featured on the grounds. It is so spectacular, and we were excited to have the chance to photograph with it! Once we finished with the gardens near the Visitor Center, we headed out to the Three Mile Drive to take in the wildflower fields and the grass garden just as the sun was setting for the day. Everything was just picture-perfect!

Thank You!

Katharine + Zach, thank you so much for working with me as your Minneapolis engagement photographer. I’ve had such a great time getting to know you. I am so excited for your big day next summer!

Take a look at a fall Arboretum engagement, a winter Arboretum engagement, and another summer Arboretum engagement session I’ve captured too! If you’re planning for MN Landscape Arboretum engagement or wedding photography, contact me soon!

Bonus: Take a look at Katharine + Zach’s slideshow too!

St Thomas More + Harriet Island Pavilion Wedding Photos | Hansol + Chris

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St Paul MN Wedding

Hansol + Chris met while Chris was living in South Korea. They connected over their love of travel, eating amazing foods, and seeing the world! They were married last fall in a spectacular South Korean celebration, and then they began planning for their US wedding. It was a bit tough planning while they are living in China, but they had local planners and family to help out. When their big day arrived, it was as perfect as they had hoped!

The day began with preparations at a few of Chris’ family’s homes. Hansol prepared at Chris’ parent’s home, Chris at his grandmother’s house. They held their first look, then stopped by Chris’ aunt’s home, a place of family legacy. We then stopped at the top of the High Bridge in St Paul for some beautiful photos of them with the St Paul skyline in the background. From there, we stopped at Mears Park in downtown for a few more portraits, and then on the ceremony.

St Thomas More Wedding Photos

Hansol + Chris’ wedding ceremony took place at St Thomas More Catholic Church in St Paul. The church and it’s surrounding gardens are so gorgeous! Their ceremony was so beautiful in the grand church. After their ceremony, they held a large group portrait on the front steps of the church. Then it was on to the reception and celebration!

Harriet Island Pavilion Wedding Reception

Hansol + Chris’ reception was held at the Harriet Island Pavilion. The venue was decked out with highlights from their world travels. After Hansol changed over into her beautiful red reception gown, they made their appearance during their grand entrance. After toasts and speeches, dinner was served, followed by their cupcake toast. From there, it was on to an amazing choreographed first dance and their simultaneous parent dances. And then a large group photo on the dance floor and dancing was enjoyed by all!

Thank You!

Hansol + Chris, thank you so much for including me as your Minneapolis wedding photographer on your beautiful day! I am so happy for you both as you enjoy your new lives together.

Be sure to take a look at Hansol + Chris’ wedding slideshow too!

VENDORS
Wedding Venue: St Thomas More Catholic Church
Reception Venue: Harriet Island Pavilion
Wedding Coordinator: Ask for the Moon Events
Wedding Dress: Mysoo Dress
Hair/Makeup: D’Anna Ashcroft
Groom’s Attire: Calvin Klein
Wedding Rings: Zhou Da Fu
Catering: Aesop’s Table
Rentals: Avant Decor
Desserts: Sweet Retreat
DJ: Instant Request
Videography: Pinnacle Film + Photo

Lyndale Peace Garden Wedding Photos | Allison + Sam

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Lyndale Peace Park Wedding

Allison + Sam were engaged to be married while living in Baltimore MD. With Sam being a MN native, they planned for their wedding to take place in Minneapolis. They decided to get married in a beautiful garden setting and loved the Lyndale Peace Garden.

Their day dawned with some rain but it quickly made way for the sun as they were preparing for their event. They arrived at the Peace Park and held their first look amidst laughter and tears of joy. We spent some time photographing them together as well as with their family and friends, and then it was on to the ceremony.

Allison + Sam’s wedding ceremony was quiet and simple, and again full of laughter and tears of joy. Allison’s brother provided the music and their friend officiated. They were so happy and joyful!

Stone Arch Bridge Wedding

Once their ceremony was complete, they headed off to the reception and made a quick side trip to the Stone Arch Bridge. They walked across the beautiful Bridge in front of the city skyline and heard numerous well-wishes from passers-by.

Alma Wedding Reception

Once they finished their quick side trip, we all headed to Alma for their dinner reception. The rooms were set for family and friends, and began with their cocktail hour prior to dinner. They had a wonderful evening celebrating with their closest family and friends.

Thank You!

Thank you so much, Allison + Sam, for working with me as your Minneapolis wedding photographer. I enjoyed meeting you, and am so happy for you both as you begin your new lives together.

BONUS: Take a look at a fall Peace Garden engagement session, as well as a summer Peace Garden engagement session that I photographed too!

Be sure to take a look at their slideshow too!

VENDORS
Wedding Venue: Lyndale Peace Garden
Reception Venue: Alma
Dress Vendor: Mori Lee, Azazie
Suit Vendor: Suit Supply, Indochino
Wedding Rings: Jade Moran Jewelry
Officiant: Aniello Alioto
Florist: Acanthus Floral Arts
Catering: Alma
Musician: Jeff Demas
Stationery: Paperless Post

Trellis Wedding + Profile Event Center Photos | LaShay + Jarid

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Trellis Outdoor Wedding

LaShay + Jarid grew up at opposite ends of the country. They both joined the Navy and met while stationed in Hawaii. The rest, as they say, is history! When they decided to get married, they planned to head back to LaShay’s home in Minnesota for the festivities. It made for some long-distance planning, but nothing they couldn’t handle with LaShay’s family still living in the area. They planned for a beautiful springtime Trellis Event Center wedding in Stillwater MN, followed by a Profile Event Center reception. Minnesota decided to show these Hawaiian residents how unpredictable a May wedding could be and showered them with snow! While it made for a bit of a chilly day, it was still beautiful – and definitely memorable!

The day began with preparations in the adorable cottage on the Trellis grounds. LaShay was in the bridal suite and Jarid in the upstairs guys’ lounge. Once their prepping was complete, we photographed LaShay + Jarid together for their first look. We did a quick stroll through the grounds and photographed them laughing through the snow. They were so cute! After their couple photos, we captured their family photos right before the ceremony was about to begin.

Vandalia Tower Wedding Photos

Once their ceremony was complete, we ditched our plans to visit the Stone Arch Bridge because of the snow and cold. We headed to my studio building, Vandalia Tower, and photographed LaShay + Jarid along with their bridal party in the lobby of the building. I’m so lucky to have this option available to me – the building has such beautiful light!

Profile Event Center Reception

After their bridal party photos, we all headed over to the Profile Event Center for their wedding reception. The cocktail hour started and LaShay + Jarid held their fun grand entrance. Dinner and toasts followed, and finally their cake cutting.

Once these were complete, they held their first dance, bouquet toss and garter toss. They then danced the night away and had a blast with all their family and friends!

Thank You!

LaShay + Jarid, thank you so much for including me as your Minneapolis wedding photographer for your beautiful day! I am so honored to have worked with you, and so happy for the two of you (and sweet little Lily!) as you spend your lives together.

Make sure to a look at another Trellis Event Center wedding I photographed too! If you are planning a Trellis Event Center wedding, contact me soon! I’d love to discuss how we could work together.

Be sure to take a look at LaShay + Jarid’s slideshow too!

VENDORS
Wedding Venue: Trellis Outdoor Wedding Ceremonies
Reception Venue: Profile Event Center
Dress Vendor: Raffine Bridal
Suit Vendor: Men’s Wearhouse
Wedding Rings: Jared Diamond
Officiant: Johnny Hunter
Florist: Chilonda Medlock + Profile Event Center
Catering + Wedding Cake: Profile Event Center
DJ: Profile Event Center
Stationery: Adori Designs
Videography: Storyteller Videography

Mill Ruins Park Senior Pictures | Tatiana

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Minneapolis Senior Photography

Today I am highlighting Tatiana’s beautiful Minneapolis senior picture session. Tatiana’s mom Teri contacted me requesting a session with Tatiana. They had found my work online and decided to contact me, and I was thrilled! Senior sessions are so much fun, and I was excited to work with them!

Mill Ruins Park Senior Session

Tatiana wanted to hold her senior portrait session at Mill Ruins Park in downtown Minneapolis, along the riverfront. I love that beautiful park! She gravitated toward the park because it was a favorite location of her father, who had passed away just a couple of years ago. Holding her portrait session here was such a perfect homage to her dad.

The day arrived and it was sunny, although a bit on the cold side. We were all dressed in our warm layers and coats, while Tatiana wore her cute dresses and sandals. She persevered and it seemed the cold barely bothered her at all! We wandered through the grounds of the park as Tatiana rotated through three outfit changes and we stopped at numerous locations. We even had time to take a break before sunset to warm up in our cars for a few minutes too.

Viewing + Ordering Session

Teri + Tatiana loved the final images. They settled on ordering an Heirloom Print Box featuring a handmade copper-foiled glass box with heirloom matted 8×10 prints. These boxes are so unique and gorgeous! I am so excited to finally see the final box.

Thank You!

Thank you, Teri + Tatiana, for choosing to work with me as your Minneapolis senior photographer. I had so much fun working with you both, and I am thrilled that you love your images. And Tatiana, best of luck with your future endeavors!

If you’d like to work together for your senior photo session, contact me soon!

Also, make sure to take a look at some of my other Minneapolis senior portrait photography sessions too:
Amari
Brenda
Holly
Maia
Molly
Maya
Taylor
Annie
Lauren
Maggie
Kate
Claire

Mill City Museum, Guthrie Theater + Gold Medal Park Engagement Photos | Wittne + Scott

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Mill City Museum Engagement Session

Wittne + Scott were in the midst of planning for their upcoming fall 2019 wedding. Being that we were in our typical early spring, they wanted to have an engagement session that had options for both indoor and outdoor photos. They loved the look of the gorgeous Mill City Museum, so we chose to work there. I had so much fun with their Mill City Museum engagement photos!

The day arrived and we were so excited. The weather had been unseasonably warm, and it was going to be a beautiful sunny day, so we were so excited that we could work in both locations! We spent the first half of our time in the beautiful Mill City Museum. We had lots of fun and laughs as we meandered around the weekday afternoon quiet of the historic building. Once we had our fill, we decided to head to the back of the museum, facing the Mississippi River.

We started at the back of the Mill City Museum, then detoured over to the back of the Guthrie Theater for some classic photos of the two of them by the large blue back wall. These locations are always stunning!

Gold Medal Park Engagement Photos

After we finished up with the architectural building photos, Wittne + Scott were excited to spend a bit of time at Gold Medal Park for some views over the city and river. We headed to the top of the hill at the park’s center for some beautiful photos with the trees and with the city skyline. Such a fun day!

Thank You!

Thank you so much, Wittne + Scott, for working with me as your Minneapolis engagement photographer. I am so happy for you both, and can’t wait for your wedding day coming up later this year!

BONUS: Take a look at another spring Mill City Museum engagement session and winter Mill City Museum engagement photos too! Also be sure to check out a beautiful Mill City Museum wedding with Guthrie Theater Gold Medal Park portraits that I captured too!

Take a look at Wittne + Scott’s slideshow too!

Luxury Wedding Photo Album | David + Elizabeth

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Luxury Wedding Photo Album

Today I’m excited to share my latest wedding photo album! Elizabeth + David were married last fall at the gorgeous Como Conservatory Sunken Garden. Be sure to take a look at their beautiful wedding photos too.

Premium Wedding Photo Album

After the wedding, David + Elizabeth wanted a custom Graphistudio wedding album. These gorgeous albums are handmade in Italy. Together, we designed a wedding photo album that perfectly reflected their day.

We started with their album box. They chose a dark anthracite gray, wood-patterned Maple material. Their names and date were foiled on the top, surrounded by a graphic circle of plants, in elegant gold. Inside, the box features a photo of their wedding rings on a gorgeous Conservatory bromeliad flower. The box was finished with a crisp white satin ribbon.

The album features a gorgeous crystal-clear cover with a photo of Elizabeth + David in the spectacular evening light, stone, greenery and flowers of the Sunken Garden. The album is bound with elegant, classic black Italian leather. The pages are printed on metallic professional photo paper and bound into a patented lay-flat binding system. The pages are then finished with a satin coating to protect against fingerprints, dirt and oils.

Thank You!

Elizabeth + David loved 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, and pass it down for generations. Congratulations, David + Elizabeth. I loved working with the two of you as your Minneapolis wedding photographer, and 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!

Como Conservatory Engagement Photos | Sarah + Eric

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Como Conservatory Engagement Session

Sarah + Eric live in Chicago. They are planning for their Mill City Museum in Minneapolis later this summer, and were in town to work on planning and details for their big day. So we made time for their Minneapolis engagement photography while they were here too. Since it was winter, and a bitterly cold time of year at that, they loved the idea of working at the Como Conservatory.

St Paul Engagement Photography

We started first thing on a busy weekday morning. Sarah + Eric wanted a few photos with their puppy Sage, so we started off outdoors. Sage was so adorable, and was a perfect model, especially considering it was below zero that morning!

After Sage headed home with Sarah’s dad, the three of us ran indoors to the warm, humid Conservatory. The Sunken Garden featured the bright, fun colors of the spring flower show. Bonus: the light that morning was amazing! The filtered sun was perfect – not too harsh or dull. The gorgeous water, greenery, bright flowers and wonderfully humid air really made us feel like we were in the tropics. We worked in the Sunken Garden, Palm Dome and North Garden before our hour was up. When we were finished, we had a short turnaround until Sarah + Eric came to my studio to see their final photos as they were only in town for a couple of days. They loved their photos!

Thank You!

Thank you so much for choosing to work with me as your Minneapolis engagement photographer, Sarah + Eric. I loved working with you both (and Sage too!) I can’t wait to photograph your wedding later this summer!

Be sure to take a look at some of my other spring Como Conservatory engagement photos, winter Como Conservatory engagement photos, and even Como Town engagement photos too!

If you are interested in having a Como Conservatory engagement session, contact me soon to discuss how we could work together!

Take a look at more of Sarah + Eric’s beautiful Como Park Conservatory engagement photos here too!

How to Care for Your Digital Photographs | Carina Photographics

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Caring for Your Digital Photographs

Today I want to discuss something that is an extremely important part of your wedding or portrait session: how to properly store your digital photographs! As a Minnesota wedding and portrait photographer, when I deliver heirloom artwork to my clients, I give instructions for caring for their artwork to withstand the test of time. Digital photographs also need proper storage handling in order to ensure their long life.

There are several options to consider for storing your digital photographs. Ideally you want to create several copies of your images in multiple locations. Here are a few options:
– USB flash drive
– Online cloud storage (ie: Dropbox, Google Drive, Flickr, etc)
– On your laptop or desktop computer
– In an off-site location, in addition to your on-site location (ex: on another USB flash drive, laptop or desktop)

Best Way to Care for Your Digital Photographs

In a perfect world, you should consider creating a copy of your digital photographs that meets each of the criteria above. So for example, you would recieve one copy from me on a USB flash drive. Then you would make a copy on your laptop or desktop computer. Then you would make another copy on your cloud online storage. And then you would make a final copy (either on another USB flash drive, or else directly onto another laptop or desktop computer) to store at your job or a close relative’s house. In this way, you would have at least 3-4 copies of your digital photographs. This would greatly reduce the chances of having your images permanently lost or destroyed. And of course, if any of these copies become lost or destroyed, you would then need to create a new copy to replace those lost backups. That way you will always maintain 3-4 copies of your photographs.

I hope this article helps you safely store your beautiful digital photographs for generations to come! If you have any questions about this or other advice, feel free to contact me soon.

Looking for More Advice and Opinions? Check out some of my other help articles:
Top 10 Things to Look for When Hiring a Wedding Photographer
Wedding Day Photography Tips
To Look or Not to Look? Having a First Look on Your Wedding Day
Should You Have an Unplugged Wedding Ceremony?

Fine Art Wedding + Portrait Photography | Custom Heirloom Artwork Design

Chinese Tea Ceremony Wedding

Saint Paul Hotel Wedding Day

Stay Tuned!

MN Landscape Arboretum Engagement Photos

Minnesota Landscape Arboretum Engagement Session

Thank You!

St Paul MN Wedding

Harriet Island Pavilion Wedding Reception

Thank You!

Lyndale Peace Park Wedding

Stone Arch Bridge Wedding

Alma Wedding Reception

Thank You!

Trellis Outdoor Wedding

Vandalia Tower Wedding Photos

Profile Event Center Reception

Thank You!

Minneapolis Senior Photography

Mill Ruins Park Senior Session

Viewing + Ordering Session

Thank You!

Mill City Museum Engagement Session

Gold Medal Park Engagement Photos

Thank You!

Luxury Wedding Photo Album

Premium Wedding Photo Album

Thank You!

Como Conservatory Engagement Session

St Paul Engagement Photography

Thank You!

Best Way to Care for Your Digital Photographs

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CARINA PHOTOGRAPHICS

MINNEAPOLIS MN WEDDING + PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY