Married! // Harper + Trey Part 2

The wedding day has arrived! Harper and Trey’s wedding took place at Abella Farm Weddings and Events and on quite possibly the hottest day of the summer! The sun was shining and it was a beautiful day. Amy Zaroff Events and Design brought in the best of the best vendors to make this day everything that Harper and Trey could have dreamed of! It spoke to both of them - a small town meets the big city! What I loved about Harper and Trey is how thoughtful they were in planning this wedding for their guests. There were fun activities while everyone was getting ready, a popcorn and lemonade refreshment as guests arrived and one of the best bands in the country for entertainment. They focused on bold colors, including the entire spectrum of the rainbow. They wanted their day to be filled with joy, modern art design and the great Midwest.

The absolute best part of the day though was hearing Harper and Trey read their vows to one another. They are a couple who inspires everyone around them with their love. I think everyone learned more about Harper and Trey through their vows as well. Whether it was their story or how they support one another in their relationship, we all left the ceremony so excited for these two and their marriage!

I meantioned this in Part 1 of their blog post, but this is officially the longest blog post I’ve ever done! They day was filled with so many moments, I felt it deserved this many images. So, without further adieu, enjoy Harper + Trey’s wedding!

LOVEe

VENDORS//

Event Planning + Design: Amy Zaroff Events and Design

Rabbi: Rabbi Isaama Goldstein-Stoll

Photographer: Photogen Inc.

Video: Curtis Kennedy Films

Live Band: Jordan Kahn Music Company

Venue: Abella Farm Weddings + Events

Floral: Arts and Flowers

Catering: D’Amico Catering

Cake: D’Amico Catering

Hair + Makeup: Mae Vang and Andrea Holton

Photo Booth: Northerly

Installations: Girl Friday

Rentals: Haven and Gather, Chrome

Sound + Lighting: AVEX

Married! // Harper + Trey Part 1

Harper and Trey’s wedding was the event of the summer for all of their family and friends. The couple chose to come back to Minnesota, where Trey grew up and his family has roots! Harper and Trey live in Brooklyn and they were joined by friends and family who traveled from across the world to experience the Midwest. It was a weekend full of fun! From the welcome drinks to the Minnesota State Fair, an incredible rehearsal dinner and then a beautiful modern-art-meets-farm wedding, the weekend brought so many memory-making events for their guests.

Let’s begin with the rehearsal dinner. This gorgeous evening took place on the terrace at the Walker Art Center. With the iconic Cherry and Spoon in the background, Harper and Trey hosted an incredible night filled with some of the best speeches. I loved how throughout the night, Harper and Trey would check in on one another. It might have been just a soft touch or a glance from across the room, but they were always making sure the other felt loved and seen. This was a theme throughout the weekend and the chatter over how perfect these two are for one another was always buzzing about the room.

Another moment that I loved was the sunset. Harper’s late Grandmother always referenced a sunset as a way that she would make her presence known. During dinner the overcast skies parted and a gorgeous, glowing pink sunset appeared that warmed the hearts of so many. Love felt close on this night!

Full disclosure - this wedding might be the longest blog post I’ve ever posted! This wedding is worthy of the long scroll. While the wedding photos will come along in Part 2 of this post, below are some wonderful details and moments from Harper + Trey’s Rehearsal Dinner.

LOVEe

VENDORS//

Event Planning + Design: Amy Zaroff Events and Design

Photographer: Photogen Inc.

Video: Curtis Kennedy Films

Venue: The Walker Art Center

Catering: D’Amico Catering

Rentals: Linen Effects

Sound + Lighting: AVEX

Engaged! // Adam + Tim

Adam and Tim are a couple that I instantly connected with. Frankly, I would say we are on our way to being fast friends, which is the BEST when it comes to wedding clients. I’ve been so fortunate over the years to stay in touch with the couples who book me as their photographer for their wedding and that truly means so much!

Adam and Tim are a couple that makes you feel welcome. Hospitality is a part of who they are. Whether it’s a night out or a night in, they are going to dazzle their guests. One thing I love the most about these two is their sincere connection. They adore one another and you really leave their presence believing in the idea of soulmates and love. I am SO looking forward to their wedding next year. I can already tell that they surround themselves with the very best people and they are going to throw one hell of a party, while also inspiring everyone around them!

Cheers to Adam and Tim, their engagement and all of the good they bring into this world!

LOVEe

Married! // Alyssa + Clarke

Alyssa and Clarke are a couple who embraces life and love to the fullest! Whether it is their careers, travel, family or friends, they always go big and their wedding was a true reflection of their love and passion for life! One thing I loved about their day was that their close friends surprised them by showing up wedding-party-ready. The couple wasn’t going to have a wedding party, but their friends knew they would appreciate the impromptu change of plans! All of the women showed up in fabulous red attire and the guys were as dapper as ever!

Alyssa and Clarke’s wedding took place on a perfect summer day at The Beach Club. Julia LaCroix transported the guests with her design through a series of rooms with lush, white florals throughout. To add a personal touch, the couple’s wedding cake was made up of classic story books. This was a nod to their last name, Story, and also their own adventures in life.

Congratulations to Alyssa, Clarke and their families. It was a pleasure to be a part of your day!

LOVEe

VENDORS//

Planner: Julia LaCroix Styled Events

Venue: The Beach Club

Photography: Photogen Inc.

Videography: A B Rich Films

Cake: Ink Sweets

Floral: Sadie’s Couture Floral

Officient: Flutterby Celebrations

Live Band: The R Factor

Champagne Wall: Girl Friday

Hair & Makeup: Primped

Stationary: Jill Elaine Designs

Lounges + Stage Wrap: Collected & Co.

It's Our Golden Birthday!

Today marks 18 years of business. Wow. What started as a little dream of being a photographer and working for myself, has turned into four separate but connected businesses. It has also required me to show up – every day – for 18 years; it has taught me tenacity, resilience, and just how believing in yourself (and more importantly, those around you) can lead to creating such beautiful things. 

I’ve always been an advocate of collaboration and building the businesses over the years has happened very organically because of it. I’ve been so lucky to have such talented artists come through our studio doors and be a part of the work. I’ve been even luckier to have retained such incredible talent for so many of these years. The work that we create together is what I am endlessly proud of.

So, where are we now? At Year 18, here’s an update on all of the things we’re doing at our NE MPLS studio:

The Restaurant Project™: This is the youngest but fastest growing branch of our business. Over the last 6 years, TRP has grown into a collective of photographers, creatives, videographers, brand builders and content strategists who make marketing easier for restaurants and food brands. This year, we're working to refine our processes, make space for artistic exploration and develop a few new packages to offer, particularly for businesses in the startup stage looking for a one-stop creative shop. We're very excited for what's to come here—for our clients and our team!

Rivets and Roses: Our wedding photography studio currently features the work of four AMAZING photographers. As Melissa, Jess, Ben, and Tara embark on this year’s wedding season, I am so excited to see the work that they will all create for our clients. Every season I am endlessly inspired by their work! Our mission at Rivets is to support all couples getting married. With PRIDE month coming up in June, our studio will be rolling out information on the ways that we are continuing to support the LGBTQ+ community. I am so very proud of this work and the impact it is making for our clients.

Eliesa Johnson Photography: I’m still rolling along with this work! Eliesa Johnson Photography encompasses all of the editorial and commercial work that I personally lead. It’s a beautiful place where I get to go on assignment with just me and my camera or even better, a large production crew of the best freelancers around. There are some very exciting projects I’ve been working on that I can’t wait to share once they are released! 

Photogen Inc.: This is the original company; the foundation of it all. It has been steady and strong over the years. Photogen Inc. is the space where I come to photograph luxury weddings, which have taken me around the world. I am so grateful for these opportunities! Photographing weddings is still something that I greatly enjoy and it grounds me. I have had the pleasure of working alongside some of the absolute best wedding vendors, who are true artists in their own right! While I only choose a select few weddings each year now to photograph, I am always excited to see where each season will take me and the amazing couples and families I get to spend time with! 

What are my hopes for the future? 

To empower our clients

To support our artists

To create iconic images

To continue to have longevity in our industry

Married! // Laura + Andrew

Laura and Andrew have a love story that will be passed down for generations. They met in the early days of a global pandemic and quickly fell in love. They were truly the perfect match. They had to navigate some pretty wild times in the world, while getting to know each other, and they quickly learned that they simply didn’t want to live without one another. This was it! Along came an engagement, planning the wedding and then life brought them a beautiful surprise - a baby on the way!

Laura was simply glowing with beauty on their wedding day and I love that their son was with them on this day. When they look back at these photos, the three of them will always be there, exactly how it was meant to be! I love how Laura and Andrew have embraced life’s surprises along the way and it’s so clear that the love they have is filled with laughter, light and the cutest adoration for one another!

Their wedding took place on the most gorgeous fall day in Minnesota. The leaves were stunning and their ceremony felt like they were enveloped in this magical, golden space. Laura’s mother, Kelly, is also a long time wedding florist who designed the most beautiful arrangements - and reception space - for the day. It was incredibly touching to witness a mother giving her daughter the gift of her craft that she has given to so many other brides for so long. What a beautiful moment!

Congratulations to Laura and Andrew! On your marriage, your beautiful new family and many years to come!

LOVEe

VENDORS//

Ceremony Venue: The Woods Chapel

Reception Venue: The Lafayette Club

Event Planning: Pink Peony Weddings + Events

Floral: Emerald Events and Design

Photography: Photogen Inc.

Video: Harvest Film Co.

Ceremony + Cocktail Hour Music: Loring String Quartet

Paper: Paper Rock Scissor

Reception Band: Bluewater Kings Band

Officiant: Affordable I Do’s, Susan Leigh Wright

Hair & Makeup: Mindie + Primped

Photo Booth: The Traveling Photo Booth

Cake: Key’s Cafe

Married! // Elizabeth + Ryan

Elizabeth and Ryan have a love that was worth waiting for. The couple met while in college through Elizabeth’s twin sister. As time went on their friendship grew, but so did their dreams. They ventured off to pursue medical school in different states, which only made their friendship grow stronger. After many nights of long-distance phone calls and supporting one another, they realized something special was happening - they were falling in love!

Elizabeth and Ryan’s careers brought them to Minnesota and I am so happy it did! It was such a pleasure for our team to document their incredibly special day. Their wedding was planned beautifully by Faith of This Love Weddings and NuNu Decor filled the Minneapolis Grain Exchange with pure opulence. Their reception combined traditions from both India and Nigeria - with special ceremonies, food, dance and the infamous money spray. It was a BIG celebration to say the least and we are so very happy for the Newlyweds!

LOVEe

VENDORS//

Event Planning + Design: Faith Folayan of This Love Weddings

Photography: Photogen Inc.

Decor + Floral Design: Nunu Decor

Videography: Redmond Digital Media

Venue: Work at Coco (Previously,Minneapolis Grain Exchange)

Saxophonist: @ConnellThompsonSax

MC: NaMÓ

Makeup: @Spicee.Faces

Hair: @Glambykardes

Bridal Gown: Bridal Reflections

Groom's Suit: Indochino

Bridesmaids Dresses: Bridal Babes

DJ: Events by MV

Cake: Buttercream

360 Photo Booth: Mihi Photobooth

Married! // Maddy + Zach

Maddy and Zach have a love story that is truly layered with love stories. The couple met when they were younger in school. The story goes that Maddy would always ask Zach for a piece of gum and return the wrapper with a little note on it. Years later, when Zach proposed, he had kept all of those sweet notes and it was a great reminder of how their love had grown over the years. Layer in another love story. Zach also proposed with Maddy’s mother’s original wedding ring from her late father, Dan Wagner. It was so important for the family to keep his memory alive and having this ring is truly such a beautiful tribute!

Speaking of Tributes, let’s layer in another love story. 16 years ago, Maddy’s mother remarried an incredible man named Tres who gave the *best speech about their family coming together. He spoke about how Jennifer and Dan laid the foundation for a beautiful life and he felt honored to carry on loving Maddy. I don’t think there was a dry eye in the room during this speech or the father / daughter dance. And the final layer to Zach and Maddy’s love story is that their wedding took place on the same weekend and the same property that Jennifer and Tres were married.

Now Maddy and Zach get to carry on and add to this incredible story, which is filled with family, hope, healing and love. It was such a pleasure to be a part of documenting their day and it was actually golden. The light streamed through the reception as they danced the night away. It. Was. Perfect.

Congratulations to the new Mr. and Mrs. Grochowski!

LOVEe

VENDORS//

Event Planning + Design: Amy Zaroff Event + Design

Photography: Photogen Inc.

Videography: Curtis Kennedy Films

Officiant: Dennis and Dana Calhoun

Floral Design: Arts & Flowers

Photo Booth: Selfie and Co.

Ceremony Music: Jeff Perry Music

Reception Entertainment: Rock With U

Makeup: Jessica Kueppers, JAK Beauty

Hair: Madeline Freiberg, Spalon Montage

Catering: D’Amico Catering

Tent + Rentals: Aprés Party and Tent Rental

Audio / Visual: AVEX

After Party Tents: Canvas Town Tents

Installation + Rentals: Girl Friday and Rudy’s Event Rentals

Linens: BBJ Linens

Engaged! // Maddy + Zach

Maddy and Zach have an incredible love story (and one that I will save for their wedding post down the road). Let’s just say that there is a lot of history, a lot of meaningful support for one another and a whole lot of love! The universe made sure these two found each other in ways that are only written out in screenplays and I couldn’t be happier for their upcoming marriage! For their engagement session we went to the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum for the perfect set of summer photos.

Congratulations on your engagement, Maddy and Zach!

LOVEe

Married! // Katie + Erik!

Katie and Erik are truly the sweetest couple. Their wedding was my final event of the 2021 season and it ended on such a high note with these two! Katie and Erik met right in the midst of the pandemic and knew it was true love pretty quickly. After Erik proposed, they started planning their perfect day and I can honestly say it was perfect. Katie and Erik welcomed their closest family and friends for an intimate evening filled with love, fantastic food, delicious drinks and even their pug, Oswald, made an appearance for most of the day.

They wanted to keep things simple, but there was no shortage on style. Katie and Erik have impeccable taste and from Katie’s three different looks to the gorgeous fall decor, their day was gorgeous. Erik is even a bit of an artist himself and one of his abstract drawings of Oswald was incorporated on the table seating charts. I loved, loved loved this detail!

Katie and Erik’s day was filled with a lot of love and happiness. Thank you for choosing our team to be a part of such a special day!

LOVEe

VENDORS//

Wedding Design + Planning: Julia LaCroix Styled Events

Ceremony & Reception Venue: The Lynhall, Uptown

Floral: Scarlett & Flora

Hair & Makeup: 139 Hair by Heidi

Photography: Photogen Inc.

Videography: Landon Oldenburger

Married! // Bianca + Jeffrey

Bianca and Jeffrey were married on a beautiful summer day in Minnesota. They chose Bavaria Downs as there venue, which totally delivered a magical setting with the rolling hills and gorgeous sunset. Bianca and Jeffrey are a force. A power couple who has so much ahead of them - we all can’t wait to see what the future holds for these two! They love deeply and also know how to have so much fun! And then there is their sense of style - it’s impeccable, glamorous and both Bianca and Jeffrey were radiant on their wedding day!

Our day started and ended at Bavaria Downs, with a midday ceremony at St. Therese Parish. It was a lovely ceremony and I loved the bubble send off by their guests! One of the best surprises all day were the flowers by Apricot Floral Design. Every time Genevieve designs a bouquet, you know it is going to be extraordinary, but Bianca’s arrangement was beyond beautiful. (You can tell I loved it by all of the flower photos here - ha!)

Laine Palm Designs brought their day to life and it was a total success! Bianca and Jeffrey, it was an honor to be there for you on your wedding day. You are so loved and your love is amazing!

LOVEe

VENDORS//

Photography: Photogen Inc.

Event Planning + Design: Laine Palm Designs

Venue: Bavaria Downs

Flowers: Apricot Floral

Hair + Makeup: Hannah Marie Beauty, Andrea Holton and Megan Mac

Videography: Harvest Wedding Films

Live Music: Patrick Lentz Entertainment

Catering: D’Amico Catering

Cake: Minny Whisk Bakery

Stationary: Paper Rock Scissor

Rentals: Apres Event Rentals and Phos Events

Married! // Lindsey + Jeff

Lindsey and Jeff hosted an incredible wedding weekend that was well worth the wait. Especially after all of the planning and re-planning that the couple had to do in the midst of last year. Not only did they plan a spectacular event, but they also successfully graduated and became Veterinarians, which I think is incredible. Lindsey and Jeff have traveled the world, hold a deep love for animals and clearly one another - they are the perfect match! One of my favorite parts of the day was watching Lindsey and Jeff with their dogs and seeing how much they all meant to one another.

Southern Iowa was absolutely gorgeous at this time of year. Wildflowers lined the roads and the sun was shining. The rolling hills provided a stunning drive as you entered the venue and the modern space of Emerald Hills in Promise City, Iowa was the perfect venue for this couple. Ashley from Poppati Events helped bring the couple’s vision to life! The couple had an all-star list of vendors and the day was absolutely spectacular!

We are so very happy for Lindsey and Jeff! Thank you for inviting us to be a part of your day!

LOVEe

VENDORS//

Photographer: Photogen Inc.

Venue: Emerald Hills Events, Promise City, Iowa

Event Design + Planning: Poppati Events

Florals: Shelly Sarver Designs

Cake: Little Blackbird Bakery

Catering: Great Caterers of Iowa

Musicians: Jonah Vanhorn

DJ, Photobooth and Videography: KNM Productions

Engaged! // Katie + Erik

Katie and Erik met right as the global pandemic of 2020 was setting in and while it felt like the world was crazy and unknown, Katie and Erik were certain of one thing - they were in love! Over the last year, these two experienced life and the beginning of their relationship in such a special way and when Erik proposed, Katie knew the answer was yes! For their engagement session, we took a walk around the North Loop neighborhood of Minneapolis and I must say that I fell in love with these two! They are an absolutely amazing couple and I can’t wait to document their wedding day this fall!

LOVEe

Best Moments of 2020!

The year Twenty Twenty started out so strong for me! My first wedding took place in Costa Rica and it also celebrated my first job back from maternity leave! I was incredibly excited to get back at it, our team was primed for a full wedding season and I was so proud of all the work they had all done to keep the studio running while I was on leave! As we travelled back home, we started to hear about the virus and on my first official day back at the studio, I had to shut it down for a while. Our business was always open, but I needed to take some time to figure out how we were going to work in the middle of a pandemic. What was going to happen to our clients? How was our team going to work safely? Was I going to get covid from handling a camera? There were so many crazy questions in the beginning, but over time we figured it out!

One theme is true for all of our clients: they are not just planning one wedding, they are planning 15 weddings! As things continue to open, close, shift and change with the pandemic, our couples are continuing to stay open and flexible. Some are holding off - even until the year 2022 right now - so they can still have their big party when it’s safe. Others are opting for an elopement and they are finding that an ultra small wedding is exactly perfect for them! We have learned so much from this year including how to be resilient, how to work safely and that love truly goes on. In fact, I might even say that love is what is bringing us together! We have seen so much support from the vendors we work with and everyone is working to navigate all of the changes together!

2020 also brought forth the need for us to be better as a wedding industry. The death of George Floyd showed us that we need to be better allies with our BIPOC vendors and that we have a long way to go to fight racism in our industry. There continues to be a lot of work ahead of us, but this has been a focus for our studio this year and we are keeping the work of being anti-racist at the forefront of our business. We want to make sure that everyone feels welcome here, whether it be a vendor, a client or a member of our team.

I photographed four weddings this year and each of them were so special! It really felt like an honor to be trusted to document these events. Our clients trusted us to work safely, to tell their love story and to capture all of the little moments so they could share their wedding day with family and friends who couldn’t physically be there. This year started out as free as can be on the beach and ended with the sweetest elopement. What a year! Below are some of my favorite images from this year, but I encourage you to take a deeper look into these stories with the full blog posts!

Here’s to 2021, bright days ahead and may we continue to celebrate love!

LOVEe

Meggan + Nick | Costa Rica

Alyssa + Thomas | Minneapolis

Laura + Brad | Minneapolis

Amanda + Jacob | Wisconsin

Married! // Amanda + Jacob

My wish for every couple is that they find someone who looks at each other like Jacob and Amanda do! It is pure love and admiration! I’ve known Amanda for a long time and she has always been an LA city girl. Family brought her to the Midwest and one day I got a text that she was moving to Wisconsin and marrying a strawberry farmer! This. Was. Perfect. I loved every bit of it! Amanda and Jacob have always chosen a small elopement as the way they were going to get married and they found Justin Trails Resort as the perfect location to say I-Do!

It was just the three…well, four of us on their wedding day. Amanda and Jacob happily announced that they are expecting a little one just weeks before their wedding, which just added to the excitement of their day! The weather was perfect, the light was amazing and there were even two surprises - the llamas, Dusty and Rusty!

Jacob and Amanda, it is very clear that the two of you adore one another and that your marriage and growing family are both going to be so strong! Thank you for asking me to document this moment for you, it was truly special!

LOVEe

VENDORS//

Venue: Justin Trails Resort

Bride’s Dress: Willowby by Watters

Groom’s Tux: The Black Tux

Florals: Sparta Flowers & Greenhouses

Married! // Laura + Brad

At the end of July, I received a call from Laura, asking if I might still be available to photograph a small wedding on their original date in early September! You see, Laura and Brad are one of many couples who had a big wedding planned and had to change their date because of the covid-19 pandemic. As the time came closer to their original date, they couple ultimately realized they really just wanted to be married! They had postponed their big plans, but then it dawned on them, “Why don’t we get married and have our big party later?” Luckily their vendors were all still available and Amy Zaroff Events and Design planned the most beautiful covid-responsible backyard garden wedding!

The chuppah was dripping with gorgeous flowers from Arts & Flowers and guests were greeted with both kippahs and custom face masks! The outdoor ceremony was so special and a small luncheon followed. One cool thing that Laura and Brad also had was a live stream of the ceremony and speeches for friends and family who weren’t able to be at the event in person - it was a fantastic way to still have everyone a part of their wedding day!

Congratulations to the new Mr. and Mrs. Liszt! We are so happy for you!

LOVEe

VENDORS//

Event Planning & Design: Amy Zaroff Events & Design

Photography: Photogen Inc.

Video: Cal Brue

Live Stream: AVEX

Live Music: Elán Artists

Hair & Makeup: Andrea Holton

Flowers: Arts & Flowers

Cake: Farina Baking Company

Boxed Lunch: D’amico Catering

Rentals: Apres Party Rental

Cocktails + Bartender: A Proper Pour

Married! // Alyssa + Thomas

Alyssa and Thomas are an incredible couple - and I mean incredible! There was a theme throughout their wedding weekend that both Alyssa and Thomas were people who made those around them feel incredibly loved and supported and that together as a couple they are unstoppable!

Alyssa and Thomas didn’t just plan one wedding, they planned about 15 weddings because during this time we are living in, the rules around having a wedding during a pandemic keep changing. The couple hired Amy Zaroff Events & Design and let me tell you - this wedding is the gold standard on how to plan a wedding during Covid-19. I hesitate to even mention this, because covid isn’t the focus of this blog post, Thomas and Alyssa are. But I think we would be remiss to not take note, because this couple really worked through every single detail to ensure a safe event for both their guests and vendors - and their day was just as magical as ever!

The weekend started off with a Costa Rica themed grooms dinner - and one stunning Monique Lhuiller dress! Their wedding ceremony was a vision of beauty at the Cathedral of St. Paul and their reception was at The Depot, downtown Minneapolis. One of my favorite moments of the day was during the couple’s portraits. The light was getting nice and golden and we made an impromptu stop at the Bride’s family home where the gardens were absolutely perfect for these two! It was meaningful and gorgeous!

Congratulations to the new Dr. and Mr. Cowan! We are thrilled for you and thank you so much for making us a part of your wedding day!

LOVEe

VENDORS//

Event Planning and Design: Amy Zaroff Events + Design

Photographer: Photogen Inc.

Videographer: Curtis Kennedy Films

Ceremony Venue: Cathedral of St. Paul

Reception Venue: The Depot Minneapolis

Flowers: Arts and Flowers

Cake: Farina Baking Company

Makeup: Andrea Holton

Hair: Gena Smith

Bride’s Dress: Monique Lhuillier

DJ: The DJ Firm

Raw Bar Ice Sculptures: Ice Occasions

Rentals + Linens: Linen Effects

Light Up Sign: ALPHALIT

Furniture: Be Things

How to Properly Social Distance at Your Wedding

Just a few months ago, who would have thought we’d have to take social distancing into account when planning events? Well, here we are, and it’s incredibly important to keep it in mind as you plan your wedding in order to keep everyone—guests, vendors and you—safe. Here are a few things to consider as you plan your big day.

Ceremony

In Minnesota, weddings are allowed to accommodate 250 people, but you must take into account that the venue can only run at 25 percent of its capacity, so your guest list may need to be smaller than you originally planned. You must also ensure that there’s six feet of distance between different households at all times and your venue needs to accommodate this. The smaller your guest list, the easier this will be to achieve.

For your ceremony, you may want to consider assigning seats for your guests. This way you can ensure the proper distance between households so everyone will be safe.

Though it’s not often the case anymore, traditionally, wedding party members walked down the aisle alone. If you are still choosing to have a wedding party, consider not pairing anyone to walk together. Since they’ll need to stay six feet apart, it may make sense to keep your wedding party small.

Photography

While photographers are experts at capturing the intimate moments of you and your soon-to-be spouse, it can be difficult to corral family members even without the difficulties presented by a pandemic. Consider a photography schedule and appointing someone to help you stick to it and gather family when it’s time for photos. If you shift and stagger smaller groups during certain parts of the day (getting ready rooms, family photos, wedding party) this will allow you to get all the shots you want while keeping everyone safely distanced.

Getting Ready

It’s so special to get ready for your big day with all your loved ones, and it’s a great environment for some lovely photography. But it’s just not safe anymore to have so many people packed into a small room. To keep social distancing a priority, think about having a smaller group—just a few people total—or rent a larger space so everyone can properly socially distance. Remember: whether your group is small or large, everyone will still need to stay six feet apart. It may make more sense to have wedding party members get ready before arriving. Plus, they can still be part of the photographs where you make your big reveal, just in a larger space.

Transportation

There’s no easy way to put six feet between people in your transportation. The safest way would be to ask your guests to manage their own transportation. If that’s not possible, you could opt for a bus, but note that you’ll have to ask people to keep to their households and leave some seats/rows in between others.

Reception

Seating at the reception may not be too difficult, as long as you keep households together and space your tables a full six feet apart. If possible, it might make sense to have a few different sizes of tables so you can accommodate different group sizes. 

The dance is a different story. If you’re properly socially distancing, a traditional dance is basically impossible. You may choose to forgo a dance altogether and just do a first dance as a couple. Remember, you can always do a reception down the road like you’ve always dreamed.

Planning a Wedding During a Pandemic

So, you’re engaged! Or maybe you’ve been engaged and had to postpone or reschedule your wedding. Now what? There are some considerations to take into account to keep you, your guests and vendors safe.

Consider a Smaller Event

This may be a given, but we know how hard it can be to cull down your guest list. Be sure to pay attention to any state restrictions on numbers of people for your gathering. In Minnesota 250 people total are allowed in spaces where weddings are held, but there are important things to note with this.

1. You must take into account that currently event spaces can only run at 25 percent capacity. Check with your venue as soon as possible to find out how many people they can accommodate so you can take vendors into account, which will help you narrow down how many guests you can invite.

2. Spacing of six feet must be maintained at all times between different households. There will need to be enough space in your venue to accommodate this. Check out this post for ideas on how to properly social distance at your wedding.

3. Don’t forget that the 250-person cap must include any vendors and event staff, so your guest list should not be 250—you need to make sure everyone accounted for in the space does not exceed 250 people.

Types of Small Weddings

A “small wedding” is typically defined as 50 people or less. This helps you easily accommodate vendors and staff while keeping anyone you invite a bit more safe than they’d be at a larger wedding.

If you’re willing to go even smaller, a “micro wedding” would be 20 guests or less. This typically accommodates for both immediate families and perhaps a few close friends.

A courthouse wedding can still be a beautiful option. You’ll need a few witnesses, so be sure to check how many guests are allowed, if a photographer can attend and if any decorations are allowed.

An elopement is the smallest way to tie the knot, and usually happens without the knowledge of family and friends. You could always celebrate with everyone down the road if you so choose.

Ceremony Only

You could skip the dinner and dance altogether, or postpone the reception for a later date. Opting for a ceremony only makes it easier to properly socially distance.

Whether you have 2 guests or 50, a smaller event opens up the option to have a larger celebration down the road. Perhaps a one year anniversary party?! Just remember that opting for two separate events could incur additional costs.

Virtual Wedding

No matter how many you decide to invite to your wedding, there may be people you’d like to have there who cannot attend. Video conferencing has made it incredibly easy to connect with loved ones during this time, so why not stream your ceremony for those friends and family who can’t make it?

Benefits of a Smaller Wedding

It can feel overwhelming to plan a wedding during uncertain times, but no matter how many people join you for your big day, it will still be beautiful and wonderful. Here are some benefits to having a smaller wedding. 

Potential Cost Savings/Shifted Priorities

Saving money is a great benefit and having a smaller wedding sometimes helps reduce your budget. With fewer guests, you can focus your budget on things that will help you document the big day. Maybe a videographer was out of your budget before, but now with fewer guests you can fit it in. And no matter how many guests attend, your photographs will help tell your love story to everyone after the fact. 

While you can expect to save money in some areas, it is important to keep in mind that you may have additional costs elsewhere. For example, you may need to hire a cleaning service to help keep high-touch areas clean throughout the event.

If you decide to forgo a reception, you can splurge on a dinner for just you and your new spouse, or with close family members to celebrate.

Different Venue Options

The smaller the wedding, the more venue options you’ll have. Think of all the amazing locations: rooftop, patio, backyard, restaurant, museum, garden, taproom, lake cruise—the list goes on and on. Just remember to keep your venue large enough for social distancing, even if you decide to have a small wedding. Explore some unique options and let your imagination run wild.

Intimacy

A smaller gathering allows you to truly spend quality time (socially distanced, of course!) with everyone who attends.

Make it a Wedding Al Fresco

An outdoor wedding has never been a better idea. Not only are weddings in the wild so magical, but they offer additional safety for you and your guests and vendors. Of course, you’ll need a secondary plan for inclement weather, but that’s what tents are for—plus, rain on your wedding day is good luck!

Forgo a Large Wedding Party

As fun as it can be for some, for others selecting a wedding party can be stressful. What if you didn’t have to choose a wedding party? It can be just as special with you, your spouse and your officiant up at the altar together while your close friends and family watch from the front few rows. 

Even without a wedding party, you can still allow close friends and family to be involved in a special way. 

• Lean on each person for things they’re great at--maybe some could help with decorations and making the venue shine. Perhaps others could sing, play an instrument, or do a reading during your ceremony. 

• You can still invite a few people to be with you as you get ready for the big day, just be sure there’s enough space for social distancing.

• If you want, you could still appoint someone who would plan a bachelorette/bachelor party or a shower.

Consider a Cleaning Service

Even with stay-at-home orders loosening, it’s important to keep up with cleanliness and social distancing. It may bring some peace of mind to everyone attending your event (vendors included!) if you bring in a cleaning service. Sani-Set is just one option in the Twin Cities area that will come in and clean before, during and after your event. While this is an added cost, it’s worth it to keep everyone safe.

No matter how your wedding comes together, just remember to stay positive. Your big day is about you and your soon-to-be spouse and it will be wonderful no matter what happens!

Photogen Inc // 2020 Lookbook

Our 2019 / 2020 wedding season brought me all around the United States and Central America! Our team had the pleasure of documenting so many amazing weddings and this was one of my favorite seasons of my career! Every year, I put together a lookbook of some of my favorite moments and this year’s collection really shines! Click below to view the entire book and enjoy - I can’t wait to see what this next year brings!

LOVEe