Married! // Meggan + Nick

I first met Meggan and Nick while photographing Desiree & Yrjan’s wedding in Norway in 2014! I immediately loved these two and the energy they brought to the world! (I’d also like to note that literally everyone who has met this couple has also instantly fallen in love with them, it’s a thing.) Last year, I got a text from Meggan asking me ‘What would it take for you to come to Costa Rica and photograph our wedding?’ That text was all I needed, I was absolutely in for this adventure.

Meggan and Nick weren’t going to just have a wedding day, they were going to have a wedding week. All of their closest family and friends showed up to the little surf town of Tamarindo, Costa Rica for a week of events, parties, a wedding and even a sunset catamaran ride. There are so many memorable moments from this week that it was hard to narrow down into one blog post. Therefore, you all get to enjoy a very lengthy post that hopefully shows how this entire week felt - carefree, inspired, adventurous and most of all in love.

One fun fact about this couple is that she proposed to him! When Meggan asked, “Will you marry me?” Nick’s response was, “Of course, motherfucker!” Which you will see became a theme of their day!

Congratulations to Meggan and Nick on their marriage! It was a true pleasure to be a part of!

LOVEe

VENDORS//

Event Planning and Design: Perennial Weddings

Venue: Casa de Luz

Photography: Photogen Inc.

Brides Dress: Made with love Bridal

Grooms Suit: Indochino

Hair and Makeup: Shelly Willis

Catering: Catering Costa Rica

Cake Pops: Victoria Zoch

Flowers: Flores de Campos

Neon Sign: Heylights Co

Rentals: Leoni y Lolo and Los Primos

Live Music: Fabio Avelino

DJ: Stephen Denton

Married! // Leah + Justin

Leah and Justin had the perfect Fall day in Minnesota for their wedding. The colors on the trees were as vibrant as ever and the sun was shining! The couple opted for a traditional wedding ceremony at St. Phillip the Deacon and then we headed over to the oh-so-gorgeous Hutton House for the party!

Leah and Justin’s style is classic, clean and timeless. It’s also impeccable. The couple worked with Twirl Events for the design of their day and it came together beautifully! The day was filled with friends, family and love. It’s obvious that everyone around this couple is thrilled about their marriage and we are, too!

Congratulations to the new Mr. and Mrs. Hager!

LOVEe

VENDORS//

Hotel: The Hotel Landing

Ceremony Location: St. Phillip the Deacon

Reception Location: The Hutton House

Wedding Planner and Design: Twirl Events

Floral: Sadie’s Couture Floral

Hair and Makeup: Emily J

Champagne: The Tiny Tap

Balloons: Corner Balloon Shoppe

Rentals: Rudy’s Event Rentals and Linen Effects

Catering: D’amico

Cake: Buttercream

Live Music: The Travis Anderson Trio

DJ: Charlie from Instant Request

Married! // Robyn + Ryan

I first met Robyn Frank, aka Frankie, when she moved back to Minneapolis from New York. She was this incredibly energetic, sweet, feisty, powerhouse of a woman who always had the best red lipstick, wild hair and a smily and energy that was contagious. She also had the best heart. When it came to finding love though, there weren’t a lot of suitors who could keep up with Robyn, her dreams and ambitions. And then she met Ryan, aka Easy or Elo. His nickname came about because he truly is the most easy-going, kind hearted human you will ever meet. All of a sudden there was a shift in Robyn and she was swooning over this tall, dark, handsome, NICE guy! It was love!

Fast forward to September 2019 and Robyn and Ryan were all surrounded by their nearest and dearest family and friends to tie the knot! They chose to have a destination wedding at the Grandview Lodge in Brainerd, Minnesota and it was truly a beautiful fall day! We are so happy for this couple and were honored to be there to celebrate their love! Congrats to the new Mr. and Mrs!

LOVEe

VENDORS//

Venue: Grandview Lodge

Wedding Coordination: Lauren Goldfarb

Jewelry: Goldfine Jewelry

Floral: Petals and Beans

Officient: Rabbi Jen Hartman

Decor: Gwen Torfin

Makeup: Jennifer Gilbert

Cupcakes: Sweet Life Bakery

Dessert Bar: Thumbs Cookies

DJ: Roosevelt Mansfield or DJ Digie

Married! // Chelsea + Brandon!

Life has a very funny way of being serendipitous and putting people in your life at the perfect moment. Chelsea and I actually grew up in the same hometown, went to the same highschool and even travelled with our choir to Austria together! However, it wasn’t until she wrote me about being her wedding photographer that we really connected. Never in a million years did I think when we were kids that we would document this special day for her and Brandon, but that is what I love about life and frankly love - it surprises you in the best of ways!

I wrote about Brandon and Chelsea’s amazing connection in their engagement blog post and those same feelings of adoration, love and pure joy rang true on their wedding day as well! The couple chose to have their wedding in northern Minnesota at Lutsen Mountain, which was a destination trip for all of their guests! This was the perfect space for Brandon and Chelsea, since this couple really does thrive in the outdoors! Chelsea was of course a beautiful, stunning bride while Brandon also matched her beauty with his dapper look!

The weather was absolutely perfect for their weekend on the north shore and our team entirely enjoyed our time with Chelsea and Brandon’s family and friends. Beyond that, there were such sincere, heartfelt moments on their wedding day that left everyone believing in love! Congratulations to the new Mr. and Mrs. Hentkowski!

LOVEe

VENDORS//

Venue: Lutsen Mountains

Day of Coordination: Natalie Oslund of Polished Event Planning & Consulting

Bridal Dress: Pronovias at The White Room

Bridesmaids Dress: Show me your Mumu

Groom’s Suit: Blank Label

Groomsmen Suits: Menguin

Invitations + Programs: Jessi Rae Design

Greenery: Greenlund Ferneries

Engagement Ring: James Allen

Wedding Bands: Longs Jewelers

Catering: Lutsen Mountains

Cookies: Bluebird Cakery

Fudge: Beth’s Fudge

Band: Black River Revue

Officiant: Allan Tran

Signage, Details, Florals and Jams: Handmade by the bride

Rivets and Roses // 10 Year Celebration!

Ten years ago, I started a sister company to Photogen Inc. I called it Rivets and Roses because it was a little something different and the name had both masculine and feminine qualities. I started it because I saw the opportunity that creating a wedding photography studio could provide to other photographers and also the opportunity that we could provide to our clients: sustainable, inclusive wedding photography at an affordable price point. We started small with just one photographer and eventually this brand grew into a full wedding photography studio!

Honestly, Rivets and Roses isn’t about me at all. It’s grown far beyond my personal endorsement and has created a personality and life of its own. For the last decade our team of wildly talented photographers have photographed countless weddings for hundreds of amazing couples. Over the last ten years we have seen our artists thrive both within and beyond our studio doors. And during that time we are proud to have been at the forefront of same sex weddings and being a champion for equality and diversity.

Success means different things to different people, but for me, seeing a brand like Rivets and Roses reach this milestone — and continue to be better than ever — is a success! I’m proud of the artists we represent, the work that they continue to create, the clients we serve, and I’m mostly proud of the sheer calibur of amazing people that continue to be a part of this brand. We are a family. And I mean that in every sense of the word. From wedding vendors who refer us, to our assistants who give up their weekends to work weddings, we are truly surrounded by the best people!

If you haven’t read the full recap of the last ten years, I highly encourage you to head over to the Rivets and Roses blog - it’s totally worth the read! As for what is to come: well, even though we are ten years in, we are just getting started! Our clients continue to be at the forefront of everything we do and our team of photographers are better than ever! The year 2020 is bound to be an incredible (and busy) wedding season and as we embark on the future, I can’t wait to see where it will lead us all!

LOVEe

Married! // Christian + Lysa!

Lysa and Christian are a couple whose beauty is matched both inside and out. This summer the two exchanged vows at an intimate family wedding at Aria that was so meaningful and thoughtful. One of my favorite moments of their ceremony was the focus on the fact that we don’t know what life will bring, so lets all remember to live our lives to the fullest and surround ourselves with love.

The ceremony might have been small, but the party was big! Lysa and Christian celebrated with the Jordan Kahn Orchestra who brought the energy through the late hours of the night and it was incredible! D’amico Catering and Gohan Sushi also served some delicious bites and of course all of this was made possible by the lovely and talented Amy Zaroff and her dream team of vendors!

As we all partied the night away, I also have to give a nod to the incredible speeches that really didn’t leave a dry eye in the room. Not only do Lysa and Christian love each other so much, but everyone around them has been moved by their marriage as well!

Congratulations to Lysa and Christian! We are so happy for you!

LOVEe

VENDORS//

Getting Ready Location: Hewing Hotel

Venue: Aria

Event Design and Planning: Amy Zaroff Events + Design

Hair: Gem Salon

Makeup: Kristine Loehrer

Florals: Sadies Couture Floral

Furniture: Be Things Rentals

Rentals: Linen Effects

Catering: D’amico

Champagne: Tiny Tap

Sushi: Gohan Sushi

Ice Sculpture: Ice Occasions

Videography: Cal Brue

Ceremony Music: Birchwood String Quartet

Live Band: Jordan Kahn Orchestra

Decorative Lighting: Phos Events

Audio / Visual: AVEX

Married! // Nicole + Lucas!

Classic, but modern. Sleek, but traditional. Thoughtful and intentional - thes are all words that I would use to describe Nicole and Lucas’s amazing summer wedding at the Calhoun Beach Club. This couple has impeccable style and taste when it comes to dreaming up their wedding day. From both the Bride and Groom’s look to the fresh, bright minimalist details - everything was perfect.

I had a couple of favorite moments while photographing Nicole and Lucas’s wedding. First, these two were SO excited to marry one another. That energy carried on throughout the entire day and was contagious. But one thing I also observed was just how equally excited every single family, friend and wedding guest was to see the couple getting married as well. Everyone was thrilled and welcomed each other into their lives.

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

LOVEe

VENDORS//

Photography: Photogen Inc.

Day of Coordination: Pepperpenn Design House

Venue: Calhoun Beach Club

Flowers: Sadies Floral

Hair: Kristal Luhrs

Makeup: Sal Rodriguez

Bridesmaids Dress: Bella Bridesmaids

Groom’s Tux: The Black Tux

Rings and Bridal Jewelry: Thomas Joseph and Sons

Quartet: Ovation String Quartet

DJ: Instant Request

Photo Booth: Selfie & Co.

Officiant: Rev Amy Riesenberg

2019 Summer + Fall // Published

It’s always exciting to see the latest wedding magazines come out and see our wedding clients featured! This Summer / Fall season of 2019 is extra special though, because we have a few features (and covers!) in the mix!

First, we are thrilled that Jenna + Darrin’s amazing Duluth wedding landed the cover of Lake Bride Magazine, along with a real-wedding feature. You can check out Part 1 and Part 2 of their wedding on our blog!

Next, we have Erin + Mickey’s modern + romantic winter wedding in the pages of Minneapolis / St. Paul Wedding Magazine! This couple has exquisite taste, so it’s no surprise that their wedding was chosen to inspire!

Lastly, on the editorial side of things, I also photographed the cover editorial spread for the same issue! You can check out more images and behind the scene photos over on the Eliesa website!

Ally + Jake // Engaged!

Ally and Jake met while on the road for work. A few years later, Jake proposed and now they’re in full wedding planning mode for the 2020 season! For their engagement session, we went out to the oh-so-lovely Redeemed Farm and it was the perfect summer afternoon session! Since the couple is getting married out East, they wanted to bring in touches of the Midwest for their engagement photos. Redeemed Farm was truly the perfect location for this!

Congratulations to Ally and Jake on their engagement!

LOVEe

Leah + Justin // Engaged!

Leah and Justin totally have that ‘thing’ that happens when you know you’ve met the person you’re supposed to be with the rest of your life. They have ‘it’ - the mysterious, wonderful, unexplainable thing we call love. Leah grew up here in Minnesota, but the couple met out in Boston where they lived until recently! Together with their two pups, they’re settling back in the homeland and I couldn’t be more excited for their wedding this fall in Minnesota!

Congratulations to Leah and Justin on their engagement!

LOVEe

Married! // Meghan + Nate

Hearing how couples meet is one of my favorite things about photographing weddings. Meghan and Nate have a very serendipitous story. Their parents knew one another when the kids were little, but it wasn’t until around college that these two connected. As fate would have it, Meghan and Nate were perfect for one another and 12 years after they began dating, these two tied the knot at the Weisman Art Museum in Minneapolis, MN.

I’ve known Nate for years through the photography world (many of you might know his amaaaazing work for The Current ). It’s been so cool to see him grow as an artist and a leader in our photography community and it has truly been extra special to get to know him and Meghan together. They are a power couple to say the least. Meghan has a thriving career on the faculty for St. Catherine University and they also both love to cycle, travel, run and compete. More importantly though, they both have really big hearts for service and giving back to the communities they are a part of. It was so great to see them with their closest family and friends for their wedding day, which also was one of the most beautiful receptions ever!

Congratulations to Meghan and Nate - we are all so happy for you!

LOVEe

VENDORS//

Ceremony + Reception Location: The Weisman Art Museum

Bride’s Dress: Posh Bridal Couture

Bridesmaid Dresses: Midge

Groom’s + Groomsmen Suits: Indochino

Florals: Ashley Fox Designs

Catering + Desserts: D’Amico

Pedicabs: Minneapolis Pedicabs

Strings: Laurel’s String Quartet

Live Music: The Electric Party Authority

Rentals: Aprés Party

Best Moments of 2018!

As another year comes to a close, it’s the perfect time to reflect and look back upon some of my favorite moments from the weddings in 2018! This season was incredible and I’m so proud of the work that our team created for our clients! Really though, it’s continually humbling to be invited to photograph a wedding. It’s such an intimate and special moment in a family’s life - it’s a true honor to be the ones to document it!

When I put together the “Best Of” list, I want to choose images that speak to me. The images below might not be the standard, popular poses or even the prettiest pictures, but they are the ones that truly speak to me. They are the images that tell a story and give me true emotion when I look at them. That’s what we strive for. Some of these images came out of my camera and others came from our assisting team. It’s a group effort from us all on a wedding day and I’m so lucky to work with our crew of photographers.

Without further adieu, my favorite wedding moments from 2018! Enjoy!

LOVEe

Chelsea + Brandon // Engaged!

Brandon and Chelsea are really something special. From the first time I heard Chelsea talk about her new fiancé, she was simply beaming with love and pride! I finally got to meet Brandon on the day of their engagement session and it’s clear that these two have the same adoration for each other! This couple is adventurous, bold and loves to have fun. Being outdoors is one of their favorite past times, so that’s exactly what we did for their engagement session!

We ventured out on a gorgeous winter day in Minnesota to Afton State Park. Brandon and Chelsea wanted to incorporate something they would actually do in real life, which was to take a little hike with their dog, Fynn, and share a bottle of wine over the campfire! (Note, this happened to be one of the couple’s favorite vineyards from Colorado - Varaison Vineyards) We checked all of those boxes for their session and I love how these turned out! So very excited for this couple and I can’t wait until their wedding day!

LOVEe

Married! // Maki + Jiten Part 2

Maki + Jiten’s wedding day will forever go down as one of my all-time-favorites. I spent three days with this couple, their family and friends and I can’t begin to say enough about how incredibly nice and fun everyone was - emphasis on fun! We began the day at the crack of dawn and partied until sundown. One of my favorite moments of an Indian wedding is the Baraat, which is traditionally when the Groom travels to the wedding venue and is accompanied by his friends & family. It’s joyous, it’s festive and it’s a fantastic way to kick off such a celebration.

Beyond that, Maki + Jiten’s wedding day was filled with spectacular moments and it was gorgeous. Many of their guests joined from all over the world and we are all so happy for this couple as they begin their lives together! And if you missed Part 1 of this wedding, make sure to check it out here!

LOVEe

VENDORS//

Wedding Planning, Styling and Coordination: Julia LaCroix Styled Events

Venue: JW Marriott Minneapolis Mall of America

Officiant: Dr. Anantanand Rambachan   

Photography: Photogen-Inc.      

Videography: A.B. Rich Films

DJ + Lighting: Instant Request                    

Rentals: Après Event Décor and Tent Rental

Floral:    Sadie's Couture Floral

Mandap + draping: Y & I Events

Mandap furniture: Indra Patel   

Desserts: Cocoa & Fig    

Hair & Makeup: Emily J Hair + Makeup  

Transportation: Star Transportation

Dhol Player: Sundeep Patel

Baraat Horse: The Hitching Company

Stationery: A Milestone Paper Co.

Escort Card Calligraphy: Rosann Konieczny Calligrapher

Invitation Calligraphy: Calligraphy with Style

Photo Booth: The Traveling Photo Booth    

Married! // Maki + Jiten Part 1

I’ve been looking forward to Maki + Jiten’s wedding for quite some time! It was a three-day wedding extravaganza, filled with tradition and amazing moments! We began at Maki’s family home for the Mehndi, which is an open house for guests to meet, mingle and take part in the Mehndi ceremony, otherwise known as Henna. It’s such a gorgeous art form and is said to bring good luck, good health and prosperity to the bride on her wedding day!

The next evening was spent at Aria for the Sangeet. This is a night filled with celebration, music and dancing - and that’s an understatement - this night is SO fun! The bride, groom and all their family and friends really stepped it up with some amazing dancing! There was a very sweet moment during this night when Jiten surprised Maki with a performance to Bruno Mars’ “Marry You”. It was unforgettable and a great preface to the excitement of their wedding day, which is coming soon in Part 2 of this post! In the meantime, enjoy these moments from the Mehndi + Sangeet!

LOVEe

VENDORS//

Wedding Planning, Styling and Coordination: Julia LaCroix Styled Events

Venue: Aria

Caterer: D'Amico Catering           

Photography: Photogen-Inc.      

Videography: A.B. Rich Films

DJ + Lighting: Instant Request    

Umbrella Installation: PHOS Events

Rentals: Linen Effects

Desserts: Cocoa & Fig    

Hair & Makeup: Emily J Hair + Makeup  

Stationery: A Milestone Paper Co.           

Calligraphy: Rosann Konieczny Calligrapher    

Married! // Jenna + Darrin Part 2

Jenna and Darrin's wedding day was 13 1/2 years in the making. These two met when they were in algebra class and have grown together over the years to become a really strong couple.

One of my favorite parts of their wedding day was the speeches. Every person gave a phenomenal speech, but the coolest part is that everyone touched on Jenna and Darrin's character. They are hard working, dedicated, loyal, committed and fun people. They care so much for their friends and family and all of these traits were at the forefront of their wedding day. Not to mention their impeccable style. 

The couple chose to get married in their hometown of Duluth, Minnesota and it was truly a perfect day filled with unforgettable moments! We've already shared in Part 1 about their amazing rehearsal dinner - now it's time to share the wedding! Congratulations to the new Mr. and Mrs. Dzuck - thank you for leaving us all feeling inspired about love!

LOVEe

VENDORS//

Venue: Pier B Resort

Wedding Planning + Design: Northland Special Events

Flowers: Fleurtation

Invitation + Paper Design: Paper Rock Scissor

Cake: Snazzy Cakes

Desserts: Farina Baking Company

Bride's Dress: Hayley Paige, A&Be Bridal Shop Minneapolis

Bride's Hair + Makeup: Anonby Salon, Sara Lien

Bridesmaid's Hair + Makeup: Kellie Sengthao, Nikki Simone, Kelsey Schubert

Groom's Look: Todd Snyder and Gucci

Groom's Hair: BAM Style, Brendan Manion

Alterations: Amazing Alterations

Videographer: Mere Cinema

Entertainment: Rock With U Entertainment

Rentals: London Road Rental

Married! // Jenna + Darrin Part 1

Jenna and Darrin have been booked with me for a little over one year and their wedding weekend has been one that I have looked forward to the most! I knew that a lot of planning was going into their day and no detail would be left undone, but what exceeded my expectations was the sheer amount of fun we had with their friends and family all weekend. These were truly great people! 

Both Jenna and Darrin's rehearsal and wedding reception took place at Pier B Resort in their hometown of Duluth, Minnesota. There are so many images from their festivities that I felt they deserved a two-part blog post. So, we'll start here with their rehearsal dinner that overlooked some of the best views of the city! Beyond that, this couple has great style (please note the amazing cape the bride wore!) and between the custom jean jackets and gorgeous cookies, there was no shortage of beauty! 

More on Jenna and Darrin's love story in the next post!

LOVEe

VENDORS//

Venue: Pier B Resort

Wedding Planning: Northland Special Events

Paper Design: Paper Rock Scissor

Flowers: Fleurtation

Desserts: Farina Baking Company

Cape: BHLDN

Bride's Dress: Misha Collection

Groom's Look: Tommy Hilfiger

Engaged! // Trish + Chase

Chase noticed Trish from afar and it was love at first sight, but Trish didn't know it yet. The couple works for the same company and through a series of events - and one important morning at Starbucks - he finally found out her name. Chase worked really hard to figure out who the beautiful woman was and finally had the chance to ask her out on a date! 

One week after the couple met, Trish invited Chase to a family wedding in Colorado. Bold, right? I love it! It was there that Trish and Chase realized that they have all sorts of deep rooted connections with their friends and family and from that point on, the two were inseparable. 

Trish and Chase have traveled the world since then, even getting engaged in Rome! It's fitting that their wedding will be in Napa, where the wine will be flowing and the scenery will be stunning! For their engagement session, we kept it close to home here in Minneapolis, but incorporated elements of their big day (aka - the wine and bubbly!).

I have really loved getting to know Trish and Chase and totally fell in love myself with their story! I'm so happy for these two!

LOVEe

Married! // Raquel + Jared

There is one iconic picture from Jared + Raquel's engagement session of these two dancing that I just adore. That same energy and spirit carried over into their wedding day, which was a true celebration. First of all, this couple can dance. Their families can dance. Their friends can dance. This crew can just get down - no matter if they were getting ready, riding on their trolley or actually on the dance floor, there was no shortage of celebrating on this day! On the flip side, there was also a lot of beautiful emotion.

Jared and Raquel chose to get married at the Basilica of St. Mary and it was just magical. The couple even opted to have the Basilica Choir sing, which I have never experienced and it was so beautiful! Everything about this wedding was gorgeous - from the couple to Raquel's custom dress (and romper!), their amazing cake and a reception which was inspired by Kate Spade - it was all perfect!

Congratulations to the new Mr. and Mrs. Davin!

LOVEe 

VENDORS//

Wedding Planning: Rachelle of Style Architects Weddings

Ceremony Venue: Basilica of St. Mary

Reception Venue: A'bulae

Wedding Dress: Lazaro at Bella Bianca, Chicago

Tux: B. Spoke

Jeweler: Marshall Pierce 

Photography: Photogen Inc. 

Videography: Harvest Film Co. 

Cake + Desserts: Farina

Catering: Mintahoe

Floral: Sadie's Floral

Hair & Makeup: Nicole Fae

Invitations + Paper: Paper Rock Scissor

Hotel: Le Meridien Chambers

Linens + Decor: Linen Effects

DJ: Primetime DJ

Bridesmaid Dresses: Bella Bridesmaids

Transportation: Renee’s Royal Valet & Rent My Party Bus

Married! // Jorge + Jill

Jorge and I are friends, but we have also had the pleasure of collaborating on work together. He's a remarkable Chef (and a James Beard nominee, in fact!) that the Midwest is lucky to have. A couple of months ago, we were texting about a work thing and he replied, "I'm sorry - I'm going to have to get back to you. I think my future wife just walked into the room." A couple of weeks later I received another text asking if I could shoot their wedding in May! When I met Jill for the first time and saw Jorge with her, I knew they had something really special. Turns out, that whole love-at-first-sight-thing is real for these two! 

Photographing their wedding was really an honor. I talk about how powerful it is to witness a couple's love on their wedding day as a photographer, but the simplicity and realness that Jorge and Jill brought to their day was also incredibly refreshing. The time that was spent with their closest family and friends, along with the moments of their day were truly remarkable and it was so wonderful to be a part of!

Congratulations to the new Mr. and Mrs. Guzmán! I am so very happy for you!

LOVEe

VENDORS//

Dress: BHLDN

Suit: Heimie's Haberdashery

Cocktail Hour: St. Genevieve

Dinner: Burch Steak

Cake: Zoë François