Blog
Love stories and more
Look for my favorite wedding planning tips and tricks, behind the scenes tidbits about my life, and, of course, features of many of the beautiful couples who spend time in front of my camera.
I promise it’s worth your while.
Why to Hire a Professional Wedding Photographer
Your cousin got a nice camera for Christmas last year and your aunt loves taking wildlife photos when she’s on vacation.
Wouldn’t it just be easiest to have one of them photograph your wedding?
Easy is one thing. But a choice you’ll still be happy with 25 years from now? That’s something else entirely.
3 Ways to Make Your Photographer’s Life Better
Okay, okay, I know! Your wedding day is about YOU, not your photographer.
But what if I were to tell you there were three things you can do before your wedding day to make your photographer’s life easier - which in turn means they’ll do an even better job hyping you up, keeping you on schedule, catching special moments on camera, AND they will love you even more than they did before?
Cheers to the Groomsmen
We were driving across Wisconsin last week when I asked my husband, “If we were planning our wedding again, what is something you wish you had known more about?” in hopes of catching a little inspiration for my next blog post. Naturally, he read my mind and knew exactly why I was asking him that question out of the blue so his answer surprised me.
Uneven Wedding Parties
Here’s a wedding trend that I hope sticks around for a good long time: couples doing whatever the heck they want!
One example of this is? Uneven wedding parties. When you want the most important people to stand next to you on your wedding day, it may not always include the same number on both sides - and that’s okay!
Successfully Planning Family Photos on Your Wedding Day
Would you have guessed that the family photos on a wedding day is one of the largest stressors I see for engaged couples?
Even before they fully jump into wedding planning, it's on their minds. For instance, over half the people I spoke with at the MN Bridal & Wedding Expo yesterday asked me how I handle family photos.
Editing Your Wedding Plans
It's easy to get a bit carried away when planning your wedding! There is inspiration everywhere you look and it's fun to get swept up in trends and suggestions from bridal magazines and well-intentioned family and friends.
Dollar Dance Alternatives
If you’re not familiar with the term, the wedding party collects money from guests so they can dance with one of the newlyweds. Not only does it round up a little spare cash for the couple to put towards a honeymoon or other future plans, but the real benefit is that it gives you time to chat with your dance partners one-on-one for a little while during a day that FLIES by.
What I Wish Everyone Knew About Their Engagement Session
Four things I wish everyone knew to feel more relaxed and have a great time during their engagement session
Choosing a Date for Spring Flower Photos
Spring in Minnesota is a gorgeous time of year, but anyone who has spent any time here knows it is a finicky season that likes to throw us some unexpected curve balls...which makes planning a session to coincide with the spring blooms p-r-e-t-t-y challenging.
What to Wear for Winter Engagement Photos
Winter engagement sessions: the perfect excuse to snuggle up with your love while making the most of the Midwestern snow (because let's face it, it's going to be here whether we like it or not...so you might as well get some cute photos).
Reasons to Attend a Wedding Fair
Whether you’ve been dreaming about your wedding since you were young or just got engaged and have no idea how to start planning, a wedding fair is sure to have something for everyone!
The Bridal Suite
The bridal suite you choose can make or break the photos capturing the quiet start to your day as you chat with your bridesmaids over mimosas, step into your dress for the first time, and your mom zips you in.
Mastering the Guest List
Setting your guest list can help narrow down your venue options, determine how you plan to use your catering budget, and so much more. That’s why it is important to identify at least a ballpark number of people you expect to invite as you start wedding planning!
Staying True to Yourself while Wedding Planning
Unpopular opinion: planning a wedding is intimidating. Okay, “unpopular” may not be the right word, but when you announce you’re engaged I guarantee you’ll be met with a flood of excited questions about your plans! I’d be shocked if many people acknowledge that it can be, at times, challenging and overwhelming.
Honoring Deceased Loved Ones on Your Wedding Day
When you’ve lost a loved one, it can make planning your wedding bittersweet. It’s natural to want to include them in a special way, but I know I found it overwhelming to think about when it was my own turn to get married. If you’re in the same boat, here are a few ideas to consider…
Planning an Outdoor Wedding in Minnesota
We live in a pretty magical place. Minnesota has it all: lakes, rivers, bluffs, forests, prairies, four real seasons, and the nicest people you’ll ever meet. PLUS, we don’t have earthquakes, hurricanes, or those scary huge spiders that live in Australia. I’m biased, but the land of 10,000 lakes is one of the best places for a wedding.
Intimate Weddings
Intimate weddings are on the rise, and for good reason! Covid forced us to change everything we thought we knew about planning events, but also gave us an unexpected chance to slow down and reevaluate what is most important to us in life.
Including Flower Girls and Ring Bearers in Your Wedding
I was ecstatic when my aunt asked me to be a flower girl in her wedding; I wanted to be the best flower girl the world had ever seen. Since her wedding was going to be on the 11th of July, 11 quickly became my favorite number. I would do everything in groups of 11, from the number of skips I made jumping rope to how I would sort my peas on my plate at dinner. (Oh yeah, I was one of those kids!)
Outdoor Photos at Winter Weddings
I looove a winter wedding - and I’m happy to wind up with frozen fingers if it means we had the opportunity to take outdoor photos! If you’re planning a fabulous winter soiree, here are a few tips and tricks to keep in mind when it comes to your photography plan for the day:
Planning a Wedding Without a First Look
I love weddings with first looks for many reasons, but there can also be something pretty magical about seeing each other for the first time right as your ceremony begins.