These two live in California, so our planning process involved a lot of Skype and whirlwind meetings with vendors. At the end of the day, we picked awesome companies that made this a wonderful wedding!Jennifer really wanted to give a nod to the English tradition of wearing fancy hats to formal affairs, and to also incorporate the European tradition of having a cheese tower in leiu of a wedding cake. Let me tell you, it was extraordinary. Guests wore lovely frocks and hats, and enjoyed the delicious cheese. Jennifer was a vision, with her vintage birdcage veil and fitted gown with intricate bead work! Her hair and makeup were done by Creative Beaute Agency, on site so she was able to relax with her girlfriends.
In order to have the romantic wedding of her dreams, we had to find a building that could accomodate both a wedding and a reception (she didn't want guests from out of state having to drive all over town) and had a vintage feel. Another priority, a venue that allows alcohol to be brought in, narrowed our search. The Historic Stillwater Courthouse fit the bill!Jake and Jennifer are foodies, so it was essential that the cuisine be absolutely fabulous. Another detail, they wanted to do a "small plates" family style dinner where course after course is served and shared. The menu ended up being unbelievable, and Brie Catering did a magnificent job serving and preparing delicious cuisine.
As for the cheese tower, The Wedge & the Wheel, located in Stillwater provided a gorgeous spread. A mix of hard and soft cheeses, served with crackers and exotic jam. YUM! Of course, just like a traditional wedding cake, we wanted it to be decorated. So we topped it with lush blooms; roses, dusty miller and sprigs of rosemary.
Speaking of flowers, we chose Rose Floral of Stillwater to provide the bouquets, cake flowers and centerpieces for the judge's bench and escort card table. They did an amazing job! Rose Floral incorporated the use of grapewood branches to display the Victorian elegance of the centerpieces.
Soft mauve roses, dusty miller and gypsum created beautiful bouquets. Set against the deep plum of the bridesmaid dresses, they absolutely popped.The color combination of deep plum with the softer pastels of the flowers really played up the soft, romantic atmosphere Jennifer desired to create. I think it was the perfect palette for an early autumn, vintage wedding!
Of course, to capture the timeless elegance of this very special day, we sought out one of the most talented photographers in Minnesota - Preston Palmer of Brovado Weddings. He's fantastic at organizing people to get "posed" shots and fading into the background to be ready for those candid moments.A wedding isn't complete without great music, and Instant Request provided spectacular entertainment for the evening. On point for every aspect of the reception, from announcing the speeches to the choreographed first dance. The party went on until midnight, with guests gracing the dance floor for the entire evening. Seriously, there were no dull moments!
In the middle of the festivities, Jake and Jennifer opened up the Dessert Buffet. The spread was designed by Cocoa and Fig, they offered a variety of luscious desserts: shooters, bars, mini cupcakes. It was incredible, and the nosh everyone needed as they danced off their meal.When the wonderful day ended, the newlyweds headed back to the Anne Bean Mansion to retire. It's only a stone's throw from the Historic Courthouse, which makes it a perfect accommodation.
It truly was a Wonderful Day Wedding. I hope that I've inspired you to create the wedding of your dreams. Special thank you to all of the fabulous vendors that helped create this momentous occasion.
VENDORS: ANN BEAM MANSION, BRIE CATERING, BROVADO WEDDINGS - PRESTON PALMER, LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER, COCOA & FIG, CREATIVE BEAUTE AGENCY, HISTORIC STILLWATER COURTHOUSE, INSTANT REQUEST, LINEN EFFECTS, ROSE FLORAL, SAVVI FORMALWEAR, WEDGE & WHEEL,
