A chic winter wedding

Brittany reached out to me to photograph their elopement at Minneapolis City Hall. She told me she wanted it to feel chic with a touch of 90s nostalgia. The bride came dressed in a crisp white pantsuit. And, she accessorized this with a string of pearls and a wide brimmed hat with a veil–an homage to the ’90s classic movie The Parent Trap.

The ceremony itself was short and sweet. It was performed by a judge who came in on the weekend to help the couple celebrate. The couple’s immediate families and a few close friends were in attendance, and we made sure to grab as many group photos as we could before our time at City Hall was up. Everyone was eager to snag a photo with the bride and groom!

Using direct flash to create nostalgic and “red carpet” feelings

While my overall style leans more candid and documentary, I knew we should lean into the paparazzi vibes while inside Minneapolis City Hall. I used direct flash to create some prompted candid photos of the newlyweds. We played around with a vintage style elevator for some fun and trendy couples photos.

Flash photography has resurged in popularity because it brings an elevated, high fashion feel to any setting. And on a dance floor? Direct flash photography keeps the party energy going long after the day is done. I love the versatility of using flash photography in any setting, both indoors and out! Wedding days can bring unexpected lighting scenarios. As a Minneapolis wedding photographer, it’s important that I know how to use both natural light and flash photography to make your wedding photos timeless and memorable.

Walking around downtown Minneapolis

We stepped outside of City Hall to take some photos in downtown Minneapolis. The historic architecture of the government buildings paired with the iconic city skyline makes a stunning urban backdrop for candid wedding portraits. Since the ground was still covered in snow, we didn’t make it to the metro station on the other side. However, we did walk around in front of Minneapolis City Hall and captured a few of my personal favorite couples photos from their day.

The bride and groom had such a fun carefree attitude that shows through their wedding photos. They braved the cold weather for the sake of beautiful portraits. The couple even co-created with me by sharing their own vision and ideas for unique portraits during their winter elopement. We incorporated movement and life into their portraits by walking, twirling, hugging, and kissing. These two proved once again that the vibes you bring to your wedding day are just as important as the details and decor for creating stunning, heartfelt photos.

Restaurant wedding receptions are iconic

After celebrating their wedding vows at Minneapolis City Hall, the couple joined family and friends at The Tavern Grill in Apple Valley, MN. They settled into a cozy room with a long table, chatting amongst themselves. Here I witnessed quiet moments of the groom playing with his ring, the bride and her best friend admiring her new wedding ring, and subtle looks of knowing glances from loved ones. I also watched as guests toasted and cheered for the newlyweds. With cocktails in hand, everyone was excited to be sharing a meal and quality time together.

The couple brought in a trendy heart-shaped wedding cake with the phrase “just married” piped on in gold frosting. They decided to cut the cake before the appetizers arrived and shared those sweet, silly moments together. Most couples have never cut a cake together in the traditional way, so it’s always fun to see them work together to figure out how to hold the knife with one hand each while also keeping the cake from tipping over or the small slice from falling over. The concentration and the laughter always make for some interesting and fun photos. And of course, it’s important that no frosting ever goes to waste! Licking the frosting off of the knife or off your fingers can be a great photo opportunity as well.

The intimacy of spending time with your loved ones around a table in a restaurant setting is so special. The atmosphere lends itself to mingling and chatting in between courses. This makes it easier for you as the couple to greet all of your guests and share fond memories with each other. If you do a full buyout of the restaurant for your wedding reception, many chefs will work with you to create a customized menu with delicious entrees for everyone to enjoy.

Making your wedding day your own

You’ll hear this over and over again while you’re planning a wedding: “make your day your own.” Often, wedding vendors use this to encourage you to break from traditions and do new and exciting things that haven’t been done before. It’s so great to break out of the mold of typical wedding planning. But it’s also true that traditions exist for a reason. Include any wedding trends that are exciting to you! If certain traditions hold sentimental value for you and your fiance, go for it! All the planning you do before your event will make your wedding day so much more meaningful– and it will show in your photos.

Enjoy Brittany and Serguei’s Minneapolis City Hall winter elopement photos!

If you enjoyed this post, be sure to check out Annamarie and Drew’s Heartfelt Fall Wedding on Lake Superior.
Find other unique Minneapolis Wedding Venues on the blog as well!