There’s nothing like celebrating your love by sharing an unforgettable meal with your favorite people. It combines the coziness of sharing a meal with the decadence of really good food. That’s exactly the kind of experience you can expect at Diane’s Place, a Hmong American patisserie and restaurant now hosting weddings. Check out this styled session for inspiration for your vibrant, delicious celebration!
Diane’s Place is one of my favorite spots in Minneapolis. The executive chef and owner, Diane Moua, has built something really special. She’s a pastry chef with all the training and accolades you can imagine – educated at Le Cordon Bleu and nominated for seven James Beard Awards.
The menu at Diane’s Place doesn’t stop at the mouthwatering croissants. The brunch and dinner menus include Hmong-inspired dishes like Thai tea French toast, pulled pork, and papaya noodle salad. The inspired cocktails are just as delicious as the food. If you’re considering a brunch wedding, this would be a perfect place to have it!
Relatively recently, Daine’s Place opened an event space. The 2,000-square-foot space includes a courtyard, common room, and tasting room. Lots of floor plans are possible, giving you the ability to tailor your event design to the experience you want. (Check out the possible floor plans here.)
For this styled session, we set up the ceremony in the courtyard. The whimsical rock formations made a cool backdrop. The colorful flowers popped against them.
Inside the event space, the aesthetic is sleek and modern. The white walls are minimalist enough for you to bring just about any vision to life, though. Some decor completely changes the energy from “contemporary brunch spot” to “Parisian café.”
If you’re considering having your wedding at Diane’s Place, here are some helpful details to keep in mind.
Diane’s Place is located in the Sheridan neighborhood in Minneapolis. On your wedding day, it would be easy to pop over the Sheridan Memorial Park to take photos with the sculptures and Mississippi River. Even in the winter, this neighborhood has beautiful locations for photos.
For this styled session, we wanted to create an elevated but playful shoot that showcased the new event space. Rich, vibrant colors and textures created a beautiful backdrop for the delicious pastries. Essentially, we wanted “big dinner party energy”!
I can’t overemphasize how important Steph from Serce Events was in transforming Diane’s Place for this session. She’s so good at crafting spaces for meaningful moments to happen. You really see that in the event design and vendors she brought together for this session.
Beck from Pansy Floral was another key player in bringing the vision to life. Her florals are absolutely breathtaking. They made the tables feel like Renaissance paintings. I love the way she created so much movement with orchids, amaranth, and lisanthus. The colors were absolutely gorgeous. I’d love to photograph more weddings featuring Beck’s work!
I’m excited any time I get to photograph a wedding, but dinner party receptions are unique. The marriers get so many opportunities to connect with the people they love. Plus you get to treat your guests to food that they’ll talk about for years to come.
Would you like to see more wedding receptions with an elegant, inviting dinner party theme? Check out these blog posts!
Another bonus: When you get married at a local restaurant at Daine’s Place, you have your anniversary plans figured out. You can go back every year for a celebratory meal to reminisce in the place where you tied the knot.
Would you like me to photograph your wedding? I’m Ashley, a Minneapolis wedding photographer, and I’ll document your day with homey, heartfelt photos. Inquire with me here!
Thank you to the vendors who helped make this styled session so amazing!
Venue, Bar, and Food: Diane’s Place
Photography: The Coe Collective
Event Planning and Design: Serce Events
Florals: Pansy Floral
Hair: Emily Alexander Artistry
Makeup: ESO Makeup
Rentals: Après Event Decor and Tent Rental
Bridal Attire: Anna Bé Bridal Boutique and Guardiola Bridal
Model: Katrina Thielen
I'm a Minnesota wedding photographer. I am best known for my candid photos that showcase the truest spirits of you and the people you love. As a documentary wedding photographer, I give you space for uninterrupted moments to experience your event as it happens. Always present, but not intrusive. I am always on the move, working my way into the middle of the action as often as I stand back and observe. This approach results in a comprehensive gallery of images that honestly and wholeheartedly tell the story of your wedding day-- the story of how you love, who was there, and why it matters.