http://www.chowgirls.net/

http://camrosehillflowers.com/farm.html

Mestads Bridal and Formal Wear has stores in Rochester, Edina and St. Cloud MN. The Rochester location is its flagship and you can still find Mestads family members working the floor (husband, wife, daughter and granddaughter). There are plenty of bridal shops in the Twin Cities but this one is worth the drive–it’s an exclusive retailer for high-end designers you can’t find anywhere else. Our photographer and studio manager, Jessica, found her Pronovias wedding dress and bridesmaid dresses at Mestads.

Mestads

http://www.damicocatering.com/
http://www.lemeridienchambers.com/

http://www.damicocatering.com/
http://www.lemeridienchambers.com/

http://www.cateringbydesign.org/

http://www.thetravelingphotobooth.com/#real
http://camrosehillflowers.com/farm.html

http://www.damicocatering.com/
http://www.lemeridienchambers.com/

The Waterfront Restaurant and Tavern caters all our Wisconsin weddings. Their event spaces overlook the river, bluffs and beautiful green spaces of LaCrosse. Travel to them or, if you prefer a tent wedding, they’ll travel to you.

The Waterfront

http://www.cateringbydesign.org/

Again, why just buy one wedding dress from Mestads when you can have two? This was the dress Amily wore for her wedding ceremony. She wore a different dress for the dinner before and desserts after.

Mestads

Apres
Ambiente
Arts & Flowers
Round Barn Farm

L’atelier Couture Bridal

Rice Park, located downtown St. Paul MN, is surrounded by the Ordway Theater and several popular wedding venues.  The venues include Saint Paul Hotel, Landmark Center, James J. Hill Library and 317 on Rice Park.  Most of our brides get ready at Saint Paul Hotel (no matter what venue they choose) and head to the park for group photos. Stephanie and Anthony stole a quiet moment at the park before their wedding ceremony.

Rice Park

Arts and Flowers

Ambiente

The bride wore Monique Lhuillier, her bridesmaids wore Priscilla of Boston.

Priscilla of Boston

The Waterfront Restaurant and Tavern is a family-owned business so, when one of their own married last year, they pulled out all the stops. Guests at the wedding reception dined on oysters, shrimp, sushi, swordfish, beef tenderloin, homemade pasta, cheese curds and so much more…

The Waterfront
Weddings by Nancy

The Traveling Photo Booth makes for good entertainment and parting gifts at wedding receptions. The photo strips print in sets of two. One for the bride and groom and one for the guest. The blackmail material is posted online, later, for all to see.

The Traveling Photo Booth
Varsity Theater

Floral Logic is located in the historic Semple Mansion on Franklin Avenue in Minneapolis MN.

Floral Logic

The waitstaff for Three Sons Kitchen is exceptional. We photographed this wedding on a smoldering hot day and had to stop, frequently, to wipe sweat from our eyes. When we did so, they were always there, holding ice cold drinks for us.

Three Sons Kitchen
Camrose Hill

I’m not sure, but I think this wedding dress is by Pronovias–a designer exclusive to Mestads Bridal and Formal Wear in Rochester MN. The ruching and fabric are telltale signs.

Mestads

Anna’s dress and Dan’s suit are from J. Crew Bridal Boutique. The boutique is located in New York NY. If you live in the Midwest like we do, make an appointment for the Chicago store on Michigan Avenue. A consultant will show you samples of the dresses and take your measurements.

J. Crew Bridal
Camrose Hill

Wedding planners love Ultimate Events, a tent and party rental company in the Twin Cities.

Ultimate Events
Camrose Hill

Sister Shaw is an Americana band fronted by vocalists and siblings, Kari and Megan Shaw. Their sweet, soothing harmonies completely blew us away when they performed at Anna and Dan’s outdoor wedding at Camrose Hill Farm.

http://www.sistershaw.com/
http://camrosehillflowers.com/farm.html

 
Laura and Peter served “hot peters” at their wedding reception. The mini brats with spicy mustard were one of many culinary delights cooked up by the chefs at Catering by Design and wedding planner Nancy Flottmeyer.

http://www.cateringbydesign.org/
http://www.rochesterartcenter.org/index.html
http://www.weddingsbynancy.com/

http://www.skywayevents.com/
http://camrosehillflowers.com/farm.html
http://mimi-design.com/

This bride’s Cinderella wedding dress was made by Priscilla of Boston. In Minnesota, you can find Priscilla of Boston dresses at the Priscilla of Boston “signature salon” in Edina, Bridal Accents Couture in Savage and Flutter Boutique in Minneapolis.

http://www.priscillaofboston.com/index.jsp
http://www.bridalaccentscouture.com/
http://www.flutterboutique.com/
http://www.landmarkcenter.org/rental.html

Richfield Flowers and Events draped the Landmark Center in St. Paul MN for a New Year’s Eve wedding.

http://www.richfieldflowers.com/
http://www.instantrequest.com/
http://ambientegroup.com/
http://www.landmarkcenter.org/rental.html
http://www.artsflowersmn.com/

http://www.musiciansunlimited.com/the_sevilles.htm
http://www.instantrequest.com/
http://www.landmarkcenter.org/rental.html

http://watermarkstationery.com/
http://www.lineneffects.com/
http://ambientegroup.com/

If you are planning a winter wedding, check out the sparkle on these glitter linens from Linen Effects. We photographed them at a black tie wedding on New Year’s Eve.

http://www.lineneffects.com/
http://www.instantrequest.com/
http://ambientegroup.com/
http://www.landmarkcenter.org/rental.html
http://www.artsflowersmn.com/

Tall flower arrangements, draping and dramatic lighting by Instant Request made this winter wedding feel warm and intimate. It was no small feat considering Landmark Center’s multi-storied ceilings.

http://www.instantrequest.com/
http://ambientegroup.com/
http://www.landmarkcenter.org/rental.html
http://www.artsflowersmn.com/
http://www.lineneffects.com/
http://www.richfieldflowers.com/

Gracious Gifts (also known as Funky Chunky) filled a 24-foot dessert table with chocolate covered fruit, chips, pretzels, licorice, cookies and doughnuts at a New Year’s Eve wedding reception.

http://www.funkychunkyinc.com/
http://ambientegroup.com/

These are just a few of the courses D’Amico Catering served at a black tie wedding reception on New Year’s Eve. The caesar salad, king crab ravioli, sea scallops, filet mignon and beef short ribs were so filling, we had little room left for the 6-tier wedding cake and 24-foot dessert table (never mind the hors d’oeuvres and late-night sliders we ate before and after).

http://www.damicocatering.com/
http://ambientegroup.com/
http://www.landmarkcenter.org/

MBZ Design and Event Studio’s flowers made us yearn for Spring. So did the blizzard that raged the entire day and night of Colleen and Kurt’s wedding.

http://www.jjhill.org/
http://www.mbzdesignandeventstudio.com/

Gateaux’s winter-themed wedding cake was supposed to be featured on WEtv’s Amazing Wedding Cakes but taping was stopped at the last minute because producers didn’t want to do “another snowflake cake”. While this may be true, we think the snowstorm outside had more to do with it. Minnesota winters are cold. Minnesota blizzards, well, they’ll send you packing (literally).

http://www.jjhill.org/
http://gateaux-inc.com/
http://www.WEtv.com/amazing-wedding-cakes/index.html

Don’t let it’s lackluster name and website fool you. The Deco Catering puts all it’s super powers into the taste and presentation of its food and that’s why we consider it one of our top picks for catering (anywhere).

http://www.decocatering.com/
http://www.jjhill.org/

The detail on wedding cakes from Country Cake Cupboard never goes unnoticed.

http://www.countrycakecupboard.com/www.countrycakecupboard.com/Welcome.html
http://ambientegroup.com/
http://www.interlachencc.org/

Arts and Flowers added the final flourish to this winter wonderland wedding at Landmark Center in St. Paul, MN.

http://ambientegroup.com/
http://www.landmarkcenter.org/rental.html
http://www.artsflowersmn.com/
http://www.lineneffects.com/
http://www.instantrequest.com/
http://www.richfieldflowers.com/

Country Cake Cupboard designed this glitzy cake for a New Year’s Eve wedding at Landmark Center in St. Paul, MN. Instant Request added a spotlight for dramatic effect.

http://www.countrycakecupboard.com/www.countrycakecupboard.com/Welcome.html
http://ambientegroup.com/
http://www.landmarkcenter.org/rental.html
http://www.instantrequest.com/

The first time we met Steven, owner of Arts and Flowers, we were at a photo shoot for Bride and Bloom magazine. He chose deep purple flowers and black, baroque-style vases to create a “vintage Hollywood” tablescape. His crystal and pastel arrangements for Bill and Ipek’s wedding, shown here, make me think of “spring showers, April flowers”.

http://www.olivejuicestudios.com/slideshows/techar/
http://www.artsflowersmn.com/
http://ambientegroup.com/
http://www.interlachencc.org/
http://www.lineneffects.com/
http://makeupbymichellemn.com/id55.html

The roasted vegetables at Erin and Josh’s wedding reception were amazing! Normally a meat-and-potatoes kind of gal, I’d go vegetarian in a heartbeat if Deco Catering prepared all my meals.

http://www.decocatering.com/

Le Jardin had a retail flower shop but, business was so good, they closed it and started taking orders from home. Who needs overhead when you’ve got word-of-mouth, right? Besides Everyday Bouquets, we think they’re the best flower people in Rochester MN.

http://www.lejardinfloral.com/
http://www.mestads.com/
http://www.treasureislandcasino.com/events-weddings

Krista’s off-white wedding dress was the perfect choice for her fair skin and red hair. She found it at Mestads in Rochester MN. Mestads has additional locations in St. Cloud and Edina MN.

http://mestads.com/
http://www.olivejuicestudios.com/slideshows/conway/
http://www.somerby.com/weddings/index.html
http://www.flowersbyjerry.com/mn-minnesota/rochester/florist.aspx?rflx=Rochester,MN

I saw a new billboard the other day. Twins’ catcher Joe Mauer was pictured on it, drinking a glass of milk. The headline read “Tall, Dark and Wholesome.” Now, when I look at this wedding cake from Gateaux, all I can think is “Talk, Dark and Handsome.” I don’t know if it’s because the groom is Joe’s good friend and teammate, Justin Morneau, or if it’s because I’m really hungry right now.

http://www.gateaux-inc.com/NewHome.htm

Erin’s simple, elegant wedding dress from L’atelier Couture Bridal was the perfect pick for her natural beauty and the lush, colorful gardens at Camrose Hill Farm.

http://lateliercouturebridal.com
http://www.camrosehillflowers.com/farm.html

Jennifer found her wedding dress at Monique Lhuillier’s flagship salon on Melrose Place in Los Angeles CA. See more pictures of her Sonoma-themed wedding in the Fall/Winter 2010 issue of Minnesota Bride magazine (due on stands in July or August).

http://www.moniquelhuillier.com/

Russell Tuscano, Wisteria Design Studio, is a “Wizard of flowers” but not the kind you’d find hiding behind a curtain. He assembles flower bouquets for IMS shoppers as they watch, letting the cut stems and leaves collect at his feet.

http://www.wisteriadesign.com

La Tulipe’s “beehive” centerpiece is unusual, playful and sophisticated. We’re not sure if the design was their idea or the bride’s, but it was genius.

http://www.latulipefloral.com

Eric Sandstrom, owner of Floral Logic, got his start working for Wisteria Design Studio in International Market Square. Now on his own, Eric meets with brides and grooms in his office at Semple Mansion and frequents all the reception hotspots like this, Carlson Towers Rotunda in Minneapolis MN.

http://www.florallogic.com/

Justin asked Krista to marry him while vacationing in Maui. He wrote his proposal in the sand. Gateaux re-enacted the event with this grooms cake and lots of brown sugar. Details include replicas of Justin’s Twins baseball cap and AC/DC money clip.

http://www.gateaux-inc.com/NewHome.htm