Ali + Pat = Married in St. Paul, MN

It’s twofer Thursday.

Yes folks, I am making up for my blog slacking by giving you two posts in one day and they even have some similarities.

1. Wedding will reunite Herr Sparks with former Deutsche studenten.
2. Wedding reception is located in downtown St. Paul.
3. Wedding couple is so cute you can hardly stand it.

Without further adieu Digital Art House presents another fun featurette.
This one will have you laughing, or you don’t have a pulse.

Vanessa & Doug-Boe Chapel, St. Olaf College

My job is great.  I am fortunate to have the opportunity many times over to work with really awesome people celebrating one of the most important days of their lives.  What makes my job even sweeter is when I am asked by a good friend to document his/her wedding.  Thus, I was ecstatic when my college friend Vanessa asked us to photograph her wedding at our alma mater St. Olaf College.

Unfortunately, it was our first really rainy wedding day, I mean it poured ALL DAY, but I hear that means you’re going to have loads of babies.  Wink, wink,  Vanessa & Doug.

The reception was held at the Northfield Golf Course.  I worked at the golf course whilst attending St. Olaf College and swore that year I’d never again work somewhere they served ketchup again.  If you’ve ever worked as a server who had to rinse ketchup covered plates, you’ll know what I mean when I say one of the worst smells is “hot ketchup” water.

Meanwhile, Northfield will always hold special memories of good times with great friends for me.  Photos were also taken at the Archer House in downtown Northfield, most definitely my favorite place to stay when I’m visiting my favorite MN town.

Thanks Vanessa & Doug!

 

Eric & Jillian-Love in an Elevator

Eric and Jillian met while living in the same Minneapolis apartment building. They started talking one day whilst riding the elevator, and it was ultimately “love at first sight,”as neither of them could get the other one out of his/her mind. Later, at a get-together hosted by the bride, the couple found many common things they shared, including working for the same company!

Jillian and her attendants prepared for the beautiful day at her sister Nikki’s gorgeous home in Plymouth. Adam, Rachel, and I were greeted to a bubbly bunch of bridesmaids practicing a special surprise dance routine that would be unveiled at the reception! Too fun. Here, we were also introduced to an important member of Jillian and Eric’s family, their adorable cockapoo!

Eric, a fellow St. Olaf College Alumni (Um Ya Ya baby!), greeted his lovely bride for the first time in the stunning halls of the church.

The wedding ceremony was held at the always amazing Basilica of St. Mary in Minneapolis. Jillian is a member of the Basilica Choir, truly a choir worthy of being compared to angel’s voices.

After a beautiful ceremony, the couple and attendants set off for drinks at the Calhoun Beach Club’s View, riding away in an old fashioned trolley car. After a couple toasts and a few rounds of the St. Olaf and University of Minnesota Fight Songs, the wedding party headed to the Minikahda Country Club.

With it’s rich history and beauty this club was a wedding photographer’s dream.  At the club we took an opportunity to have a bit of fun with the wedding party on the putting green outside of the clubhouse. This group was not afraid to let their hair down and it was sooo much fun taking photos of these animated and friendly men and women.

During the cocktail hour we took an opportunity to steal away the bride and groom for a short photo shoot. Eric and Jillian are truly a dynamite couple and they made our job so easy!

As always, we are so impressed with the talented and kind folks who make wedding days so special. We need to give a big “shout out” to the sound guys at the Basilica, a kudos to the amazing crew at the Minikahda Club who whipped up three AWESOME sandwiches for the Digital Art House folks, and a big thanks to the entire wedding party who truly made us feel like we were part of their family. Thank you!

Meanwhile, I need to add one more interesting note.  Jillian found our company through a referral. We had filmed a Basilica choir member’s wedding, which Jillian is featured in, a couple seasons ago. This couple was very happy and proud of their video, which led to Jillian contacting Adam. Jillian and Adam figured out after a couple of emails, that they had known each other as small children growing up. This truly is a small world and I love happy surprises such as these.  It was so much fun seeing these two reconnect after so many years.

Kristin & Josh-Um Ya Ya!

Josh and Kristin met at my alma mater, St. Olaf College. Both members of the St. Olaf Band, Kristin played percussion and Josh played the trumpet, they noticed each other from the “first note.” Kristin asked some fellow band mates about Josh and was warned about his bad-boy brass-ness. Josh says, “I don’t know what it is about brass players, but we have a bad reputation.”

Meanwhile, told to “find someone else,” Kristin did. Later, Josh and Kristin met up in an introduction to Psych class where Josh mustered up the courage to ask Kristin to lunch after class in the cafeteria. She told him she’d call him.

Kristin did call him, but let him know right away that she was dating someone, than again, it was just lunch…

And so, these two began a lasting and complicated friendship that would bloom into a wonderfully beautiful love.

From the moment I met Kristin and Josh, I could tell how comfortable and in love they are with one another. They smile and laugh a lot around each other. They tease and flirt and I can see in Josh’s eyes that he believes Kristin is the most beautiful woman in the world. They are an inspiring couple.

My two favorite colors are blue and green, I think has something to do about my Irish heritage, the colors of me Emerald isle. Favorites of Kristin, these hues were incorporated throughout their wedding day.

Amazing flowers were arranged by the talented Jennifer Dick Guion from Luna Vinca. I love this creative mecca located near Uptown on Hennepin Avenue and have purchased many a Christmas gift there.

The couple walked down the aisle to the most amazing music, arranged by Josh, and performed by an amazing orchestra. The couple each chose and read a poem to each other. It was a magical moment, and I couldn’t help crying. I’m really good at being emotional (p.s. so is Rachel! Adam gives us grief for crying behind our LCD screens during services).

After the lovely ceremony we stopped at a couple locations to take some quick shots of the bridal party, one of these being Purgatory Creek Park-what a name!

The reception was held at the Stonebrooke Country Club in Shakopee, and upon our arrival we were treated to a surprise serenade from the groom to the bride.

It was a wonderful event and we’re so happy we were invited to share it with these two special Oles.

We come from St. Olaf, we sure are the real stuff.
Our team is the cream of the colleges great.
We fight fast and furious, our team is injurious.
Tonight Carleton College will sure meet its fate.

Um Ya Ya, Um Ya Ya
Um Ya Ya, Um Ya Ya
Um Ya Ya, Um Ya Ya
Um Ya Ya Ya
Um Ya Ya, Um Ya Ya
Um Ya Ya, Um Ya Ya
Um Ya Ya, Um Ya Ya
Um Ya Ya Ya