Year in Review : Favorite Locations 2015

2015 brought some fantastic opportunities for me with second shooting. I got to photograph the coolest couples and get to shoot alongside the awesome Justin Mark Photography.  With each couple there is a new location I got to shoot at, I thought I would share some venues that became my new favorites! If you get married here I would love to shoot it! 

1) Semple Mansion. Feel : Victorian style with classic details. What I loved: with beautiful wood work, stunning painted ceilings, crystal chandeliers, and a grand staircase to knock your guests off their feet, what's not to love?! Everything about this location just had me desiring to come back and shoot there again!

A:100 W Franklin Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55404

2) St Olaf College. Feel: Traditional with a dash earthy.  What I loved: St. Olaf has a glorious campus with lots of room, near by park with grassy field, stone buildings with a castle feel. On of the back of the stone architecture just reminded me of a complete fairy-tale that had me wanting to be a part of the magic.

A:1520 St Olaf Ave, Northfield, MN 55057

3) Mayowood Stone Barn. Feel: Rustic and comfortable. What I loved: It felt private and intimate, it is convenient for both Ceremony and reception space, the stone barn was different from any other barn I have seen which worked great for photos. The staff  was friendly and the area gives a wide variety of backgrounds.

A:3385 Mayowood Rd SW, Rochester, MN 55902

4)Winehaven Winery.  Feel: Outdoor relaxation What I loved: Rolling hills that are best for outdoor space, cute space for indoor reception and I enjoyed the large getting ready room for the bride; it had lots of natural light.

A:10020 Deer Garden Ln, Chisago City, MN 55013

I added links and addresses if you want to check them out further!  

I know that next year will probably add to my list of places I fall in love with but this year I just fell head over heels for these locations! I hope one day I will find more couples who fall in love with them just as much as I have!

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas | Minnesota Seasons | Personal

The first major snow of 2015 has hit st paul and everyone has slowed down to admire it that's why all the roads are so slow today. ;) (Due to my beloved snow, my bus was 20 minutes late,thankfully my boss understood because his bus was also late) I honestly believe that the cold is not worth it if there is no snow. In my college years, I schooled in South Carolina at a small college that whenever you tell people they give you a funny look and an awkward chuckle because of its foreign nature. South Carolina during winter is the kind of cold that seeps into your bones but it doesn't snow. No Snow = not worth it. Whereas in my dear Minnesota I can bare all the below freezing as long as the world looks white outside my light blue windows. 

One thing I am looking forward to for this holiday season is grabbing our Christmas tree. We did not make our usual journey north this year so I think we will ended up getting on of the trees kiddie corner from my bus stop. I was thinking of doing just a small one for this year.  I love shooting photos with Christmas trees and lights; this time of year just has the glow and warm fuzzy feelings that no other holiday contains. 

Adventure To Affordable Bridesmaid Dresses | Wedding Tips | For the Bride

When I got married I was coming right out of college with little money and a piece of paper proving I survived the last four years. When I started hunting for bridesmaids dresses I knew what I wanted but I just had to find it for an affordable price,knowing that my lovely ladies where just as poor as me. I knew I didn't want my bridesmaids to pay for a dress I wouldn't spend my money on, so I looked for sites to help stay within my budget and theirs.

These are some of the sites I would suggest to take a look at that are budget friendly for everyone but not giving up on looking amazing!
6pm.com
The first time I was ever a bridesmaid was for my friend's Michigan wedding. She found cute Jessica Simpson teal dress for under $ 40 dollars for each dress. They have all kinds of dresses to choose from , from all different high end designers. I have used it several times for shoes as well ( I purchased my wedding shoes from Betsy Johnson's something blue collection). Pros: budget friendly, great customer service, variety, designer Cons: limited number, constantly changing products.
Etsy.com
With etsy you can find some truly beautiful pieces that can make details on your bridesmaids dress that you won't find in retail stores. This gives a more homemade feel where you can ask for exactly how you pictures it without giving up in small ways.
Pros: custom made, variety, unique details Cons: false advertising (check the reviews before purchasing)
Renttherunway.com
One of the issues with bridesmaids dresses is asking yourself when will i every wear this again;with your dress being a renting option, you dont have to worry about making extra closet space! The site rents beautiful designer dresses affordable to the public and the dresses have a red carpet feel. When looking at the reviews you can see photo reviews that allows you to see how the dress fits real people, not just the model in the photo. One of the more glamorous of the few , the renttherunway.com also gives you a free extra size just in case. This site will also have you looking for your dress for your engagement photos! 
Pros: high-end dresses, Renting, free shipping for return, stylist option Cons: Price little higher for just renting.

These sights are worth checking out to help out your bridesmaids save while still looking fabulous on the wedding day!