My Top Favorite Wedding Venues of 2018

A wedding venue is one of the first things you pick to host your wedding. They book so far out in advance you have to make sure the one that is wrapped around your heart is the one that you can enjoy with your fiance and all your guests! You want to get the low down on some of my favorites from 2018. I give you what I loved about each one, website, and guest count the venue can hold. One of my favorite posts of the year - my favorite Minnesota Wedding Venues that I loved in 2018. Let’s dive right in shall we.

Machine Shop

Website- http://www.machineshopmpls.com/
Address - 300 2nd St SE, Minneapolis, MN 55414

Guest Count- unknown

What I loved - I loved how modern and open this space felt. It had a great space to have the guests spread out on two different floor with a balcony overlook in downtown Minneapolis. Location parking was rough, but I loved how it was still in the twin cites. At this time this venue is unique in the cities and it was fun to shoot it.

If you want to see a whole wedding there check out this Machine Shop Wedding Photography blog post:  http://www.mwphotographymn.com/blog/machine-shop-wedding-photography-minneapolis-wedding-photographer

---

Redeemed Farm

Website- http://redeemedfarm.org/

Address - 21325 Meadowbrook Ave N, Scandia, MN 55073

Guest count: 175

What I loved: Not only was the couple who owned this venue super excited about sharing it with others, the whole property was just beautifully well kept and maintained. The have cute victorian style couches throughout the property and plenty of places that are picture ready! There are plenty of places to shoot around this secluded property.

If you want to see a whole wedding there check out this Redeemed Farm Wedding Photography blog post: http://www.mwphotographymn.com/blog/redeemed-farms-wedding-photography-courtney-jordan-minneapolis-wedding-photographer

---

Pretty Place Chapel

Website - https://campgreenville.org/pretty-place/

Address - 4399 YMCA Camp Road, Cleveland, South Carolina 29635

Guest Count - 350

What I loved: Ok! I am aware that this is not a Minneapolis Wedding Venue, but it is not one I could leave off the list. This one is a ceremony site in the rolling hills of South Carolina. The view will cause your heart to stop because it is so breathtaking. The mountain views are what makes this venue high on my light of one of the most beautiful places I have ever been and ever shot.

If you want to see a whole wedding there check out this Pretty Place Wedding Photography blog post:http://www.mwphotographymn.com/blog/southcarolineweddingphotographychristianemily

---

Van Dusen Mansion

Website: https://www.thevandusenmansion.com/

Address: 1900 Lasalle Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55403

Guest Count: 50 - 200
What I loved: If you know me I am a sucker for mansion homes. I think they are so regal and classy and I just fall in love the the victorian sytle feel of the whole place. The Van Dusen Mansion is not exception. I loved the vibes of this whole minneapolis mansion wedding venue. I greatly enjoyed them also having a courtyard and seperate space for the dancing to take place and also give the guests some room to explore. One of it’s best features are the getting ready rooms on the second floor. It is a beautiful space for the wedding party to get ready and really enjoy the whole day in one spot if they choose too.

If you want to see a whole wedding there check out this Van Dusen Mansion Wedding Photography blog post: http://www.mwphotographymn.com/blog/van-dusen-mansion-wedding-photography-carlee-amp-brian-minneapolis-wedding-photographer

---

Glenville Wedding Photography | Sara & Isaac | Glenville Wedding Photographer

The day started out with little sprinkles of rain here and there. Sara and Isaac decided to get married on his family's property in Glenville, Minnesota. Sara got ready at his grandparent’s home at the top of the hill. As we were getting ready, Sara told me all the details she loved about her wedding dress, from the belt to the pattern at the bust. This gorgeous dress looked even better when it was finally on Sara!

As for the groom, all morning Isaac had been setting up the reception space at the bottom of the hill right by one of the large ponds! Once the prep was completed, Isaac waited at the dock for their first look. Their first look was so sweet and they both just had big smiles as they did a couple of turns to give the full affect.

Being on such a big property they had the foresight to have golf carts which made all the difference as we drove around for photos! ( I love golf carts on wedding days! ). We drove the whole wedding party to the little island for portraits and right when we wrapped up the clouds rolled away with the sun shining in all its glory!
The ceremony took place with the beautiful backdrop of one of the ponds. The aisle was lined with fresh purple lilac sitting elegant on cut tree stumps. At the the end of the aisle, they said their vows under a beautiful wood arbor decorated with white linen and flowers at the front.

Sara was literally radiating pure joy with the biggest smile on her face as she walked toward her groom. The pianist played the wedding march and for the first time in my entire wedding job she played the entire song. It was a first and Sara and her dad Joe were chuckling a little bit while they waited for the song to come to a close. My favorite part of the day were the vows. Isaac choked up telling Sara how beautiful she was on the outside and more importantly the inside. It was beautiful and vulnerable. During Sara's vows she just said " I am SO Excited, that wasn't part of my vows but I just wanted to let you know." They had a rope tying part to their ceremony to honor how 3 chords together are not easily broken.

The reception details Sara and Isaac put together blew me away! The had a full blow candy table, and a table for their guests to take little ceramic watering cans. The reception was laid back allowing guests to eat and fellowship. One of the fun details was a camera table where the guests could get their photo taken by a Polaroid camera! All those photos taken were then added into a scrapbook for the bride and groom’s guest book.
The whole day was filled with joy and ended with these two love birds tearing up the dance floor!

Please enjoy photos from their wedding day!

Can’t Get Enough of Sara and Isaac?!?! I don’t blame you!! You can check out their Engagement Session HERE!

Minnehaha Falls Park Engagement Photography | Nikki & Devon | Minneapolis Engagement Photographer

Nikki & Devon met through a set up through Nicole’s sister and her husband. Devon is friends from church and they all thought they might hit it off, so they invited both if them over for a game night at their house.

Both introverts, they let her sister and brother do most of the talking that night. It took about a month after that awkward game night until Devon got Nikki’s number. He said the procrastination got the better of him. As they were just leaving from a dinner meal (Nikki was inwardly bummed he hadn’t asked for it yet) he finally asked for it in the parking lot. From there they decided to have an official first date without the audience. They decided to head to Minnehaha Falls Park, it was somewhere they could both just relax and talk. They made there way on the back trails and came across a little beach neither of them had known about before this date. Devon trying to make casual conversation brought up that his dad’s side had red hair too. Nikki interpreted it as him suggesting that their kids would also have red hair. They laughed about it now when they told me this story on our way to their beach on their engagement shoot.

Originally Devon planned to propose at their first date spot on that same beach but the Lord had other plans. The day he was going to do it Minnesota dumped a bunch of snow making it impossibly difficult to get to their destination . Devon switched his plans and he told Nicole that they were going to go to dinner at some where very exclusive . Nicole was a bit confused but thought they might be going out to celebrate her birthday which was the night before. Well it is extremely exclusive, Devon had made dinner for them at his house with candles and the good silverware. Before any meals where touched, Devon got down on one knee and proposed to Nicole. She said yes!

For the engagement session we went back to their favorite beach and enjoyed exploring Minnnehaha Falls Park together! We were so blessed that the rain held off as we walked through some of the muddier trails. It was a beautiful spring evening as everything in Minnesota right now is starting to bud and green. When the sun started to grace us with its presence I couldn’t help but get excited!

Nikki and Devon are excited to be celebrating their love surrounded by friends and family later this summer. Please enjoy some of their photos from their engagement session!