Top 5 St. Paul/ Minneapolis Wedding Venues I loved shooting in 2016

The new year brings new wedding venues! It is always so much fun to shoot somewhere new and make it a unique experience for my couples photos of their day!
I wanted to share some new Saint Paul/ Minneapolis Wedding Venues I was able to shoot at and why I loved them 2016 style!


1. Minikahda Club is now one my favorite Minneapolis wedding venues. Picture it, you step out on a balcony overlooking a well kept golf course and in the distance is the Minneapolis skyline. I am a sucker for a good view!  It was a beautiful stop to say " I do " and the reception space had the same view with plenty of space for a large group of wedding guests.   

 > View Blog Post from at this venue  http://www.mwphotographymn.com/blog/minikahda-club-wedding-mac-mel-second-shooter

2. The St. Paul College Club is a mansion on Summit Avenue in the heart of Saint Paul; it reflects a classy choice for any bride. The ceremony space is in the privacy of the backyard. I loved the intimate feel of of a small house/garden wedding. I love mansions in the Twin Cities; some of my favorite places to visit consist of the Biltmore in North Carolina, and more like the James J Hill house near by to this venue.

> View  Blog Post from at this venue  http://www.mwphotographymn.com/blog/st-paul-college-club-mitch-shelby-second-shooter

3. Villa Bellezza Vineyard and Winery has a gorgeous brick courtyard with plenty of wine for your guests. The large wooden door not only give access in and out of the reception space but is also perfect location for larger group photos. Besides its sizable reception space and lovely architectural courtyard, I enjoyed the tower they have attached to the main building. This tower was the ideal spot for a stunning first look with my bride and groom. It was intimate with plenty of great light for their photos.

> View  Blog Post from at this venue  http://www.mwphotographymn.com/blog/villa-bellezza-winery-vinerd-brandon-wedding

4. 514 Studios Event Center, a Minneapolis wedding venue, gives a very downtown feel! Brick walls with a small outdoor space out back for cocktail hour. It felt homey and relaxed with a coffee spot in the same building. Only thing I would say didn't work at this venue was their was only one bathroom. For everyone. Twinkle lights hanging from the ceiling really added a finishing romantic touch to the space.

> View  Blog Post from at this venue  http://www.mwphotographymn.com/blog/studio-514-wedding-lindsey-peter-second-shooter

5. Saint Paul Public Library - George Latimer Central Library. I have a week day job in the heart of downtown St Paul. Being only a few blocks away from Rice Park and the St Paul Public Library, I will often make my way over to enjoy a walk through of this massively beautiful library. This building often inspires my creative side and I have wanted to take photos of a bride and groom here for years. This stair case was one of the things I was most excited for and it really paid off.
from the painted ceilings to the towering marble pillars, this library is so romantic in photos.

> View Blog Post from at this venue  http://www.mwphotographymn.com/blog/first-baptist-church-boyer-wedding

Downtown St. Paul Photography | Favorite Urban Location for Photoshoots

Do you want to be let in on a little secret? All Photographers have a favorite location to shoot. 
It fits their style, the light is stunning, it fits their personality, there can be numerous other things that has people coming back to that location.

As for me, one location I could shoot  for the rest of my photographer days would be Downtown St. Paul. After I finished college, I got my first "grownup" job in the heart of downtown. I am thankful that I am able to be emerged in the experience everyday. St. Paul is my favorite urban spot to shoot as a photographer;It is a place that I am always comfortable in. 
St Paul constantly bustles with people that makes the city come to life.  I have always enjoyed the look of having couples engagement shoots downtown. The light at certain times of the day is just stunning.
A handful of the structures downtown make a beautiful story for an engagement and portrait shoots. Downtown can be so versatile with all the different nooks and crannies, beautiful parks (Mears park,Harriet Island Park, Raspberry Island), fun water fountains (check out some here or here), and delicious restaurants for some date night shoot look in your photos. (Sakura anyone?) I love St. Paul and I want to share that same breathtaking experience with my couples in their urban sessions. 
Here are a couple of my recent session in the great Downtown!

If you do not know what location you want your session, do not be afraid to get some suggestions from your photographer. They can give you multiple locations that will fit your style; Photographers want you to be comfortable wherever you choose for your shoot!  

(Here is a previous post on 3 tips to rock your engagement session if  you want to read more!)

St Paul Public Library Engagement Photography | Callie & Jordan

Callie and Jordan grew up in the same church where Jordan's dad was the pastor of in Hastings, Minnesota. Since they were little Jordan always had a crush on this girl a church pew away. Now fast forward a decade in the future, I get a message from Jordan about him proposing to Callie his plan was on the stone Arch Bridge...in February. My Husband and I are bundled up to the point where only our eyes could be seen. I had asked Jordan to stall because we had taken a last minute wrong turn. So when we finally did get there Jordan and Callie were making every possible stop on this bridge while I am trying to reduce the camera shake from my ice cold hands.  When he proposed she excitedly said yes!  It was so much fun to be with them then and we had just as much fun in the nice and warm summer air for their engagement session! 

During the session there were some posses that I wanted to try that were out of the box but something I really wanted to try and both of them were so open and willing to give it a try. And let's be honest you know you are truly blessed with an awesome couple when after the session everyone agrees to stop for sushi in downtown St. Paul!