Over the holidays I made my yearly journey to Brookfield, Wisconsin to see my fathers side of the family and being that this was the first time in some time that all of us were together, it seemed like something that needed to be documented. Meet my family.
Can you feel it? All the excitement in the air? With the holidays right behind us and the most romantic one almost upon us it tis'the season for engagements! If you are anything like me, and anything like most of my girlfriends, once that proposal is made it's all about plan, plan, planning for your big day! And what better way to get all of your thoughts organized into once place than in Pinterest! Pinterest is swiftly becoming the go-to resource for brides when planning for their wedding day. It's so easy (and fun!) to create boards to keep track of all the ideas you have for your flowers, wedding invitations and those swoon worthy bridal gowns! I'm fairly certain that if you can think it, you can pin it on Pinterest and that's what we love about it! Rivets & Roses is on Pinterest now too! From snippets of our work to creative DIY projects, the Rivets & Roses Pinterest site is one you will want to follow!
It is possible! Putting together your own bouquet is definitely a challenge, but at each of the last two weddings I photographed, the brides were carrying a DIY bouquet and they were ABSOLUTELY lovely. Poking around on Pinterest today, I did some pinning of plenty of achievable and elegant bouquets. One rule I seem to run across is to select one or two varieties of flower. That keeps it simple and makes a bold statement. Of course, if you decide to work with one of the many talented florists in the area... no judgement here!
Katie & Jeff were the winners of my wedding giveaway last year! They met at the wedding of a mutual friend, Katie was a bridesmaid & Jeff served the dutiful role as an usher. After the wedding, Jeff returned home to Arizona. Even though he was a few thousand miles away, Katie & Jeff stayed in touch. They talked daily...for hours at a time! They got to know each other very well & it was during a trip back to Minnesota that they officially decided to date long distance. Distance is never easy on a relationship, but they made it work. In July, Jeff decided to pursue his career as a pilot back in Minnesota. Katie went out, helped him pack up, & they drove across country to bring him back home. Since Jeff's return to Minnesota they have been inseparable. And since November they have been husband & wife! This wedding was so much fun to photograph! Personally, my favorite moments are always those moments when I get the bride & groom to myself. The air was cool, but not yet too cold and the ground wasn't yet wet...perfect for photographing their first look outside! From the adorable salon on Grand Avenue to the historic St. Paul Hotel, from the Church of the Assumption to Rice Park & the Town & Country Club every moment of their day was filled with amazing locations to photograph them, their wedding party & family in! Enjoy!
In November, I got together with Ben and Emily for engagement portraits at their favorite Minneapolis spot, Town Hall Tap. After a couple pints of beer, we made our way to the beach at Lake Nokomis. Just a few weeks more and these two cuties will be getting married! Shooting a lovely wedding in the midst of January definitely helps cure cold-weather doldrums.
I throughly enjoyed myself collaborating with Chelsea of Chelea's Cool Cakes on this GORGEOUS winter cake shoot! We wanted to push our creative minds so we literally drove out into the Norwegian woods and found the perfect spot with aaaawesome golden light! Maria, our model, was such a trooper sticking out the cold temps. With Scandinavian clean and Norwegian red magic happened! Wether you're getting married in January or having a February Valentines theme, I hope you find some inspiration here!
I'm Thea, the new photographer on the Rivets & Roses team. Let me take the stage for a moment and introduce myself.
About one year ago, I relocated to Minneapolis from Chicago where I was the staff photographer here. Many weekends I shot weddings at locations from downtown hotels to places like this and this. I met so many wonderful people in Chicago and got to know the city from top to bottom.
I married my travel companion and sweetheart in 2010. My good friend Lin Eagle photographed our wedding and I Do Films shot video. At last I experienced the other side of the lens. Shortly thereafter we decided to shake things up. Basically, have a baby and change the scenery. We made the jump and this past year I have met even more creative, fun, and friendly people. I already keep regular hours at a few of my new favorite spots close to home in South Minneapolis. You are likely to see me at Lowbrow, Blackbird or Grand Cafe for pancakes on Saturday morning.
As this year gets started, I look forward to getting to know everyone that has been and that will be a part of the Rivets community. Please introduce yourself to me! We can have pancakes.
As 2012 draws to a close I wanted to take a moment and say thank you to all the beautiful couples I
was able to work with this past year. Congratulations to all of them and I hope you enjoy these lovely brides as much as I did.
In a bit of a more unusual job for me, I got to shoot a pretty special birthday party last month. Instead of the usual child's party with pin-the-nose-on-the-clown, I got to spend a morning with someone turning 90 and his immediate family. It was amazing to hear about all of the accomplishments and things celebrated during his toasts. I'm so used to hearing what people hope for a couple at weddings, that to hear how appreciative everyone was for this man's help and life lived was a nice change of pace.
This past week I had the pleasure of working a few different projects. One of which had me working with Rhymesayers artist and local legend Toki Wright, one put me in the depths of strange night in local Hip Hop at the 'Group Therapy' show, but first I would like to show you this. I had great time shooting with local model Allison Reimer for a little Lumberjack themed shoot. Though we were not in the heart of northern Minnesota we made it work and came out with some great images!
These are from my shoot with Mr. Toki Wright. Make sure to take listen to his music and see what all the fuss is about. He just put out a great new podcast which gives you a look into what this local artist listens to and what his life is like.
Last but not least I have the madness that was the Group Therapy show. All in all it was a great night but what really made the night was this. Next door to the 7th St Entry Public Enemy was performing. We were able to get in for the encore and when Flava Flav came out I heard this, "What Up Indianapolis!!!"... Flav you were everything I hoped, you retarded little savant you.
I've been walking by Brudesalongen in Stavanger for weeks now. Admiring, finding inspiration, and staring in awe at their beautiful window displays! I knew it was a must to pop in to say hi and see their dresses up close. The owners Birte and Hege, both trained as tailors and designers, met in the theatre department and decided to partner up to open Brudesalonngen 8 years ago. Brudesalongen translates literally to 'Bridal Salon' from Norwegian! They've transformed this adorable antique building into a modern bridal boutique with one of a kind service, gorgeous gowns, and accessories. I think they offer some of the best dresses in the area and most of all they care about their brides and customers! "We're not too old and we're not too young - we can relate! We want the bride to be comfortable and be true to their personality." says Hege. For their own line of dresses they get inspiration from following the latest trends, magazines and nature, but also "We choose what we'd want to wear ourselves." she says. The two travel across Europe and love going to the London trunk shows hand-picking every gown to hang in their store as well as unique fabrics to design and sew their own! "We are quality tailors and we want to make sure the dress fits very well." I have noticed that weddings in Norway are a bit different from American weddings so I was courious to ask the two what changes they've seen in the last few years and how the American bridal market has changed their business. Birte mentioned,
"Norwegians are a bit more laid back when they shop, sometimes a bride will come alone to pick a dress out herself. But now they see they want something different, something magical, something to share!. So, it's a challenge for us but of course it is our service! Brides that are watching the TV show 'Say Yes to the Dress' are influenced by it. They want to have an experience similar. They want to find a dress and share an experience with their friends and family. It should be something extraordinary. "
Stop in to see their own line of dresses and the cute wallpaper (see below...aaadorable!) - or check out their website online and view the incredible designers! They feature Norwegian designers Sadoni and Leila Hafzi, who has a very bohemian look and uses a lot of silk. They also offer Danish, Spanish, and English designer gowns!
Below: Birte dressing a mannequin for the window display. The pink dress is one of their own designs!
Below: Hege
The salon also carries to-die-for, designer shoes, hats and accessories!
Rivets and Roses, Brudesalongen, and Leila Hafzi will all be showing at an upcoming bridal fair this winter. We're pumped for it - so stay tuned for more info!
You may have been noticing a few blog posts and Facebook updates at the wee hours in the morning. You may have noticed some photos from new places and quite a few coming from a little Scandinavian country especially! It's because I'm living in NORWAY! :) I'm maximizing my passion for travel and I love taking photos all over the world! I'll have to thank my mother for instilling in me this desire to travel and the need to constantly be wanting to see new and exciting things. I'm what many would call a "Vagabond," which also describes my photographic style. This truly does shine through in all aspects of my life, just ask those who know me personally...they'd probably agree! I had lived in Norway before and was drawn back in September, just at the tail end of the wedding season in Minnesota, and I'm now living in a town called Stavanger. (Pronounced sort of like: Sta - vaughn - er) I'm here with my super amazing boyfriend, Yrjan, who I've known since college and met while working together as photographers at the University of North Dakota. (Go UND/SIOUX) Yes, I have a difficult time pronouncing his name....still. Slowly, I'm learning to speak Norwegian and luckily my Minnesotan/Norwegian heritage helps me fit in just fine with the Norwegian people. What a learning experience it has been so far!
(Stavanger is known for Preikestolen, or 'Pulpit Rock'...that's me teetering on the edge of a cliff above a fjord)
(Left: Yrjan and I atop a mountain called Dalsnuten, with the city of Stavanger behind us! Right: A much warmer place)
I'm so fortunate to be able to experience these new things everyday, like looking out my window to watch boats sailing by, seeing the stunning view of the mountains, watching the hustle and bustle of Norwegians wearing wool knitted sweaters downtown, catching cheap Ryan Air flights to other European countries, and hearing 4 different languages simply by going to the market for a loaf of bread. I'm so glad we're in an age where flights are abundant and we have many ways to communicate and see each other. Most of my family is now spread out with siblings living in Minnesota, Colorado, sometimes Israel, South America, or Germany....keeping in contact is a MUST and I LOVE iPhones free FaceTime and Skype. I've been meeting new clients and friends on Skype meetings so please, give me a call anytime. :)
(I LOVE Skype. Here I'm video chatting with my twin sister, Kelly! Who's Who?!...Take a guess.)
I've been meeting with vendors here who travel globally and sharing with them what Rivets and Roses is all about. (Stay tuned for a Vendor Love post!) It's quite a different wedding market here and it's been interesting learning all about it. Traveling inspires me and I feel like it's a fast track in making me a better photographer! I can't wait to work with more amazing people and create inspiring photo shoots. I'm currently taking wedding bookings in Minnesota and Europe....book me here!
(Below: I can't believe it...but this is the view from my living room window. OMG is right.)
(Did you know Edvard Munch was Norwegian?) In lieu of the season...I've decided to share below this holiday reindeer special with you all.)
If you'd love to see more feel free to follow me on Instagram! There is sure to be tons more photos of Norwegians on skis and wool knitted sweaters! Oh, and Happy Holidays!
So, as I mentioned earlier, I got to shoot the wedding of this amazing couple after just meeting them face-to-face a few days before. You guys, we had so much fun! The wedding was over at the gorgeous Semple Mansion, and all of the friends and family thoroughly enjoyed themselves -- which made it a great time for us as well.
Special thanks to Marc for helping me to shoot this one!
Aparna and Ajeet are quite the international couple. Originally from India, they've lived all over the States and now have come to Norway! Aparna really wanted to do a shoot with her husband wearing their traditional clothing from India! She's wearing her mothers sari and necklace - absolutely stunning and beautiful. We had so much fun, dodging the rain, exploring vintage vespas, and grabbing coffee downtown at the local hang out 'Bøker & Børst.' We incorporated some of their fun ideas into the shoot...who doesn't love the mustach!? Thanks to both of you for making me love what I do! :)
Aparna and Ajeet wrote down what they meant to each other and kept it a secret until they saw their photos for the first time!
Last week was such a fun surprise. I got to meet Laura and Toby for their engagement shoot out in the woods. Because they live in NYC (and had just escaped the hurricane and a blizzard), we had never met face-to-face before, and getting in a shoot (and meeting) before their wedding was important. And you guys? It was so much fun! I am so fortunate to have such wonderful clients, especially considering their wedding was two days after our very first meeting. The morning of their engagement shoot was stunning -- we saw several deer, and it was so quiet and lovely. I've posted a few of my favorite shots below. Come back next week to see the wedding, which was ridiculously pretty as well.
Tis the season for Food! I had the pleasure of photographing (and eating!!!) food for the coolest club... Silver Spoon Supper Club. It's run by Ampy Basa, who's originally from Texas and has been living in Oslo, Norway for over 5 years. This motivated girl has combined her 2 passions, cooking and entertaining, to create a 'Different Dining Experience.' It's a supper club run from the comfort and style of her own home! Ampy serves family style meals, in a warm and relaxing atmosphere for those who aren't looking for the traditional restaurant scene. It's by invitation and word-of-mouth only...I'm telling you, it's one of a kind!! : )Her latest was an Autumn Feast, and since Norway doesn't have a Thanksgiving...we got to celebrate a bit early. Ampy styled the table setting herself and cooked one fabulous meal! How adorable is the apple theme? Who's planning an Autumn wedding!?! Here's one idea for simple, classy and cozy....
Deeeeelicious Appetizers! YUM.
Would you wait to kiss until your wedding day? There is something special about a couple who has the willpower to save their love for the one and only person they will marry. When you're just 15 years old, how do you know?!? I went to middle school and high school with these two and watched their relationship go from Sarah giggling on the sidelines watching Jeff play football, through graduation, and onto their wedding day. Sealing your love and promise to each other with a kiss on your wedding day is a special event...but for Sarah and Jeff, it meant so much more! I asked Sarah to share a bit about her experience and why they choose to wait.
Photography by: Karen Feder
Q: Why did you choose to wait until your wedding day to have your first 'Real 'kiss?
#1 - I knew I didn’t want to date someone I COULDN’T marry so in some ways I had thought about marrying Jeff, but because we started dating so young (10th grade) I didn’t know for sure that he would be my husband. (Although I was hoping he would be!) That being said, we both wanted to respect and honor our future spouse and save the next kiss for them. It was a way we could each guard our hearts and each others.
#2 – It seems like so many things in a romantic relationship get watered down and lose their meaning. The words, “I love you” don’t have the same meaning when you say it to multiple boyfriends who, in the end, you don’t end up “loving” after all. In the same way, I wanted my kiss to mean something. It was a physical way of showing my husband I was committed to him for life and that it was worth making sacrifices now so that he knew how much he meant to me. Jeff didn’t tell me he loved me till the day he proposed (and that was the first time I’d told him). It was one of the sweetest sentences I had ever heard.
#3 – Not kissing freed us to focus on our friendship more than our physical boundaries. As ironic as it feels, setting clear boundaries we both agreed on was really freeing. I didn’t have to wonder if I “should” kiss him or if my kissing was causing him to lust. We didn’t have to worry that kissing would lead to the next thing, and to the next. We were committed to save ourselves for our spouse. We didn’t have to worry about being that awkward PDA couple. We were free to spend time together and really get to know each other as a person rather than a set of lips. ;)
Q: How long did you wait? (after you decided to not kiss) Was it tough?
A: We had been dating for about a year when we decided to save our next kiss. We had been dating 4 years when he proposed and it was just over 5 years we’d been dating when we said “I do” and kissed as husband and wife. Was it tough? I asked Jeff and his immediate response was “Yes!” I think for both of us in some ways, yes, but in others, no. The benefits so outweighed the sacrifices – I wouldn’t do it any differently.
Q: Do you think it was especially tough since you had actually already kissed in the past? A: In some ways yes. We knew what we were giving up. But again, the benefits were much more important than the temporary satisfaction.
Q: Once you decided to wait, did you know you wanted to marry each other? A: I knew I didn’t want to date someone I would never marry so he was always a candidate. And actually, in 7th grade I specifically remember thinking I wanted to marry someone like Jeff. I guess I decided “Why try to find someone like him? I’ll just marry him!” As time went on in our dating relationship I knew I would say yes if he asked! I think even if we wouldn’t have ended up married, and maybe even more so, I would have been glad we saved that next kiss for our future spouse.
Q: When you finally kissed on your wedding day, were you nervous? A: I think I was more nervous to have all the attention on us as the bride and groom at the front of the church than for the actual kiss. I’m not a huge “center stage” kind of girl, but it was probably one of my favorite and one of the most important decisions I have ever made to stand at that alter and say “I do.” The kiss was like the cherry on top.
Q: What did you friends and family think? A: I think our families were really supportive. I don’t remember talking about it a ton with them, but I know they trusted us together! My friends? Some I think were really supportive, I’m guessing some didn’t understand, and others maybe thought we were crazy, but looking back at the possible regrets we likely avoided, I don’t mind being a little crazy.
(Oh boy...I'm on the right in the light purple. WAY back in 2005!)
Q: Anything surprising about the overall experience? A: I think this decision has given us more opportunities to tell others about the most important relationship we have with Jesus Christ. He is really the reason we decided to honor each other and our future spouse. He has changed us and blessed us in ways we could never have imagined and I think He’s used this part of our relationship for us to be able to share Him. Our verse for our relationship, inscribed inside our rings, and used at our wedding was Psalm 37:4. It says, “Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.” Delighting in the Lord was not the means to an end, but when we made that our first priority, our heart’s desires have been surpassed countless times.
Their wedding KISS! :) Thank you Sarah and Jeff for sharing this special part of your life with us!
I am beyond excited to be photographing Katie & Jeff's wedding this coming weekend! We set aside some time last week to get together & chat about the specifics around their wedding day...but first we headed out to one of my favorite little sunny spots for some engagement photos! It's always hard at this time of the year to pick a good sunny evening...seems like it gets cloudier and darker by the day but we had some beautiful light to work with! Congratulations you two & can't wait for this weekend!
Vows. The whole point of your wedding. Solidifying yourselves as a couple, into a marriage by making promises to each other. Right?...The whole reason you're standing up there with your beautiful love on your wedding day.
I got to thinking the other day about my very favorite part of a wedding day and I realized I've changed over the years and especially since becoming a wedding photographer. I used to love receptions. Rockin' out and eating cake til the weeee hours of the night. While I've gotten older, I still like to get out there and 'cut a rug,' but my absolute favorite now are the VOWS. I am one big tear fest when it comes to the vows. There is something SO touching and POWERFUL about watching a couple exchange their promises and commit to one another. I find it exciting to be taking photos of the bride and groom, waiting on the side or back of the pews, to be a witness during this incredible moment.
So...then I got to thinking... What do vows mean to YOU? Every relationship is different and special. Every couple defines their marriage in their own unique way. Some people choose to honor the more traditional vows, depending on their religion. Some people write their own vows and suprise one another on the wedding day with their personal promise. Some find inspiration in books, movies, television shows to help describe their own love.
Now, I'm not married but my twin sister is. She married the love of her life, her HIGH SCHOOL sweethart, Ryan. :) I was the Maid of Honor for her wedding and remember how awesome it was watching them profess their love in front of friends and family. I asked her what her vows meant to her and she said this -
"Everyone is different, but vows to me are a representation of your marriage. It's your mission statement. It's can be easy to get wrapped up in the wedding day, but my vows are what help remind me what's important."
Kelly and Ryan created their own vows by pulling ideas and inspiration from one of Kelly's favorite movies, 'Shall We Dance.' (Yea, the one with J.Lo.)
I bring myself to you this day to share my life with you. I promise to care about everything. The good things, the terrible things, the mundane things...all of it, all the time, everyday. When our love is simple and when it is an effort. Your life will not go unnoticed because I will notice it. Your life will not go un-witnessed because I will be your witness. I believe in you, and I will be there to chase away your fears, wipe away your tears and love you always.
And check out the YouTube clip!!! Susan Sarandon ROCKS!
(Photography by: Davis Photography)
"I can go back and look at something and be like, what are our core values? How are we going to recreate that? If Ryan and I are having a rough time I can go back and ask 'Am I caring about everything? What can I do to do that?' They help get us back on track. Bring it back to your vows."
Look! I'm over there in the left corner holding a bouquet instead of a camera...with a giant lump in my throat holding back sobs ;)
"Sometimes caring about 'EVERYTHING' is a challenge. 'I don't care' shouldn't be in our vocabulary. Besides, that's mean!" - Kelly Vredenburg
Below: I cried at every single one of these weddings. Seriously I'm such a SAP. I LOVE watching and photographing these awesome moments. What an honor.
Jenny and Bart wrote their very own individual vows and shared them for the first time on their wedding day. It was soooo touching and cool.
What are you favorite moments? What did you do/are you going to do for your vows? Share below...We'd love to know!
