Bridal Fair Madness! (post by Desiree)

In case you didn't get a chance to head out and visit us at one of the bridal fairs last Saturday, here is a little peek into our European Booth!  The Rivets crew had a booth at Den store Bryllupsfesten (The big wedding party) and MN Bride's, Look of Love.  I had such an AWESOME time meeting all the bride-to-be's, grooms, designers, and stylists.  I was also lucky enough to be right next to Chelsea's Cool Cakes...which kept an incredible aroma of sweet chocolate cake surrounding me all day.  Yes, yes I ate lots of samples.....Oh dear. Don't forget // You can still get in on the fair offer if you book by this Friday!  Just give us a hollar! 

Tom and Kristen are Engaged (Post by Thea)

With Tom and Kristen, we tried something different... studio engagement portraits. Novel idea huh? Well, when it's cold and gray outside, sometimes it's best to get back to basics. Personally, I love how these turned out and hope you all do too. By the way, aren't these two cute? We were definitely having fun, it was Tom's birthday after all!

Vintage Boudoir (post by Desiree)

Here's a little pre-Valentines day boudoir inspiration! I was so lucky to meet the lovely and talented Mrs. Depew Vintage.  I know I use the word 'lovely' a lot...but seriously this girl is the definition of lovely!  She designs and creates vintage lingerie patters.  She sewed these gorgeous pieces and together we created a sweet, simple and classy shoot for her one-of-a-kind designs. Now I'm wishing I would've listened when my grandmother was trying to teach me to sew!  ;)  Check out Mrs. Depew's online store here. 

Hair/Makeup:  Charlene Nedrum Lingerie:  Mrs. Depew Vintage Photography:  Desiree Mostad Special thanks to Cafe Stills!

A Winter Day (by: Marc James)

a little impromptu shoot with model Blair Emerson around Harriet Island. I recently got some new fun equipment so this was a great opportunity to test it out!

eloping to the courthouse {by leslie}

I have a bride that I'm shooting later this year at her "real wedding" with her family and friends present, but for practical purposes, it made sense for these two to tie the knot before the end of 2012. So they decided to sneak off to the courthouse and get things done on the sly. They didn't want to upset their families or make their "real day" any less important, but sometimes you need to be practical when government laws/benefits are involved. And they asked if I wanted to be one of two witnesses. Hell yeah, I did! I've never shot a wedding at city hall before, and I was extremely curious as to how it would go. And while they didn't officially hire me to take any photos, you know I couldn't resist.

A few things to note about this day: 1) The groom's ring did not arrive in time for the ceremony! Not to be discouraged from the big event, they subbed in a candy ring pop. 2) This judge put on one of the best ceremonies I have ever heard. And I've heard a LOT. I really liked his message, and the thought that was put into such a "quickie" wedding was nice. Should you ever need a judge for your big day, I highly suggest Judge Kevin S. Burke in Hennepin County.

Ben and Emily are Married (Post by Thea)

On Friday, perhaps the warmest and sunniest winter day we will have in January, Ben and Emily tied the knot in Maple Plain, Minnesota. We managed to make our way to Baker Park with the bridal party after everyone was ready. Feast your eyes on the gorgeous fur Emily wore while we were there! After a charming ceremony in the local community church the reception got underway in Medina. Thank you Emily and Ben for giving me so many wonderful opportunities to make great photographs. You two are terrific!

A Stroll Downtown (post by Desiree)

This week is a week of inspiring meetings and prepping for our upcoming Bridal Fairs! Before catching the bus on my way home this morning, I snapped a few photos.  Yep, it's quite cold and people are bundled up here in Norway too! (ok, maybe it's not as cold as Northern MN..hehe) Let's embrace the cute hats and scarfs...the bit of sun....and the cold?!  ;)

Family (by: Marc James)

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.

follow us {post by natalie}

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!  

DIY Bouquets (Post by Thea)

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 | A November Wedding {post by natalie}

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!

Ben and Emily at Town Hall Tap {Post by Thea}

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.

A Wintery Golden Love (post by Desiree)

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!

Hello, I'm new here. {Post by Thea}

 

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.

All the lovelies (Post by Louisa)

As 2012 draws to a close I wanted to take a moment and say thank you to all the beautiful couples I

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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.

90 years young {by leslie}

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.

My Week in Review (by: Marc James)

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.

Brudesalongen // Vendor Love (post by Desiree)

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!

Desiree is in Norway (by Desiree)

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!

laura + toby, married {by leslie}

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!