Best Wedding Moments of 2018 | Team Post

Sadie and Nora stop at the light for a kiss in downtown St. Paul.

Wedding by: Melissa Hesse

First reception of 2018. Sadie and Nora’s private wedding at W.A Frost.

Wedding by: Melissa Hesse

Todd prepares to place a tie clip on Jesse as they get ready for their wedding day.

Wedding by: Nicole McCoy

Todd and Jesse stand on the Hewing Hotel rooftop for photos with the Minneapolis skyline in the background.

Wedding by: Nicole McCoy

Amy and Mary take a moment with champagne before their intimate ceremony at The New Victorian Mansion.

Wedding by: Melissa Hesse

Laura and Domenic stand in gorgeous light at their wedding venue, Aria.

Wedding by: Jess Ekstrand

Hannah and Elliot brave the 2018 April snowstorm and ran outside for a quick photo.

Wedding by: Melissa Hesse

Brandon and Michele caught in the moment in-between taking wedding party photos.

Wedding by: Jess Ekstrand

Brandon and Michele during their first dance as newlyweds.

Wedding by: Jess Ekstrand

Nick holds Robin’s hand as they walk out into a fairway for photos at Theodore Wirth.

Wedding by: Jess Ekstrand

Sophie and John share a moment as newlyweds at The Minneapolis Club.

Wedding by: Nicole McCoy

Sophie and John kiss after a toast.

Wedding by: Nicole McCoy

Can’t get enough of this sweet moment between Kara and Ryan on their wedding day.

Wedding by: Jess Ekstrand

Chris and Eyal kiss a very special wedding guest before their ceremony at Aria.

Wedding by: Melissa Hesse

Jesse and Ben share a heartwarming moment after their first look.

Wedding by: Jess Ekstrand

We will let this photo speak for itself. :P

Wedding by: Jess Ekstrand

Jeff and Diane stand at the Courthouse with their two sons as they get married.

Wedding by: Andy Yelken

Megan and Tom throw up their arms with excitement as they walk down the aisle as newlyweds at Minneapolis Event Centers.

Wedding by: Jess Ekstrand

Amy’s nephew greets her before the ceremony.

Wedding by: Melissa Hesse

Amy and Sam in a blissful moment as they walk down the aisle as newlyweds at Breezy Point Resort.

Wedding by: Melissa Hesse

Jeanie puts on the final touches of her wedding day attire.

Wedding by: Jess Ekstrand

Jeanie and Adam stand inside 300 Clifton where they got married.

Wedding by: Jess Ekstrand

Rebecca and Melaney share a kiss after their first look.

Wedding by: Melissa Hesse

The cold and snow didn’t stop Katie and Amanda from photos on the Saint Anthony Bridge.

Wedding by: Melissa Hesse

Breezy Point Resort Wedding | Amy + Sam | Post by Melissa Hesse

Amy and Sam are part of this amazing friend group of couples that I have been so lucky to have worked with and photographed. When these two reached out to me I instantly knew their wedding day would be a blast. Little did I know how much fun it actually would be! They had friends and family come together at the Breezy Point Resort in Breezy Point, MN. Their ceremony was down the road at Antlers with White Birch golf course in the background to tie their mutual love of golfing. A cocktail hour at the Whiz Bang Bar followed with passed hors d'oeuvres and one hell of a great time by the lake during sunset. The couple shared their first dance on the dance floor with their guests and the celebration of this beautiful couple filled the night with throwback jams and dance moves that didn’t stop until the night ended. Congrats to Amy and Sam!!

Floral by: Ginger Root Floral MPLS

300 Clifton Wedding | Jeanie + Adam | Post by Jess Ekstrand

Have you ever heard of a couple growing their own flowers for their wedding day? Me either. Well, not until Jeanie and Adam. Not only did they grow the flowers, Jeanie made bouquets and crowns the morning of the wedding at 300 Clifton. I probably shouldn’t leave out the fact that Adam had been curing a ham for 16 months prior to the wedding and had it sliced and served up during cocktail hour at their Bauhaus Brew Labs reception. Mind. Blown. Congrats Jeanie and Adam!

Flowers: The couple

Band: Mississippi Hot Club

Dress: Posh Bridal

Photo Booth: Time into Pixels

Food: Spoon and Stable | Bellecour

Day of Coordinator: Bre is Fun

Ceremony Venue: 300 Clifton

Reception Venue: Bauhaus Brew Labs

Minneapolis Fall Engagement Session | Drew + Scot | Post by Melissa Hesse

Drew has been in my life since 6th grade and was the first openly gay person I knew. He was such an inspiration to me and many of our mutual friends growing up, so this engagement session was such an honor to photograph!

Drew and Scot met while working at a hotel in downtown Minneapolis and they quickly became a big part of each others lives. However, Drew went off to work on the road for Sesame Street Live for a few years but the two of them stayed in touch through it all. It was no surprise once Drew came back to settle down that the two of them would finally embrace their love and move in together. On the 4th of July this year, Drew proposed to Scot during fireworks. We celebrated their engagement starting at Longfellow Grill with mimosas and a gorgeous fall walk near the Mississippi River on two different sides of town. Congrats to Drew and Scot!

Minneapolis Event Center Wedding | Mr. + Mrs. Brock | Post by Jess Ekstrand

Megan and Tom got married on one hot and beautiful summer day in Minneapolis. There is no doubt that when I think of a summer wedding in Minnesota, this is exactly what I picture! Sun, some heat, and a breeze that comes in exactly when you need it. Congratulations to this classy duo!

- Dress: Wedding Shoppe
- Suites: Savii
- Venue: Minneapolis Event Center
- Make Up: Nan Fletcher

Minnehaha Falls Engagement Session | Jessica + Sam | Post by Melissa Hesse

Forest Lake MN Wedding | Mr. + Mrs. Anderson | Post by Jess Ekstrand

Jesse and Ben got married in a friend’s backyard in Forest Lake on one seriously hot day. Their day came together with a number of elements from friends and family along with just a touch of Disney here and there. Jesse’s sister and mom made her veil. Jesse’s brother-in-law designed their invitation. The mother-of-the groom sang during the ceremony. And the father-of-the bride even made the arbor Ben and Jesse got married under. Congrats to these two sweethearts! 

Minneapolis Club Wedding | Mr. + Mrs. Craven | Post by Nicole McCoy

It was a blast capturing John and Sophie's wedding day as people from all over the world (literally) came to Minneapolis to celebrate with them. John and Sophie live in Chicago, so you would think planning a wedding in Minneapolis for guests from all over to attend would be a challenge, but not for these two! They were incredibly on top of every detail you could think of, while still making it personal and special for themselves. 

This gathering of friends and family from near and far was truly beautiful to witness as they surrounded John and Sophie with all of their support and love. Some members of Sophie's family hadn't seen each other for 10 years! Cheers to you both for not only making your wedding beautiful, but for hosting so many of your closest people so well. We hope their new adventure to Germany after tying the knot is a blast!

Wedding planner: Rocket Science Events

DJ: Roosevelt Mansfield

Venue: The Minneapolis Club

Maple Ridge Farm Wedding | Mr. + Mrs. Caldwell | Jess Ekstrand

There is something truly special about being a photographer and being able to witness so many weddings. Watching couples, and families, join together. Kara and Ryan’s ceremony at Maple Ridge Farm was truly special as Ryan not only voiced his commitment to Kara, but also to Kara’s daughter. This ceremony and their walk down the aisle as a family were a couple of my favorite moments of the year.

Florals: KMB Floral

Catering: Old Log Cabin

Photo Booth: Blue Goose

St. Croix River Engagement Session | Katie + Amanda | Post by Melissa Hesse

When Katie and Amanda mentioned doing their engagement session near the St. Croix River it got me so excited to go on an adventure with them. We hiked into the St. Croix National Riverway for these stunning views as the rain came and went. It was our intention to get the golden hour light but it didn’t seem to be in the cards that day. We worked our way down to get closer to the river and just as we stepped into the perfect spot the sun peeked out. It was meant to be for these two! Congrats to Katie and Amanda on their engagement!

Aria Minneapolis Wedding | Chris + Eyal | Post by Melissa Hesse

Chris and Eyal really incorporated both of their backgrounds into their wedding day. It was split into two parts beginning with the Chinese tea ceremony in the morning at Chris’s family home and the second half was a Jewish ceremony at Aria to represent Eyal’s background. The two of them currently live in San Francisco, so their friends and family came from all parts of the world to celebrate in Minnesota where Chris is originally from. We love seeing weddings intertwine all parts of life from the couple and the people who have known them individually and together. Every person at their wedding has been a significant part of their lives in one way or another and you could feel their worlds colliding as one.

Even though they already had a ceremony is Isreal, Chris and Eyal put in every detail with Julia LaCroix into their wedding day. They created their own menu with Create Catering and called the cuisine “Chewish” - a mix between their favorite Chinese and Jewish eats. Everywhere you looked these two had a detail to represent their cultures and it was beautifully done. Congrats to Chris and Eyal!

Wedding Planner: Julia LaCroix Styled Events

Venue: ARIA

Floral: Wisteria Design Studio

Dessert: Cocoa & Fig

Stationary: A Milestone Paper Co.

Videography: A.B. Rich Films

Decor/Rentals: Après Party & Tent Rental

Outdoor Engagement Session | Mariah + Matt | Post by Andy Yelken

An adventure is always best appreciated when shared. Could not be more excited for the one Mariah and Matt are on. Congrats to these two on their engagement!

Theodore Wirth Park Wedding | Robin + Nick | Post by Jess Ekstrand

What a day! Robin and Nick’s wedding was full of so many wonderful details. The invitations were designed by Robin and include custom watercolor she did herself. Floral arrangements by the bride’s good friend, Maxine of The Southern Table, could not have been more impressive. To top it off, the couple wrote their own vows. You can’t go wrong. Congratulations Robin and Nick!

Minneapolis Event Center Wedding | Brandon + Michele | Post by Jess Ekstrand

That dress! One of my favorite parts of a wedding is seeing how a couple incorporates their personal style into their wedding day. After shooting Brandon and Michele’s engagement session, I couldn’t wait to see the dress Michele picked out! I don’t have to tell you, because you can see for yourself, it was incredible! Congrats you two!

MIA Engagement Session | Rebecca and Melaney | Post by Melissa Hesse

Nothing like coming back to your hometown to celebrate Pride weekend and have your engagement photos taken with your loved one! These two traveled to Minneapolis from Madison, WI where they met in college and established their relationship. Rebecca being from Minnesota has brought them back to her roots where they will soon move to and celebrate their marriage in October. So excited for all the new life chapters that are ahead for these two!

Minneapolis Engagement Session | Robin and Nick | Post by Jess Ekstrand

I can never emphasize enough that one of the greatest benefits of being a photographer is just meeting new people. Robin and Nick live just blocks from me and of course, we hadn’t met until they came to me to photograph their wedding. Robin and I bonded over our mutual love for Patti Smith’s book Just Kids and they’re getting married in one of my favorite places, Theodore Wirth. Their wedding is at the end of the month and I am truly looking forward to spending the day with these two!

NE Minneapolis Engagement Session | Michele + Brandon | Post by Jess Ekstrand

Ladies and gentlemen, Brandon and Michele. What can I say? Photographing these two was flat out lovely. And now their wedding is literally right around the corner and I cannot wait! 

The New Victorian Mansion Wedding | Amy and Mary Married | Post by Melissa Hesse

On a bright sunny afternoon in February, Amy and Mary exchanged their vows in front of their families at The New Victorian Mansion Bed and Breakfast in Saint Paul. They started the day having breakfast and getting ready with Amy's daughter Ella who was a huge part of their day. The love surrounding this amazing couple filled the room during their ceremony as they tied the knot. After the ceremony, everyone walked over to W.A Frost for brunch and celebrating. It was such an honor to be part of their day and document all the special moments. Congratulations to Amy and Mary!!  

R&R Team Retreat | 2018

This year we took our Rivets and Roses team up north for a retreat at a cabin in Park Rapids, MN to gear up for the 2018 wedding season. One of the reasons that our clients value working with our studio so much is that they know they are supported by our entire team. We are like a little family over here at Rivets and Roses and we love to invest in our artists.

We spent the weekend with our cameras out documenting the ordinary and challenging ourselves to be stronger at what we do. We covered the back of our cameras for a shooting challenge that forced us not to see the instant results of an image. This pushed us to think differently about taking an image and the results were fascinating! Some of those images made this post.

Taking the time to truly bond together as a team was very special and we are so glad we could make this happen. A huge shout out to the one and only Liz and our biggest fan Nick for taking their support and putting the meals together. 

Good Fucking Design Advice

W.A Frost Wedding | Sadie and Nora Married | Post by Melissa Hesse

Sadie and Nora have an incredible love story. It begins in grade school when they first met and became friends. Their friendship turned into love after being roommates in college and traveling the world, which brought them closer together. They knew there was always something special and anyone who has ever met these two would feel the same. Their love is a force you can feel when you are around them. Their much-anticipated marriage was a grand celebration!

Their wedding was split into two parts. Their intimate ceremony and private dinner at W.A. Frost was a cozy winter evening with champagne and wine paired with a tasting menu. The second part was a reception open to friends and extended family that filled the room at Hygga in Lowertown. To tie both of the days together Sadie's cousin from Girl Friday did the floral and decorations. 

A little backstory that I love telling, Sadie and Nora stepped in for a mock wedding I did in college to build my portfolio. Everyone thought they eloped and got married, so to be their photographer on their actual wedding day was serendipitous. It was such an honor to not only document it all but to be there as a friend in support of their amazingly true and powerful love. I am beyond excited for what the future holds for them both.

Congratulations Sadie and Nora!!