If I remember correctly, I met Katie and Ryan in November of 2019. They had plans to get married at the Souther Theater 10/10/2020. Even without a pandemic, wedding plans often have to shift and change as the planning phase moves along. COVID-19 presented additional challenges for many attempting to get married in 2020, including these two. Katie and Ryan had to shrink their guest list and moved their wedding plans to Katie’s parents’ backyard in Big Lake. The ceremony took place as the sun was beginning to set across the lake. It was also quite literally the most perfect fall day. Virus or not, this wedding was perfect and beautiful and I was so happy to be a part of it. Katie and Ryan, congratulations again!
Wedding Season Highlights 2020
What a year!
It has been one of the most unpredictable wedding seasons to date. Maybe you had to postpone or reschedule your wedding a thousand times, or maybe you eloped and did away with the big celebration. There were many ways couples shifted the theme of their wedding this year and we are so proud of the couples who managed to still plan their day through it all and celebrated safely. Here are some highlights from our 2020 season.
Gina and Danny - Photographer Jess Ekstrand
Gina and Danny kicked off our very unpredictable wedding season in an ironic way. They planned their wedding at Grand Cafe in a matter of weeks and it goes to show how great small weddings truly are!
Maren and Jon - Photographer Melissa Hesse
Before we were ever aware of COVID-19, Maren and Jon celebrated their love at The American Swedish Institute. We look back now and cherish these moments shortly before everything changed.
Rodrick and Don - Photographer Nicole McCoy
Instead of having a photographer at their wedding, Rodrick and Don wanted portraits at their home in Golden Valley, where they have landscaped beautiful plants, trees, and gardens surrounding their home.
Megan and Merritt - Photographed by Jess Ekstrand
Megan and Merritt were initially planning to get married in May 2021, but with the unknowns of the pandemic, they pushed their date and got married in their parents’ backyard with 25 of their closest friends and family.
Abe and Shelby - Photographed by Ben Lanksy
No one plans to get married during a pandemic, but Abe and Shelby made it look natural. They distilled who they are and what their love means into a beautiful ceremony at the Charlotte Partridge Ordway Japanese Garden.
Katie and Ryan - Photographer Jess Ekstrand
These two got married at Katie’s parents’ home in Big Lake, MN with a small, socially distanced, backyard wedding. The lake and their intimate ceremony were some serious inspiration for small, intimate weddings!
Jenna and Ernest - Photographer Jess Ekstrand
Jenna and Ernest got married at Noerenberg Memorial Gardens with a dinner in Jenna’s parents’ backyard. While they plan to get custom wedding bands made, Ernest, who is a ceramicist, made ceramic bands for the ceremony.
Annie and Andy - Photographer Nicole McCoy
Annie and Andy married at Redeemed Farm on the most gorgeous fall day here in Minnesota. Their outdoor wedding brought a glow to the day as they celebrated with their family and friends for a socially distanced wedding.
Ghazel and Natalie - Photographer Melissa Hesse
Natalie and Ghazel showed some serious small wedding goals at the Como Zoo Conservatory. They stuck with their original date and kept the fun for an intimate group. These two wrapped up our 2020 season on a high note!
Twin Cities Engagement Session | Nick + Chris | Post by Melissa Hesse
Nick and Chris’s engagement session landed on a very special date, it was their 5 year anniversary, and original wedding day, that has now been postponed until next year due to the pandemic. They chose The Orpheum in Minneapolis as their first location since it is where they shared their first date. With all the stars aligned, Chris proposed back to Nick in front of The Orpheum. It was truly a special moment as it took Nick by surprise since he had no idea Chris was holding a ring to place on his hand. After taking in the sights of Minneapolis we continued to celebrate the day by going to The Landmark Center where their wedding is to be held. It was the perfect way to tie together the day and honor their love!
Theodore Wirth Engagement Session | Ghazel + Natalie | Post by Melissa Hesse
Ghazel and Natalie began their journey with many months of long distance and many visits to be together. During that time they both have been in school and now Ghazel has moved to be with Natalie in Wisconsin while she finishes her degree. There is still a bigger journey ahead for these two and it is such a breath of fresh air in these times to see them work their way around a pandemic and continue their plans to get married next month. These two have kept their date and shifted some major details to now have a much smaller wedding for a love so big. There couldn’t have been a more perfect Fall day for their engagement session in Theodore Wirth Park!
Charlotte Partridge Ordway Japanese Garden Wedding | Abe + Shelby | Post by Ben Lanksy
No one plans to get married during a pandemic, but Abe and Shelby made it look natural. They distilled who they are and what their love means into a beautiful ceremony at the Charlotte Partridge Ordway Japanese Garden on October 2, 2020. I have known Abe for a decade, and it was an honor to witness and capture the marriage of these two thoughtful, graceful, easy-going humans. The serene location reflected their love of plants, gardening and bonsai trees. A few close family and friends were physically there, with Zoom bringing the vows to households from a safer distance. Abe read Shelby a Pablo Neruda poem and Shelby recited Barry White lyrics to Abe. It was an intimate and powerful moment.
Backyard Wedding | Megan + Merritt | Post by Jess Ekstrand
A wedding can happen anywhere, at anytime, and look however you want it to look. And you know what, you can even get married in the middle of a pandemic. Megan and Merritt were initially planning to get married in May 2021, but with the unknowns of the pandemic, they pushed their date up to 8.8.2020. Why wait anyway? These two got married in Megan’s parents’ beautiful backyard with 25ish of their closest friends and family. I’m not going to lie, I love a backyard wedding, and this one was topnotch. Congrats again to Megan and Merritt!
Rodrick and Don | Wedding Portraits | Post by Nicole McCoy
Rodrick and Don tied the knot in August at their favorite campsite near Lake Pepin, bringing along only a few close family members and friends. Instead of having a photographer at their wedding, they wanted portraits at their home in Golden Valley, where they have landscaped beautiful plants, trees, and gardens surrounding their home. These two were very open about their life and work, and I really enjoyed getting to know them throughout the shoot.
What I learned about Don is that he's a retired executive who previously owned his own business recruiting CFOs, CEOs, and executives for non-profits. Now, he coaches other executives while also working at Bachman's, hence their amazing outdoor space! It was clear to see Don's love for landscaping during the shoot, and it was fun to learn what they enjoyed most about each particular garden spot. My favorite area was a mini water pool with their pet turtle, Algae. Rodrick currently works for the American Civil Liberty Union as their volunteer manager. He is staying busy during this tumultuous time, working hard with volunteers to create real change in our state and country. I also learned that Rodrick used to model for CK in New York back in the day! As a photographer, I loved this little fact about Rodrick, so if you look closely at some of the photos maybe you can see his modeling face come out a few times.
This two-hour shoot with Rodrick and Don was definitely refreshing. As I learned about their life passions for non-profit work and social justice, and after just spending some time with the two of them, it was so evident they are truly good humans. It's also not every day that couples offer to carry my camera bag for me! Just another example of how sweet these two were, and how honored I was to take these special portraits for them honoring their marriage in their beautiful home.
How to Properly Socially Distance at Your Wedding
Just a few months ago, who would have thought we’d have to take social distancing into account when planning events? Well, here we are, and it’s incredibly important to keep it in mind as you plan your wedding in order to keep everyone—guests, vendors and you—safe. Here are a few things to consider as you plan your big day.
Ceremony
In Minnesota, weddings are allowed to accommodate 250 people, but you must take into account that the venue can only run at 25 percent of its capacity, so your guest list may need to be smaller than you originally planned. You must also ensure that there’s six feet of distance between different households at all times and your venue needs to accommodate this. The smaller your guest list, the easier this will be to achieve.
For your ceremony, you may want to consider assigning seats for your guests. This way you can ensure the proper distance between households so everyone will be safe.
Though it’s not often the case anymore, traditionally, wedding party members walked down the aisle alone. If you are still choosing to have a wedding party, consider not pairing anyone to walk together. Since they’ll need to stay six feet apart, it may make sense to keep your wedding party small.
Photography
While photographers are experts at capturing the intimate moments of you and your soon-to-be spouse, it can be difficult to corral family members even without the difficulties presented by a pandemic. Consider a photography schedule and appointing someone to help you stick to it and gather family when it’s time for photos. If you shift and stagger smaller groups during certain parts of the day (getting ready rooms, family photos, wedding party) this will allow you to get all the shots you want while keeping everyone safely distanced.
Getting Ready
It’s so special to get ready for your big day with all your loved ones, and it’s a great environment for some lovely photography. But it’s just not safe anymore to have so many people packed into a small room. To keep social distancing a priority, think about having a smaller group—just a few people total—or rent a larger space so everyone can properly socially distance. Remember: whether your group is small or large, everyone will still need to stay six feet apart. It may make more sense to have wedding party members get ready before arriving. Plus, they can still be part of the photographs where you make your big reveal, just in a larger space.
Transportation
There’s no easy way to put six feet between people in your transportation. The safest way would be to ask your guests to manage their own transportation. If that’s not possible, you could opt for a bus, but note that you’ll have to ask people to keep to their households and leave some seats/rows in between others.
Reception
Seating at the reception may not be too difficult, as long as you keep households together and space your tables a full six feet apart. If possible, it might make sense to have a few different sizes of tables so you can accommodate different group sizes.
The dance is a different story. If you’re properly socially distancing, a traditional dance is basically impossible. You may choose to forgo a dance altogether and just do a first dance as a couple. Remember, you can always do a reception down the road like you’ve always dreamed.
Planning a Wedding During a Pandemic
in Weddings
So, you’re engaged! Or maybe you’ve been engaged and had to postpone or reschedule your wedding. Now what? There are some considerations to take into account to keep you, your guests and vendors safe.
Consider a Smaller Event
This may be a given, but we know how hard it can be to cull down your guest list. Be sure to pay attention to any state restrictions on numbers of people for your gathering. In Minnesota 250 people total are allowed in spaces where weddings are held, but there are important things to note with this.
You must take into account that currently event spaces can only run at 25 percent capacity. Check with your venue as soon as possible to find out how many people they can accommodate so you can take vendors into account, which will help you narrow down how many guests you can invite.
Spacing of six feet must be maintained at all times between different households. There will need to be enough space in your venue to accommodate this. Check out this post for ideas on how to properly social distance at your wedding.
Don’t forget that the 250-person cap must include any vendors and event staff, so your guest list should not be 250—you need to make sure everyone accounted for in the space does not exceed 250 people.
Types of Small Weddings
A “small wedding” is typically defined as 50 people or less. This helps you easily accommodate vendors and staff while keeping anyone you invite a bit more safe than they’d be at a larger wedding.
If you’re willing to go even smaller, a “micro wedding” would be 20 guests or less. This typically accommodates for both immediate families and perhaps a few close friends.
A courthouse wedding can still be a beautiful option. You’ll need a few witnesses, so be sure to check how many guests are allowed, if a photographer can attend and if any decorations are allowed.
An elopement is the smallest way to tie the knot, and usually happens without the knowledge of family and friends. You could always celebrate with everyone down the road if you so choose.
Ceremony Only
You could skip the dinner and dance altogether, or postpone the reception for a later date. Opting for a ceremony only makes it easier to properly socially distance.
Whether you have 2 guests or 50, a smaller event opens up the option to have a larger celebration down the road. Perhaps a one year anniversary party?! Just remember that opting for two separate events could incur additional costs.
Virtual Wedding
No matter how many you decide to invite to your wedding, there may be people you’d like to have there who cannot attend. Video conferencing has made it incredibly easy to connect with loved ones during this time, so why not stream your ceremony for those friends and family who can’t make it?
Benefits of a Smaller Wedding
It can feel overwhelming to plan a wedding during uncertain times, but no matter how many people join you for your big day, it will still be beautiful and wonderful. Here are some benefits to having a smaller wedding.
Potential Cost Savings/Shifted Priorities
Saving money is a great benefit and having a smaller wedding sometimes helps reduce your budget. With fewer guests, you can focus your budget on things that will help you document the big day. Maybe a videographer was out of your budget before, but now with fewer guests you can fit it in. And no matter how many guests attend, your photographs will help tell your love story to everyone after the fact.
While you can expect to save money in some areas, it is important to keep in mind that you may have additional costs elsewhere. For example, you may need to hire a cleaning service to help keep high-touch areas clean throughout the event.
If you decide to forgo a reception, you can splurge on a dinner for just you and your new spouse, or with close family members to celebrate.
Different Venue Options
The smaller the wedding, the more venue options you’ll have. Think of all the amazing locations: rooftop, patio, backyard, restaurant, museum, garden, taproom, lake cruise—the list goes on and on. Just remember to keep your venue large enough for social distancing, even if you decide to have a small wedding. Explore some unique options and let your imagination run wild.
Intimacy
A smaller gathering allows you to truly spend quality time (socially distanced, of course!) with everyone who attends.
Make it a Wedding Al Fresco
An outdoor wedding has never been a better idea. Not only are weddings in the wild so magical, but they offer additional safety for you and your guests and vendors. Of course, you’ll need a secondary plan for inclement weather, but that’s what tents are for—plus, rain on your wedding day is good luck!
Forgo a Large Wedding Party
As fun as it can be for some, for others selecting a wedding party can be stressful. What if you didn’t have to choose a wedding party? It can be just as special with you, your spouse and your officiant up at the altar together while your close friends and family watch from the front few rows.
Even without a wedding party, you can still allow close friends and family to be involved in a special way.
Lean on each person for things they’re great at--maybe some could help with decorations and making the venue shine. Perhaps others could sing, play an instrument, or do a reading during your ceremony.
You can still invite a few people to be with you as you get ready for the big day, just be sure there’s enough space for social distancing.
If you want, you could still appoint someone who would plan a bachelorette/bachelor party or a shower.
Consider a Cleaning Service
Even with stay-at-home orders loosening, it’s important to keep up with cleanliness and social distancing. It may bring some peace of mind to everyone attending your event (vendors included!) if you bring in a cleaning service. Sani-Set is just one option in the Twin Cities area that will come in and clean before, during and after your event. While this is an added cost, it’s worth it to keep everyone safe.
No matter how your wedding comes together, just remember to stay positive. Your big day is about you and your soon-to-be spouse and it will be wonderful no matter what happens!
Updates to Policies & Procedures
in Weddings
To say a lot has changed this year would be an understatement. Few of us would have expected to be living in a global pandemic, but as stay-at-home restrictions begin to loosen, we want to make sure we’re keeping your wedding guests and vendors and our team as safe as possible on your big day.
In order to keep us all safe, we’ve updated our policies and procedures. Here’s what you can expect from us, and we’ll be sure to keep you updated if additional changes are made.
Rivets & Roses Policy & Procedure Updates:
All of our consultations and planning meetings will be held virtually. As much as we love to meet you in person, it’s safest for all parties to keep these meetings virtual. Don’t worry, even with a virtual meeting you’ll still have the opportunity to find out if our personalities mesh well together!
Rivets & Roses photographers will keep a social distance of six feet at all times. [underlined section will link to “how to properly social distance at your wedding” post] We ask our couples and their guests to do the same. This is a good item to address with your wedding guests ahead of time. For younger, more tech-savvy, guests you could include this on your wedding website. For older guests you could touch base via phone before the day of your event.
Shift and stagger smaller photo groups as necessary during certain parts of the day. For example, schedule specific times for getting ready room photos, family photos and wedding party photos.
Planned portrait sessions will be in a place that allows everyone to be safely spaced apart. When possible, outdoor sessions are safest for everyone involved.
Rivets & Roses photographers will comply with health screenings, infrared temperature scans, practice hand washing throughout the day, and wear a protective face mask.
Along with our gear bags, photographers will have their own personal protective equipment (PPE) to keep us all safe. This includes a personal mask, disinfectant to keep photo equipment clean throughout the day, hand sanitizer, nitrile gloves, and surface sanitizer spray to create a safe and sterile space to store our equipment.
Our clients as well as our photographers will be asked to sign an Assumption of Risk and Release Agreement prior to the wedding day.
We are asking clients to work with their event planner and venue to make sure the event space is a safe and healthy environment for vendors and wedding guests alike. Sani-Set is a new vendor that will come in and clean before, during and after your event. It’s a great additional layer of protection to help keep everyone safe.
As circumstances change, these policies and procedures will continue to change. To ensure a safe and happy work environment for all of us, we ask that our clients and their event planners adhere to the current state of Minnesota and the CDC guidelines.
We know that imagining your wedding day in the midst of a pandemic can feel overwhelming, but it won’t be any less magical than you’ve dreamed! Remember that your day is about you and your partner and nothing can take away from your love story.
Wondering how to plan a wedding during a global pandemic? We’ve got some ideas!
Grand Cafe Wedding | Gina + Danny | Post by Jess Ekstrand
Gina and Danny got married 2.20.2020 at Grand Cafe in Minneapolis. These two crazy kids planned their wedding in a matter of weeks and it goes to show that you don’t need a year or two to plan a wedding. The wedding party consisted of their three daughters playing the roles of flower girls and ring bearer. Guests crowed in with cocktails in hand for the ceremony. I was so happy to be there to document this beautiful, cozy and intimate wedding! Congrats again to Gina and Danny!
American Swedish Institute Wedding | Maren + Jon | Post by Melissa Hesse
I met Maren through mutual friends and our paths crossed every so often. When Maren reached out to me to photograph their wedding I was so excited to meet Jon for the first time and get to know them both. They had told me bits and parts of the details going into their day and that the venue was important to them since they both have family ties in Sweden. I had a vision in my mind how the day might be, but holy cow was it beautiful and so absolutely perfect for them!
Their day brought us to The American Swedish Institute and began with just the two of them. They didn’t have a wedding party but had heavily involved both of their sisters and a mutual friend that officiated the ceremony. The swapped the cocktail hour to have it before the ceremony with passed Swedish bites by FIKA. This gave them a chance to greet everyone so by the time of the ceremony everyone was warmed up. A choir group that Jon’s sister is in, surprised everyone with a song at the top of the stairs and filled the room with chills. They had the dance floor kicked off by Jake Rudh’s Transmission for a night of dancing to post-punk, new wave, and indie music that had everyone cranking out their best moves.
Congratulations to Maren and Jon on their marriage!
Mississippi River Engagement Session | Elliott + Nick | Post by Melissa Hesse
Elliott and Nick found love while they both were in another state but have come back to make home in Minnesota. For their engagement session they wanted to explore areas by the Mississippi River and the North Loop during the fall to get the leaves changing. It was easy being around these two and photographing their true love as we wondered around catching all the fall colors. They are currently planning their wedding for 2021 and I can’t wait to celebrate with these two!
LOVE WILL KEEP US GOING
THROUGH BETTER OR WORSE
For many couples, wedding day plans have taken a major shift since COVID-19. Some couples are holding tight to their original date and others have been faced with the hard decision to postpone their big day and reschedule. We know these aren't easy decisions and these aren't easy times. However, we believe that no matter what obstacles come our way, love will keep going! There might be some new ways couples decide to move forward, such as re-planning their event to host a smaller guest list, changing their venue due to new availability or even working with a new budget. Other couples might be excited to celebrate after this global pandemic and choose to plan an even bigger celebration! No matter what you decide, we want you to know, our team at Rivets and Roses is here for you!
WHAT REALLY MATTERS
As couples make adjustments to their wedding day plans, we understand there will be a lot of logistics to work through. Our team will be as flexible as possible with your other vendors to come together on a new date. Trust us when we say that we all want to continue to be there for you on your wedding date! Your day matters to us and no matter if your celebration ends up being big or small, it will be absolutely perfect! If you have any questions on postponing your wedding, please feel free to reach out to our studio and we'll be happy to help guide you!
THE CELEBRATION WILL GO ON
Remember that this is still the happiest moment of your life. Sure, no one expected a global pandemic to get in the way of your wedding plans, but that doesn't discount the fact that you are still happy, healthy and in love! In this very moment, there is a lot of uncertainty, but the fact that you want to get married still remains. The wedding industry is doing everything they can for couples affected by COVID-19 and we will all get through this together. And on the day of your wedding, we will all enjoy the reason to celebrate! We can't wait to be there for you to document your day!
Paikka Wedding | Mr. + Mrs. Janssen | Post by Jess Ekstrand
Kristi and Ken got married November 30 at Paikka in St. Paul. The weather this particular day was a solid MN wintery mix! We had some wind, some snow, sleet, maybe even some bouts of rain in there. The venue, however, had cozy vibes, with couches and candle light, perfect for a wintery evening. Congrats again to Kristi, Ken and their daughter Kennedy on a beautiful wedding day!
Venue: Paikka
Dress: The White Room | Sarah Seven
Suit: Jos A Bank
Rings: JB Hudson
DJ: Midwest Sound
Food/Dessert: Create Catering
Bartender Service: Liquidmotion
Florals: Maven
Day of Coordinator: Maven
Hair/Make Up: Lady Vamp Artistry
Minneapolis Engagement Session | Ben and Zach | Post by Jess Ekstrand
Ben and Zach opted for a post-wedding portrait session in lieu of engagement photos and what a wonderful idea! The stress of planning is over, maybe you’ve had your honeymoon, the excitement of the wedding day is lingering and you’re married! With their dog, Sota, being a huge part of their lives, we wandered the Minnehaha dog park to take in some fall colors and sunlight. Congrats again to this wonderful duo!
U of M Campus Club Wedding | Erin + Miranda | Post by Nicole McCoy
I first met Erin and Miranda at the Bachelor Farmer cafe to get to know each other a bit and talk about wedding details. We connected over our tea, their studies as professors at the U of M, and how not crazy they wanted their wedding day to be. After this meeting it was clear that we had things and common and got along well!
The day before their wedding I came along to their open house, where they invited close family and friends into their home to share food and toasts. The group who gathered for Erin and Miranda welcomed me into the gathering just as warmly as the couple, and I had the chance to meet many bright individuals, scholars, and close family members. One of my favorite small connections was with Miranda's father who is a photographer himself!
Getting to know these kind friends and family members the day before Erin and Miranda's wedding lead me into the wedding day with ease, feeling connected to this group in a different way. I am grateful I could celebrate with this amazing group of people, and even try paleo dessert!
Location: U of M / Campus Club
Dessert: Bluebird Cakery (http://bluebirdcakerymn.com/)
112 Eatery Wedding | Emily and Nick | Post by Nicole McCoy
Nick and Emily flew in from Seattle for only a few days to have an intimate wedding and celebrate with family and friends in Minneapolis. From the beginning I could tell that these two were excited to just get married! They strived for simplicity and ease, making the day simply about just celebrating for a few hours with their closest people and capturing it along the way.
With that in mind, these two were up for walking around the North Loop for an hour together, which is a photographer's dream time for hanging out with a couple! We spent time at the Hewing Hotel, drank cocktails, and walked through some picturesque alleys downtown until we made our way to the 112 Eatery for the ceremony and reception.
I adored how these two constantly made each other smile, and I had a blast adventuring around Minneapolis and being there to capture their very intimate wedding.
Landmark Center Wedding | Sarah + Maria | Post by Melissa Hesse
What a special wedding day Sarah and Maria had! These two tied the knot at the Landmark Center in downtown St. Paul with close family and friends. Afterwards they hosted a small reception at the formerly known Fleur de lis (now renamed as Ergo) who also made their floral arrangements. The magic that St. Paul brings as it transitions into the colder months was newly upon us all for their wedding day making everything twinkle a little brighter and complimented their love perfectly. Congratulations to Sarah and Maria!
Stone Arch Bridge Wedding | Drew + Scot | Post by Melissa Hesse
I have been so excited to share this wedding! Not only was it an incredible day, but I have known Drew since the sixth grade so this day holds a special spot in my heart. These two took over a small spot on the Stone Arch Bridge with just a few friends and close family for their ceremony. A cocktail hour and reception followed at the Le Meridian Chambers Hotel with extended family and friends. They had the room was filled with beautiful floral by Ginger Root MPLS. Once the newlyweds entered the room, the celebration began with toasts and heavy dancing. It was so much fun to document their day and celebrate alongside them. Congratulations to Drew and Scot!
