record store day {by leslie}

Some of you may or may not know that I've been teaching a course at the University of Minnesota this semester. It's my first time tackling this kind of work, and it has been invigorating and inspiring and... exhausting. I was pretty naive going into the semester about how much work would be required to put together my lectures. But anyway, summer break is almost here and that portion of my workload is finally lightening up. So why am I telling you all of this? Because I finally (finally!) had time this weekend to shoot some photos for myself. April 21 is Record Store Day (every single year), and it's one of my favorite "holidays." Labels release special editions and all kinds of rare music on vinyl, and in general I love how the community comes out to celebrate these small, struggling local businesses. I make a point of visiting one or two of my favorite shops each year, but this time around I wanted to visit five. I chose the Electric Fetus, Treehouse Records, Hymie's Vintage Records, Fifth Element and Yeti Records.

These shops span a variety of "genres" of customer, but they all have the same details that I love: hand-drawn signage and a good sense of humor about them. Below are a few of my favorite shots of the day.

So next year, you guys should join the party. There's lots of great music, some good food and even live performances around the city -- and it's always fantastic people watching as well!

Rivets and Roses Gives Back to Charity!

We are incredibly excited to announce that for every wedding booking from now on for the 2012 wedding season, $200 from each booking will be donated to charity! Each of us have chosen an organization to support that has been very close to our hearts and we're excited to give back. As a studio, we are all about finding the perfect photographer that fits your style. Now is your opportunity to not only have amazing wedding photography, but also to make a change and donate to an amazing cause, in honor of your big day! [quote]I am thrilled to announce that a percent of my proceeds will go toward the Animal Humane Society. As most of you know, I love taking photos of animals, and especially puppies. I have two very large dogs of my own that I rescued, and I'm a big supporter of saving dogs that are in need of a home. Donating some money to help adopt out more dogs is something I am really happy to be a part of. - Leslie[/quote]

[quote]From photographing newborns and children at play to photographing their wedding day, I'm incredibly blessed to be able to photograph these special joyous moments in families lives. Camp Get-A-Well-A also brings joy to families lives, only they do this during some of the most difficult times in families lives. The organization brings a camp experience right inside the hospital, so kids confined to a medical facility can still experience the thrills of summer camp. Camp Get-A-Well-A believes healing the spirit can help heal the body, and sometimes the best medicine doesn't come from a bottle. After all, kids in a hospital are still kids! I couldn't agree more and am thrilled to be working with this amazing organization! - Natalie[/quote]

[quote]I have an old childhood friend who was diagnosed with ALS a few years ago. I've thought about him often since then and I feel like this is a way to be supportive to him and his family and friends. -Louisa[/quote]

[quote]I have chose to work with the organization ART START. The purpose of ART START is to nurture the voices, hearts and minds of at-risk youth through creative arts workshops conducted daily inside homeless shelters and alternative to incarceration programs throughout New York City. With structure and connection to opportunity, art can be the starting point of a process that turns project achievements into life achievements. - Marc[/quote]

[quote]Giving and helping NAMI is important to me as they are committed to helping those who struggle with a mental illness such as depression, bipolar disorder or schizophrenia. They also focus their efforts on helping the family members and friends of those who struggle with these illnesses. I feel it's important to educate the public about mental health and NAMI is out there to promote community programs, improve services, and reduce stigma. This is close to my heart as I have family members who struggle mental illness and I'd love to be able to help everyone! - Desiree[/quote]

Find Your Photographer

If you are interested in being a part of this amazing opportunity, please check out our portfolios and also the charities we support!

Leslie's Portfolio & The Animal Humane Society

Natalie's Portfolio & Camp Get-A-Well-A

Marc's Portfolio & Art Start

Desiree's Portfolio & The National Alliance on Mental Illness

Louisa's Portfolio & The ALS Association

Feel free to contact us directly for more information and pricing. Cheers to giving back!

- Team Rivets and Roses

Gretchen & Tom | Destination Wedding Photography {by natalie}

Gretchen & Tom decided to get married in Mexico & I couldn't be more happy that they did! The quaint Azul Beach Hotel was the perfect backdrop for their sweet, intimate wedding. And can I tell you, spending time with couples & getting to know them, especially in a situation like a destination wedding, is so much fun for me! These two are seriously so in love...my favorite moment? After the ceremony I had the two of them alone on the rooftop for a few photos in the setting sun & Tom, reached in, pulled Gretchen to himself tightly & sweetly kissed her on the forehead...ahhh...my heart! I am so happy for them & all that lies ahead of them! Congratulations!  

Sneak Peek | Destination Wedding {by natalie}

Here's a little sneak peek of what I am working on right now! This little gem of a wedding was so! much! fun! I can't wait to share the rest of the images! For now, just a little grooms dinner teaser. Enjoy!

My day with the City House (Marc James)

A few days ago I had the pleasure of working with the City House. The City House is a group  that connects those on the margins of society, who might be homeless, in prison, or in recovery, with those in the mainstream of our society, for mutual listening, learning, and transformation. I was able to document the days of mentors and leaders in this group and talk with them about the lives they have lead and the lives they currently lead, an experience I won't soon forget.

Looking ahead (Post by Louisa)

In a couple of weeks I'm going to be doing an awesome test shoot with these two talented makeup artists, Romeny and Alice. If you are a bride looking for gorgeous, flawless makeup on your wedding day, look no further. These two have amazing skills and delightful personalities. Here are some shots from a 10 minute portrait session we shot last week. Keep your eyes open in early May for our upcoming test shoot!

Studio Lights

I had the pleasure of attending the latest MINNe-SHOP taught by the fabulous Eliesa Johnson. We practiced up on on studio lighting techniques.  It's such a different world from shooting an outdoor engagement or a wedding, but I'm finding it so much fun to do both!  I just wanted to share a few of my shots with ya'll.

the end of winter | engagement session {by natalie}

The end of winter means the beginning of wrapping up wedding plans for these two! I had the idea for this session in the works for quite some time and I'm incredibly lucky that Stephanie an Aaron were willing to wait until I said "Today is the day!"...from the crisp white snow and warmer-than-cool temperatures to the setting sun I think it all came together beautifully! Stephanie and Aaron were quite the troopers for me as well...the road to this particular park was closed so we had to hoof it there through the melting snow...I thought it was pretty treacherous, my boots were soaked (!) but that's nothing for these two. As avid campers, hikers and mountain climbers, and by mountain climbers I mean SERIOUS ROCK CLIMBERS who like hang off the side of cliffs, I think they got a kick out of my apologies about having to walk in the snow!

puppies make everything better {by Leslie}

So you all know by now that besides photographing weddings, I love to shoot some good old rock'n'roll. But you know what else thrills me to no end? Photographing dogs. I love, love, love capturing the emotions of canines. And you know what I like photographing even more than dogs? PUPPIES. I mean, seriously, what could possibly be more fun than a wiggly little pup? Yesterday, I had the chance to shoot this little girl, Kalie, and holy moly, you should see that cute little Buddha belly of hers.

Rivets and Roses Vendor Happy Hour!

This past week, our crew hosted a lovely little meet-and-greet happy hour for wedding vendors! We love getting to know the people we work with on weddings, and we also find some face-time incredibly valuable! The Modern Cafe, in Northeast Minneapolis, were our hosts for the evening and the staff there absolutely WOW'd us with their cocktails and appetizers! (Brides - did you know that the Modern now offers liquor catering?!?! What a fabulous idea for your party....) Creating lasting relationships with people in our industry is so important, and it was so great to take a moment and show our appreciation. Thank you to all of the vendors who came out, it was great to meet you! -Team Rivets and Roses

sxsw {by Leslie}

Last week I ventured down to Austin, TX for SXSW. This isn't much of a surprise, considering how much I love photographing bands -- and it's something I try to do every year. This year was different, however, in that I picked up an additional freelance assignment to shoot street style for Women's Wear Daily. I have never shot street style before, but my day job has me editing such photos a lot, so I felt comfortable with the job. And man, was it fun! The people watching in general at SXSW is pretty stellar, but when you're really *looking* for unique and pulled-together looks, it made it that much more fun.

Below are a few of my favorite fashions, thrown in with just a quick sampling of some music shots as well. Enjoy!

If you'd like to read about my favorite bands from SXSW, I wrote up a quick roundup here.

And if you'd like to see more street fashion, you can see the full slideshow from WWD here.

Soul Magnets (Images by Louisa)

The first wedding of the year is a big deal. It's exciting and fresh and everyone in the wedding world puts their best foot forward for occasions just like this one. When I met Lindsey and David last fall I knew they were going to have a special wedding. Their relationship is so sweet and they love each other so much that it's just refreshing to be around them. After we shot their engagement photos I was totally hooked. They got married on gorgeous, windy, unseasonably warm March 10th of this year at the Hope Community Church in downtown Minneapolis. Their ceremony was heartfelt and emotional with lovely vows that they had written themselves. As usual, I cried. Lindsey and David describe themselves as soul magnets, and insofar as I know about these things, I'd have to agree with them. They are wonderful together and much beloved by their families and friends. Lindsey and David: I hope you two have the most wonderful life together, and I hope you make babies really, really soon, because I can't wait to work with you again! Special thanks to my second shooter Jessica for some of the lovely images below and to Munster Rose for the breathtakingly beautiful flowers.

2012 Rivets and Roses Wedding Giveaway // Winners

What a week! We can't BELIEVE how many of you came to the blog and showed your support for the AMAZING couples who were a part of the 2012 Rivets and Roses Wedding Giveaway! We were blown away by the response and we want to thank each and every one of you for casting your votes! The final count is incredible: 35,590 votes!!!! A big thank you goes out to all of the friends, family, co-workers and social-media-friends who helped the couples win! And, of course, thank you to all of the couples who participated and truly hustled for your votes all week!

Congratulations to the winning couples below! We are SO excited to photograph your weddings and to give back in this way!

-Team Rivets & Roses

LOUISA // Kirsten & Graeme

DESIREE // Jessica & Tyler

MARC  // Megan & Dylan

LESLIE // Missy & Mike

NATALIE // Katie & Jeff

Holga and Paris {by Desiree}

I've just developed and recieved my very first prints from a Holga camera! I squeeled with delight and decided I HAD to share with you all tonight. I spent an absolutely fantastic 2 days in Paris last month. Paris is just what I imagined it to be...Lovely. I adore taking photos of people and when I travel I find myself stalking random people to 'get my shot.' Travel and street photography has become one of my biggest passions. I am hoping this year to challenge myself and maybe even shoot a bit of film at one of your weddings?  It's just so LOVELY to get the prints right in your hand instead of only seeing them on a screen.  You can check out more of Paris and my travels on my personal blog! 

2012 Rivets and Roses Wedding Photography Giveaway // Leslie!

Hello Blog Readers! Welcome to the official voting for the 2012 Rivets and Roses Wedding Giveaway! The three amazing couples below have all sent in their nominations and would LOVE for Leslie to be their photographer! The winning couple will be decided by you, the public! Please take the time to read each couple's story and cast your vote for who you think deserves to win this amazing giveaway!

Couple #1// Liz & Neel

Wedding Location// Stamford, Connecticut

Their Story// Liz and Neel met the old-fashioned NYC way, at a bar! They were both there invited out by mutual friends on a Friday night to see a comedy show, and as soon as Neel sat down at the table, Liz couldn't take her eyes off of him. That was 3 years ago yesterday, and has felt like a dream. The best kind of dream.

[quote]In most ways, we are just your average twenty-something couple. And we've been through a lot in our short three years together so far. We have an amazing dog, bought a house in the suburbs, comforted each other after deaths in our families, celebrated the births of babies, the devastation of an estranged parent. Neel truly is my soul mate, my better half. I am so blessed that we found each other. Neel is an only child, and I am the first of my siblings to be getting married, so we have a lot of pressure on us! We are throwing a day-long event with a full Indian/Hindu ceremony, followed by a traditional/western ceremony, and a big dinner and dance party for our 250 guests. As you can imagine, that's a big event for two average people to be hosting! We would love to have a legit photographer, and such a talented artist such as yourself, to preserve these memories for us as we celebrate with our families on our wedding day.[/quote]

Couple #2// Missy & Mike

Wedding Location// On the Shores of Lake Michigan

Their Story// Mike and Missy met in a funny way. They are from the same small, Wisconsin town, lived in the same neighborhood, and even dated siblings from the same family through high school. All that considered, we never exchanged a word. When college came around, Missy moved to Seattle and eventually back to Minneapolis, where she randomly moved into a house across the street from Mike's brother, Patrick. One day, a bunch of their friends piled into a car to take a trip back to their hometown, tt was here that she met her future husband. Long story short, it took 8 years, 2 moves and 1 extremely long car ride to finally meet one another. They have been together ever since.

[quote]We love native plants, ducks, and our families' heritages, from the upper peninsula of Michigan + Scandinavia. We're not as concerned with a cohesive theme as much as we'd like it to be happy, colorful and tons of fun!  I will just say that your photos are stunning, real and exactly what I've imagined for the big day. Mike and I aren't from the 1920's, and we aren't throwing a vintage carnival so props and unnatural poses aren't what we're looking for. I'd love our day documented as it is, in a beautiful way.[/quote]

Couple #3// Maggie & Matt

Wedding Location// Suncrest Gardens Pizza Farm, Wisconsin

Their Story// Matt and Maggie grew up 2.15 miles away from each other, but did not meet until they were 19 and 22.  They ran with the same crowd, but at different times.  Many of Maggie's friends from high school became Matt's friend's after she went to Madison for college.  Their good friend Danny Turner would come home from California from time to time during his stint in the Marines and people would come back to Eau Claire to attend wild parties for his homecoming.  And alas, this is how Maggie met Matt.  Matt was very shy, but with much persistence, Maggie got him down to Madison for a visit in no time!  After Maggie's graduation, they spent a year in New Zealand traveling around the country and working on farms and in hostels.  Then they lived in St. Paul, MN for 2 years.  Maggie has spent the last 3 years going to law school down in Madison while Matt  has held down the fort in St. Paul. They cannot wait to reunite for a lifetime of fun!

[quote]We spent our first few summers together going to tons of music festivals.  We are also into the music scene in Eau Claire and the Twin Cities. At our wedding everyone is getting a lawn chair and we are eating on hay bales, picnic style.  We want it to have the feel of a music fest.  The decorations will have old school circus details, such as lettering and flags hanging from the tent. We can't wait![/quote]

Voting is open from//

March 8th @12:00pm - March 15th @11:59pm

You are allowed to vote for one couple per day.

The polls reset 22 hours after your last vote!

[poll id="4"]

2012 Rivets and Roses Wedding Photography Giveaway // Natalie!

Hello Blog Readers! Welcome to the official voting for the 2012 Rivets and Roses Wedding Giveaway! The two amazing couples below have sent in their nominations and would LOVE for Natalie to be their photographer! The winning couple will be decided by you, the public! Please take the time to read each couple's story and cast your vote for who you think deserves to win this amazing giveaway!

Couple #1// Elizabeth & JB

Wedding Location// Columbia Manor, Maple Grove, MN

Their Story// Elizabeth and JB's love story is a little unique. The two met through a mutual friend in high school. JB was the cute boy and Elizabeth was the star struck girl. They hung out a few times with the arrangement of my best friend of course, but they went their separate ways. A few years later, one summer back from college Elizabeth's best friend and her decided to call him up. From that night on they were inseparable. That is, until Elizabeth went back to school in Hawaii. The couple never lost touched and became best friends. A few years later Elizabeth moved back to Minnesota and her and JB have been together ever since.

[quote]He is my friend and soul mate. In May of last year he got down and proposes (I wish I could say it was a surprise, but a month earlier he mentioned this to me over a romantic dinner because well we are best friends and best friends always like to talk first right?)This past August he started Med School in Maine and I am here teaching in Minnesota. These past few months have been tough, but we are doing it. I will be making the move out there this summer. I can’t imagine my life with out him. [/quote]

Couple #2// Katie & Jeff

Wedding Location// St. Paul, Minnesota

Their Story// Katie and Jeff met about a year and a half ago at a wedding.  The wedding was for a mutual friend of the both of them, Katie was a bridesmaid and Jeff served the dutiful role as an usher. After the wedding, however, Jeff returned home to Arizona.  Even though he was a few thousand miles away, Katie and Jeff stayed in touch.  They talked daily, and sometimes for hours at a time.  They got to know each other very well and Jeff  decided that a trip back to Minnesota was in order.  During this time, the two hung out quite a bit and it was during this visit that Jeff and Katie officially decided to date long distance. The distance was hard but they made it work. In July, Jeff decided to pursue his career as a pilot back in MN.  Katie went out, helped him pack up, and drove across the country to bring him home.  Since his return to MN they have been inseparable.

[quote]Katie has had in mind what she wants her wedding to be like for a very long time.  It was always a fall wedding with cranberry dresses for her bridesmaids.  They will be getting married in St. Paul, MN on November of 2012, the weekend before Thanksgiving. They are both thankful for each other, thankful for their friends and family who have shown them support throughout the years, and thankful that they are going to be celebrating the rest of their lives together.[/quote]

Voting is open from//

March 8th @12:00pm - March 15th @11:59pm

You are allowed to vote for one couple per day.

The polls reset 22 hours after your last vote!

[poll id="5"]

2012 Rivets and Roses Wedding Photography Giveaway // Desiree!

Hello Blog Readers! Welcome to the official voting for the 2012 Rivets and Roses Wedding Giveaway! The three amazing couples below have all sent in their nominations and would LOVE for Desiree to be their photographer! The winning couple will be decided by you, the public! Please take the time to read each couple's story and cast your vote for who you think deserves to win this amazing giveaway!

Couple #1// Jessica & Tyler

Wedding Location// Hometown of Walker, MN

Their Story// These two officially met back in the 8th grade when Tyler was a lanky smart kid and Jessica was a pint-sized blonde. Their relationship survived high school and on thru college. Tyler and Jessica have grown together over the years and decided to take jobs at the Minneapolis/St Paul Airport together. They worked incredibly hard to save their pennies and have taken the opportunity to travel the world together.

[quote]Never in my life have I known, or do I believe I will ever meet a more unique and perfect pair. They appreciate life as it comes and they are living theirs to the fullest each and every day. They see natural beauty in all things and appreciate what the world has to offer. As individuals they are talented, imaginative, spontaneous, and appreciative of the opportunities they are blessed to have been given. As partners, they are a true example of real love, real life, and real happiness. I’ve watched them grow as individuals and also as a couple and their story gives me hope that true love is not just a fairytale. I know, more than anything, this would mean so much to both of them.  As artists themselves, they see and feel the beauty behind the work and have a deeper respect for it than most.[/quote]

Couple #2// Gena & Brent

Wedding Location// Mill City, Minneapolis

Their Story// Brent and Gena met at the preschool that she was working at at the time. His daughter happened to be in the class next door to Gena's. Brent was a divorcee and something about him just spoke to her. Maybe it was his calm, laid back demeanor or maybe it was his awesome shade of red hair. For Gena, it definitely was the way Brent was with his daughter – so loving, so patient, so genuine, and so tender. Something about him just made sense. The two finally went on our first date on a Friday the 13th. It was one of those beautiful summer nights in Minneapolis – the kind that make enduring three months of winter hell all worth it. He brought her flowers and they walked to the Modern in Northeast for dinner. Afterwards they went to the Electric Fetus birthday party and ended the night with some drinks at Mackenzie next door. All in all, it was a pretty perfect night. The most perfect thing about it was how a couple of really imperfect people were so at ease with each other the whole time. It just made sense. To Gena, she had met someone who felt like home.

[quote]We are planning a very low-key affair that is hopefully just really a reflection of us as a couple. The day really is about celebrating with our family and friends. I want our wedding to be memorable, but not in the traditional over-blown, platinum, princess type manner. I have spent more time planning out the music that will be played rather than worrying about finding a dress! We want to have an awesome photographer to capture our special day in a beautiful and creative way. We are looking for images that are both classy, but unique and edgy. We are really just a very simple couple, who have never spent money on good photography but would love to experience and own some great photos (of us, even!)[/quote]

Couple #3// Jennifer & Bart

Wedding Location// Jackson Street Roadhouse, St Paul

Their Story//A mere 3 years ago, Jennifer was perusing Match.Com looking for love, and spied a black and white photo of a coffee shop type boy thoughtfully looking at his Mac book. She thought he looked cute and quirky, so she winked at him and he winked back. The two started emailing long novels of flirty funny information back and forth. They connected over comic book movies and it was a sign, because Bart is a comic book artist! Their first date was on September 5th, and the highlight of the night was sitting in Mears Park listening to Haley Bonar while sneakily peeking at each other from the corners of their eyes. Jennifer and Bart got engaged December 15th, and unleashed a very funny YouTube video we made to announce their engagement.

[quote] I would say anyone that has found that better half and is getting married deserves for it to be documented through the eyes of a camera. Being married for 4 years, I often think back to that day and look through my pictures, feeling every happy moment over again. Pictures speak to us and they remind us of wonderful happy and emotional times. When you have 2 people that are so perfect together like Jenny and Bart, you can't help but feel that their love is little more unique and rare. Never have I seen 2 people who seem like more of a perfect fit. We always tease Jenny that she has found the male version of her. When I first met her, I was like wow this girl is a goofball and we became fast friends. Never ever did I think I would meet anyone like her… and then I met Bart, who is just so in-sync with her, it is ridiculous. So in my mind, yes I feel that they are more deserving to have amazing wedding photos because I want them to look back and feel the joy of their wedding and love for each other over and over again. - Laura, the Maid of Honor[/quote]

Voting is open from//

March 8th @12:00pm - March 15th @11:59pm

You are allowed to vote for one couple per day.

The polls reset 22 hours after your last vote!

[poll id="3"]

2012 Rivets and Roses Wedding Photography Giveaway // Louisa!

Hello Blog Readers! Welcome to the official voting for the 2012 Rivets and Roses Wedding Giveaway! The three amazing couples below have all sent in their nominations and would LOVE for Louisa to be their photographer! The winning couple will be decided by you, the public! Please take the time to read each couple's story and cast your vote for who you think deserves to win this amazing giveaway!

Couple #1// Kirsten & Graeme

Wedding Location// Juliane James Place, Finlayson, MN

Their Story// Kirsten and Graeme’s story reads like it's from a different era.  They met at a Phish concert last fall and completely fell in love.  Within two months they got engaged and they thought, why wait? They just knew. The fact that they live in different countries didn’t even stop them! Kirsten and Graeme chose Sept. 22 , 2012 as their wedding date, because it is the autumnal equinox.

[quote]They believe in love the way you can only hope a couple believes in love when they get married.  Some people think that sort of love is foolish but some of the greatest love stories started when people just trusted their instincts and went with it like Kirsten and Graeme are doing.[/quote]

Couple #2// Abby & Brian

Wedding Location// San Francisco, CA

Their Story// Abby and Brian are both from the Midwest, but met out in San Francisco while looking for love on Match.Com. They two clicked on their first few dates and decided to be exclusive from then on. Six months later, the couple moved in together and two years after that, Brian surprised Abby on a beach with an engagement ring.  She never saw it coming but was more than excited to shout yes!

[quote] I am pretty silly and goofy and am up for almost anything.  Brian has the style and thoughtfulness, not to mention he is very good at making cocktails.  We are both laid back in different ways. and love to run, hike, surf and hang out in parks with the dogs. San Francisco is a fun city and I think Louisa, as a photographer and artist, would like it, along with the redwoods and bridges - and who doesn’t love a good trolley ride![/quote]

Couple #3// Rachel & Matt

Wedding Location// Shoreview Community Center

Their Story// Rachel and Matt met through an online dating service in June of 2008. They instantly connected and their mutual love of music and performance has played a big role in their relationship, as they spent many early dates singing karaoke at local bars. The couple also took comedy improv classes together, performing several times in front of audiences. In June 2010 they attended W00tstock at the Guthrie Theater a "special event for geeks and music." Matt contacted the organizers and planned a proposal in front of the entire audience, and was even aided by actor Will Wheaton. Rachel and Matt were married in a civil ceremony on February 1st, 2012 and are now planning their reception!

[quote]My sister and husband's wedding reception is going to be as unique as they are, and completely nontraditional. Not being ones to conform and take part in the typical wedding traditions, they opted for a quick 5-minute ceremony during the week and chose to stray from the traditional wedding garb. For their reception they are having a potluck and are requesting that each guest bring a dish to share. Additionally, they decided that if this a reception to celebrate their union then it should include things that they enjoy doing together. That being said, an improv comedy troupe will be performing for wedding guests, there will be karaoke, and their table centerpieces will be board games. I believe Rachel and Matt deserve to win because being nontraditional as they are, they cut all possible costs when planning their ceremony and reception - this includes hiring a photographer. Having had a small wedding myself, I too did not have a photographer and have always said that was my one regret - not having any great photos for that special day. Their reception promises to be so fun and unique, it would be a shame not to have someone as talented as Louisa capture those moments. I love my sister and brother-in-law dearly and want them to have beautiful photos to remember their special day.[/quote]

Voting is open from//

March 8th @12:00pm - March 15th @11:59pm

You are allowed to vote for one couple per day.

The polls reset 22 hours after your last vote!

[poll id="2"]

2012 Rivets and Roses Wedding Photography Giveaway // Marc!

Hello Blog Readers! Welcome to the official voting for the 2012 Rivets and Roses Wedding Giveaway! The two amazing couples below have sent in their nominations and would LOVE for Marc to be their photographer! The winning couple will be decided by you, the public! Please take the time to read each couple's story and cast your vote for who you think deserves to win this amazing giveaway!

Couple #1// Stacey & Brian

Wedding Location// Detroit, Michigan

Their Story// Stacey and Brian first met each other at a mutual friend's BBQ and had an instant connection from a far. Fast forward to Detroit Tigers’ Opening Day in Detroit – an unofficial local holiday – almost a year after that BBQ. Brian headed to a bar for a little pre-game snack and a bunch of his friends showed up, along with Stacey!  They instantly dove into learning about each other and their first date was one week later...the rest is history!

[quote]The inspiration for our wedding is classic meets modern rock. We knew we wanted to started the day in a historical church in Detroit (built in 1841) followed by a newly built music theatre to allow our guests to dance the night away. We deserve the giveaway  because we are genuinely in love and full of life! it’ll be easy and deserves to be captured on camera. A photographer is last item we need to book for our wedding. We have such a love and appreciate for beautiful print work we’re having a hard time finding the right photographer to capture our day. When we saw your work via Style Me Pretty, we just LOVED it![/quote]

Couple #2// Megan & Dylan

Wedding Location// Minneapolis, MN

Their Story// Megan and Dylan met at a game of kickball in Kenwood Park. They hit it off, but didn't really think much of it. A few weeks later Megan went to the Electric Fetus to buy some tickets to Stereolab and Dylan was working behind the counter. As he handed over the tickets, they both agreed they should "hang out sometime." They did, and the rest is history!

[quote]Beyond the fact that they both are music nerds, they work their asses off round the clock trying to finish schooling (both are top students) and keeping up with their jobs. This couple deserves to have a low stress fun celebration with their families and besties! They're crazy, willing to mess around and be funny, and do things the non-traditional way - albeit with traditional influences. They're also just all-around amazing people who deserve to have gorgeous fun photos of what is sure to be a ridiculously great day.[/quote]

Voting is open from//

March 8th @12:00pm - March 15th @11:59pm

You are allowed to vote for one couple per day.

The polls reset 22 hours after your last vote!

[poll id="6"]

A Minnesota Winter Wedding {by Desiree}

It turned out to be an absolutely GORGEOUS day last weekend for Danielle and David's superbly creative and lovely wedding. Danielle is a super talented fashion designer here in the Twin Cities so it was without a doubt that her dress and the rest of the wedding crew would be looking incredible.  It was SUCH a joy photographing these two who have been together for over 7 years already!  Danielle has got to be the most calm, cool, and collected bride I've ever worked with and I LOVED that she was even adding additional touches to her gown and sewing moments before she put it on.  Wearing wool coats and hats, their friends and family braved the Minnesota winter cold on Raspberry Island in the middle of the Mississippi River. Check it out!  // Danielle and David were featured in the St. Paul, Pioneer Press TODAY.

Thank you Danielle and David for letting me be a part of this incredibly special day!