A beautiful day...
...years in the making! We were initially supposed to capture Mary and Etor's wedding in 2020, but we all know what happened back then! In the time since the pandemic, this beautiful couple kept their wedding venue (the historic Semple Mansion in Minneapolis), had an intimate court marriage, and were finally able to reschedule so that nearly all of their family and friends from around the world could join them in celebrating their love.
This was our first time shooting at Semple Mansion, and we were blown away by this gorgeous gem in the middle of Minneapolis! From the striking architecture, to the intricate and masterful woodwork, to the delicate historic hardware, to the sweeping views of the downtown skyline, each nook and cranny of this venue has been carefully tended to create a stunning backdrop, and we were thrilled to capture it during Mary and Etor's big day.
Mary is from Minnesota while Etor is from Ghana, and as they planned their wedding they found unique ways to incorporate personal touches from each of their backgrounds. They imported beautiful geometric fabric from Ghana, which was then made into bowties, pocket squares, necklaces, and bracelets for the wedding party. It was also used for the beautiful hand wrapping ritual during their ceremony, which symbolized their unity and was used in place of other rituals since the couple is already married. The fabric pattern is also seen in their custom invitation suite, and the blue color is echoed in the bridesmaids' and personal attendants' dresses. On Mary's side, her father generously lent his creativity and beautiful design skills to the floral arrangements throughout Semple Mansion. Additionally, he personally curated and painted all of the golden vessels that adorned his floral creations and added a whimsical overlay to the Semple Mansion's natural beauty.
Mary and Etor are so in love, and it was such a joy to see their nearest and dearest finally have the chance to celebrate that love with them after so long. The day was full of smiles, laughter, hugs, and true happiness. Even Etor - who admits he is not the most comfortable in front of the camera - had a smile on his face all day and couldn't hide his joy. During the beautiful speeches by the bride and grooms' fathers, as well as the Best Man and Matron of Honor, we laughed and were moved to tears as we got insight into how truly incredible Mary and Etor are on their own and together.
The night wouldn't be complete without lots of dancing, and we loved hearing a mix of American and African music. Perhaps our favorite moment was during the reception was the father-daughter dance, which started with a slow song but quickly changed to a lively polka!
Mary and Etor - thank you for trusting us to capture this beautiful day for you. We loved every minute, and we hope these images help you carry the memories of your special day with you for a lifetime and beyond.
Venue - Semple Mansion | Floral - A to Zinnia | Floral Arrangement - Curt Lambrecht (bride's father) | Hair - Sara Dahl | Makeup - Janelle Andersen | Music - DJ Blast | Catering - Brie Cater | Dessert - Becky Bakes and Black Cat Cafe | Officiant - Pastor Hank Campbell | Jeweler - Wedding Day Diamonds | Bride and Bridesmaids - The Wedding Shoppe | Groom and Groomsmen - Men's Wearhouse
