Today is Thanksgiving and I can say i have been looking forward to relaxing with a hot cup coffee while chilling with my family today. Every year my dad and I go through the black friday ads and see where we will be cruising too early for stuff we "need" while my mom slaves away in the kitchen.
Thanksgiving is a time to reflect on what to be thankful for. I personally think the more we reflect on what we have the less we complain about what we do not have.
So I wanted to share : I am thankful for a loving, supportive family.
I am thankful for a hardworking husband who loves me.
I am thankful for job that not only provides free coffee M-F, but also a sense of security.
I am thankful I have two cats who love to cuddle with me.
I am SO thankful i am not longer suffering through school like my brother currently (seniorites has already kicked in).
I am thankful for a successful wedding photography season and autocorrect/spell check (which i would be nothing without).
I am thankful for Minnesota snow while drinking hot camomile tea.
I hope your thanksgiving is full of hugs and warm turkey bellies!! So tell me, what is something you are thankful for?
Top 5 St. Paul/ Minneapolis Wedding Venues I loved shooting in 2016
The new year brings new wedding venues! It is always so much fun to shoot somewhere new and make it a unique experience for my couples photos of their day!
I wanted to share some new Saint Paul/ Minneapolis Wedding Venues I was able to shoot at and why I loved them 2016 style!
1. Minikahda Club is now one my favorite Minneapolis wedding venues. Picture it, you step out on a balcony overlooking a well kept golf course and in the distance is the Minneapolis skyline. I am a sucker for a good view! It was a beautiful stop to say " I do " and the reception space had the same view with plenty of space for a large group of wedding guests.
> View Blog Post from at this venue http://www.mwphotographymn.com/blog/minikahda-club-wedding-mac-mel-second-shooter
2. The St. Paul College Club is a mansion on Summit Avenue in the heart of Saint Paul; it reflects a classy choice for any bride. The ceremony space is in the privacy of the backyard. I loved the intimate feel of of a small house/garden wedding. I love mansions in the Twin Cities; some of my favorite places to visit consist of the Biltmore in North Carolina, and more like the James J Hill house near by to this venue.
> View Blog Post from at this venue http://www.mwphotographymn.com/blog/st-paul-college-club-mitch-shelby-second-shooter
3. Villa Bellezza Vineyard and Winery has a gorgeous brick courtyard with plenty of wine for your guests. The large wooden door not only give access in and out of the reception space but is also perfect location for larger group photos. Besides its sizable reception space and lovely architectural courtyard, I enjoyed the tower they have attached to the main building. This tower was the ideal spot for a stunning first look with my bride and groom. It was intimate with plenty of great light for their photos.
> View Blog Post from at this venue http://www.mwphotographymn.com/blog/villa-bellezza-winery-vinerd-brandon-wedding
4. 514 Studios Event Center, a Minneapolis wedding venue, gives a very downtown feel! Brick walls with a small outdoor space out back for cocktail hour. It felt homey and relaxed with a coffee spot in the same building. Only thing I would say didn't work at this venue was their was only one bathroom. For everyone. Twinkle lights hanging from the ceiling really added a finishing romantic touch to the space.
> View Blog Post from at this venue http://www.mwphotographymn.com/blog/studio-514-wedding-lindsey-peter-second-shooter
5. Saint Paul Public Library - George Latimer Central Library. I have a week day job in the heart of downtown St Paul. Being only a few blocks away from Rice Park and the St Paul Public Library, I will often make my way over to enjoy a walk through of this massively beautiful library. This building often inspires my creative side and I have wanted to take photos of a bride and groom here for years. This stair case was one of the things I was most excited for and it really paid off.
from the painted ceilings to the towering marble pillars, this library is so romantic in photos.
> View Blog Post from at this venue http://www.mwphotographymn.com/blog/first-baptist-church-boyer-wedding
This Is What 25 Looks Like
Today, I turned 25; Lily on How I Met Your Mother on her birthday is exactly how i feel about birthdays! Although many women my age are freaking out about aging, It doesn't really bothered me. As I have gotten older, married and living on our own, my personal freedom has grown; becoming an adult has been the best time of my life!
Here are some of my favorite moments on the 24th year of my life: seeing and photographing two of my best friends weddings as well as my eldest sister's wedding, my husband dancing with me to our favorite song in public (literally one of the most romantic moments I have ever experienced, I swooned), meeting SO many different creatives in the twin cities area, making my photography an official official business, watching and finishing Parks and Rec for the first time with Marcus, watching my dad finally hit his goal and retire, buying my first car, trips to Glendale, Charleston, Atlanta, Greenville.
It has been a beautiful year, but I can now rent a car without it being such a headache!(im coming for you dodge charger)
