A little time away from the party meant that Gretchen & Chris could play on the steps of the Memorial Union in Madison in darkness. A little LED light filled in the rest!

• Luther Memorial Church & Memorial Union wedding in Madison, WI {Emily & Aaron}
• New Union South’s First Wedding {preview} Teri & Sam

You can read the Jet Fete feature online, or see the full blog post of their Waiheke Island wedding.

• New Zealand destination wedding {Myron & Yujin}
• New Zealand Destination Wedding {Yujin & Myron} Part 3

Check out the full feature on Offbeat Bride, or read my wedding post from their wedding.

• Featured on Wisconsin Bride real weddings
• Featured in Minnesota Bride Magazine

• Mason Jar chic – tater tot hot dish
• Featured in The Knot Minnesota Magazine

• Wedding album – Lauren & Jim’s leather flush mount album
• Emily & Lance’s champagne leather flush mount album

Dress: Wedding Shoppe
Hotel: St Paul Hotel
Ceremony & Reception: Science Museum of Minnesota

• Pop Science
• Blinded me with science

I feel pretty conflicted about photoshoots – they can create unrealistic expectations as they create details or scenarios that are impossible to recreate during the hustle of a wedding day. And they are rarely focused on the authentic wedding experience – the couple, their families, their laughter and joy.

But the reason I participate in styled shoots is my love of the midwest.

I have a love affair with Minnesota (and Wisconsin) that I want to show off. I love barns, and our summer storms, and  small towns with pies & cornish pastys. And I really love Minneapolis and our food culture – close to farm country, cheese, beer & sausage.

Most wedding magazines show off sun-drenched goodness covered in lacy details.

Which is beatiful.

But it is not midwestern beautiful.

This tater tot hot dish in a mason jar was created for a photoshoot for Hearten Magazine (more photos coming this week) for the Independent Wedding Association.

• Haute Dish Restaurant – Minneapolis Editorial
• Monochrome – monochrome!

This is the first in a series of conversations between Becca & Nina. Nina is planning her fall wedding, and also writes about weddings for tk Twin Cities. Becca is photographing Nina’s wedding, and also runs the Independent Wedding Association. We are discussing planning a wedding in the midwest, where to look for inspiration, and researching florists.   

Becca: So, the concept here is to have a casual wedding planning chat series with a wedding professional (that is me) and someone planning their wedding (that is Nina).

First off, lets introduce ourselves – Nina do you want to go first?

Nina: sounds good!
My Name is Nina Anderson, I currently live in St. Louis Park. Our wedding ceremony and reception will be at FIVE Event Center in Uptown http://fiveeventcenter.com/ and I am a weddings blogger for a local site, www.tkTwinCities.com

Becca: Perfect, and I am Becca Dilley. I run my own photography business (beccadilley.com) and I also founded the Independent Wedding Association (independentwedding.com). I have been photographing weddings full time in Minneapolis since 2006. Also, I am the photographer for Nina’s wedding this fall!

Maybe we can start with a little about your wedding and what you have planned so far?

Nina: The first big thing was obviously the venue. I always knew I wanted something a little different and I immediately fell in love with the space (at FIVE). They were the first place we visited, and I was sold. I did have a few other appointments set up to visit other venues, so I looked at others just to make sure, but we never changed our minds

Becca: Were you worried that your families would think it was too “out there”?

Nina: My mom came with us to look at the site, and she loved it too, so that helped. Luckily everyone seemed happy that we had found a place we both loved so much.

Next, we wanted to find a caterer- FIVE allows any caterer that is licensed in Minneapolis or St. Paul, so we had a ton of options

Becca: That is a really nice feature of a venue – was that important when you were looking at spaces? Most hotels and venues are locked into one caterer.

Nina: It was a big part of our venue decision. We wanted to have in much say in everything about the wedding as possible, so it was important that we could choose our own caterer as well.

We wound up getting quotes from about 10 companies — that was overwhelming

Becca: wow

Nina: from there, we narrowed it down to 3 tastings and we picked Premier Catering – the tasting was amazing. what really sold us on the caterer is that they were a preferred vendor and work at our venue a lot, so they know their space
I wanted someone who knew the drill so I didn’t have to worry about something going wrong

Becca: FIVE is really a cool space, because it was started as a restaurant, and so it has a ton of kitchen space. I think it actually has a scratch kitchen, so there is a lot more flexibility for caterers who are ready to use it.

Nina: exactly–we saw the kitchen on our tour of the space. It was so nice!

we didn’t want cookie cutter food either. Alex wanted something fun – I think he was sold when the chef handed us this huge menu and said that these were just suggestions and that he “always welcomed a challenge”

Becca: Well, so far, you have a good venue and amazing food, so sounds like you will have a great party no matter what happens. What was next – photographer?

Nina: well photographer was right after the venue on my list of important things, so we were looking into photographers at the same time we were looking into caterers

Becca: Do you maybe want to mention what were the top few things you were looking for in a photographer? Then we can move onto what you are currently planning

Nina: I wanted a photographer who didn’t just take pictures, but told a story, so the first thing I looked for was coverage. I definitely wanted a photographer who had full-day coverage or at least 8 hours of coverage and I also thought meeting with each photographer we were considering was very important. If Alex and I didn’t feel comfortable with the person who was going to be photographing our wedding, it wasn’t going to work

Becca: that is a really good point, and something I think a lot of people don’t consider!

So, what kinds of things you are working on now?

Nina: Right now, we are focusing in on florists. To find florists, I’ve been creeping on a lot of blogs and online resources, as well as some I have seen at wedding fairs. With my venue, we don’t need anything too extravagant when it comes to decor because FIVE is already so decorative on its own but I’m still in love with flowers, so I want them to be amazing

Becca: And who doesn’t want a beautiful bouquet!

Nina: exactly! Do you have any unique centerpiece/floral ideas you’ve seen? I just want something fun!

Becca: Actually, then end of September is Cranberry season
So those would be super local (did you know WI produces 60% of the world’s cranberries?)

Nina: ohhhh that could be cool! I had no idea!

Becca: yeah, Fresh cranberries are cheap, and you can leave them out for a few days, like grapes.

As for florist, If you can find work they have done for photo shoots, that can sometimes be a better indicator of how they like to innovate, because that is a time when they can

1. be less practical in their use of materials and style and
2. have professional photos taken of their work (sometimes at weddings, you don’t get a perfect photo of the bouquet or of the centerpiece, but for a photo shoot, that is the whole point)

I actually am totally amazed by the designs of the IWA member florists I have worked with. Really, they do amazing work!

Munster Rose http://www.munsterrose.com/ has a great “mod” feel mixed with high-fashion, and Sassafrass http://sassafrasgardens.com/ has a funky whimsy, Distincly Debbie http://www.distinctlydebbie.com/ is so great to work with and really inventive in her use of materials.

Also, Tara from A day in provence http://adayinprovence.com/, Lisa from Flora Bella http://www.florabellastudio.com/, and Amy from Spruce http://www.sprucemn.com/all have amazing ideas and bring a mix of creativity and textures to their designs.

Nina: that’s a good idea- I will definitely have to look in to a few of them.

Becca: As someone who writes about weddings, you must have a lot of “go to” blogs and magazines to look through. Does that sometimes make it more difficult to narrow down choices?

Nina: oh my goodness yes.
especially because even though something might not be exactly my style, I can still appreciate how beautiful it is, so then I get confused in my head and start second guessing what I think I like

Becca: for me, it can be compounded because there is no “right” answer – you could be happy with a lot of directions.

Nina: so very true
I could be happy with a lot of different things, it’s just choosing the one I want to go with that gets a little tricky, but I think I’m leaning toward something a little more minimalist, but still has some spunk to it

Becca: Oh, I like that description. So, what are some of your go to sites for ideas right now?

Nina: right now, I’m totally in love with Ruffled blog (http://ruffledblog.com/)
Brooklyn Bride is another fun one http://bklynbrideonline.com/
and for invitations, I stumbled on http://ohsobeautifulpaper.com/
oh one more site I’m loving for inspiration is the knotty bride http://theknottybride.com/

Becca: Ruffled tends to be a lot about outdoor, sun-soaked, California vintage weddings. In fact, a lot of wedding blogs share a similar aesthetic – is that a challenge when you are planning a slightly spunky modern midwest wedding?

Nina: definitely
I always see something fun that’s done outdoors and try to figure out how I can make it translate indoors. Alex and I are big into outdoors, but with unpredictable Minnesota weather, doing something outdoors was just too risky, but we love the idea of having games like bags, but trying to figure out how to make that work inside

Becca: So, Nina, are there any questions you have for me? Or are there things about the planning process that have been really suprising or unexpected?

Nina: what advice do you usually give to brides who are just starting to plan their weddings?

Becca: I think you need to start with the intangible things that are truly important to you, and make your decisions from there. It can be really easy to get stuck in the minutia of table cloth colors, or even venues, and not pay attention to what is important. It might be that you want to spend a lot of time with your guests, or have a super fun time with your wedding party, or be great hosts with a lovely reception, or perhaps sharing the wedding vows in front of your closest friends and family is the most important part. If you can figure out what the core of the experience is, than you can answer other questions as they pop up. If you want to spend more time with your guests, you probably don’t want a 4 hour break in your day, for example. And if you want to have a rockin party, then you might make different choices about how you serve your food, or how much money you put into entertainment.

Nina: that’s really good advice
I have a friend who just got engaged and is absolutely losing her mind because she’s trying to think about too many things all at once
I think that is what has surprised me the most while we’ve been planning–I’ve been ridiculously calm about everything. I always thought I would be a total spazz about everything, but I’m realizing that if you just take it one thing at a time, it’s a lot easier on your sanity.

Becca: You do seem surprisingly calm about planning!

Nina: I did start to stress about the venue in the beginning, especially about pleasing people
but then I thought that no matter what I choose, there will always be someone who doesn’t love it. no one will like everything we do, but as long as we like it, that’s all that matters.

Becca: It is suprising how much emotion people put onto wedding planning.
Alright – shall we call it a day?

Nina: sounds good–this was fun!

Becca: Super fun! Bye for now, and good luck with the florists!

• Featured on Wisconsin Bride real weddings
• New Zealand Destination Wedding {Yujin & Myron} Part 3

• Emily & Lance’s champagne leather flush mount album
• Inside a flush mount album – wedding album design

- Emily, Minneapolis

I cannot recommend Becca highly enough. She was wonderful from start to finish. I had always admired her photography on HeavyTable.com and was delighted to discover that she also did wedding photography. She also shot our engagement session, which we wanted to have an early ’60s feel. She made it happen and also made it a lot of fun along the way. I’m not a girly girl and sometimes felt overwhelmed by wedding planning, but every meeting with Becca was a joy and she made us feel comfortable from our first meeting up through the wedding day. She got our pictures back to us quickly and put together a lovely slideshow with some of her favorites. Her work speaks for itself — and she is a great person to boot.

- Molly, Minneapolis

Becca was delightful to work with, came at a very reasonable price, and took a series of excellent, dramatic, sweet, fun, loving, etc. photos that we continue to treasure to this day. We continue, too, to be in touch with Becca from time to time and are glad to know that there are engaged, talented, and caring professionals like her out there

- Barak, New York

Not only does Becca have an artistic view and photography style, but she knows how to work people to get awesome natural shots. Many people commented on friendly and helpful she was. And she seemed to be everywhere at once! If I turned around to look for her because I wanted a picture with a guest, she’d spot me from across the room and come running! She was so amazing to work with, she truly made our wedding experience amazing! Not to mention our photos are breathtaking, and she managed to capture many special moments and raw emotions…we couldn’t be happier! It’s not a photographers job to do extra little tasks like running to find someone or to care about anything but photos, but she was genuinely invested in making sure our day was the best it could be in every possible way. She even made me drink water and made sure I stayed hydrated on a hot sunny day! Becca is the BEST!

- Emmy, Wisconsin

One of the best decisions I ever made (besides saying yes to my husband’s proposal) was choosing Becca to photograph my rustic farm wedding. She was extremely professional, had a ton of great ideas, and photographed everything beautifully. I’m glad she was there to document everything.

- Annie, New York

We used Becca for our 2011 wedding and we loved her! She was prompt, efficient (even in the face of late bridesmaids!), super fun to be around and the photographs were stunning. She captured who we are as a couple and what our wedding was about. Many people have given us compliments on her photos. We’d use her again in a heart beat!

- Anna, Minneapolis

Becca was an absolutely amazing photographer. Leading up to the wedding, she responded to all of my phone calls and e-mails immediately. She answered every panicked question completely and helpfully, always did everything she promised, and went above and beyond on almost everything. On the day of the wedding, it was like having another friend with the bridesmaids in my hotel room. She put us all at ease, and had so many wonderful photography suggestions throughout the day. She was completely patient, and, in addition to her own suggestions, make sure she got every picture and pose that I wanted.
When the pictures were delivered (in a very reasonable amount of time), my married friends were all jealous! My single friends asked how to contact my photographer. Even now, people still talk about how amazing the pictures were. If I ever have a big event again where I need a photographer, I will plan it around whenever Becca is available!

- Ali, Nashville

For future brides and grooms, no matter what phase you are in in the wedding planning process, we highly recommend you consider working with Becca for your photography. Years from now, you may not remember how good your cake was. You may forget that your chicken was dry or that the DJ played too many “chicken dances.” But the way your special day is captured for your memories is something you must get right. It is the one thing that is as durable as the diamond or the marriage itself.  With Becca Dilley Photography, you’ll get that right, and you’ll have a creative collection of memories that you’ll share with your friends, family and most importantly your spouse, for years to come.

- Sara & Chris

Becca was awesome – from the minute we chatted I knew I wanted to work with her, and we didn’t even interview other photographers once we were confirmed in our opinions after talking to a few references. Prior to the wedding, she was helpful and responsive by email, and during the wedding she did an excellent job with crowd control. My friends all applauded her professionalism and ability to get people moving, posing, and feeling comfortable. I would strongly recommend Becca.

- Rachel, New York

We met with many photographers before finding Becca. Finding the right photographer was important to us, because it is so important to capture the day and memories. We enjoyed her upbeat personality and she right away seemed like a great fit for us. Our wedding photos are beautiful and she did not miss any of the details. We wanted to take photos outside and she helped us find the perfect summer background for our pictures at the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden. We highly recommend Becca, and will work with her again in the future!

- Nina, St Paul

Becca was professional, fun, easy to work with, and her work was amazing. With a large wedding party I was worried things may feel unorganized but she kept everyone on track. I still look back at my pictures and feel so lucky to have found her. She has a great personality and made us feel so comfortable. Becca also did our engagement photos and save the date cards and they turned out amazing. I would recommend her to anyone looking for wedding photography. She is passionate about what she does and gets to know you personally and works to meet your needs, whatever they are. Thank you Becca!

- Angela, Minneapolis

My husband I and were so glad that we hired Becca as our wedding photographer. She did a fantastic job and her rates are extremely reasonable, especially considering what you get for your money. She was fun to work with, prompt in answering any questions, and definitely a calming presence on a potentially stressful day. We loved all of the photos and the final album. Our parents were thrilled with their albums as well. We hope to work with her again in the future. I would absolutely recommend her to any bride and groom!

- Mallory, St Paul

Wonderful to work with!! Great memory, great quality photos, and has tons of awesome ideas that I was so happy about. Becca was so great with time too, she kept us on schedule all day! She captured tons of photos of my wedding guests too. (this was awesome, because I didn’t even get to talk to all of them!) Becca never missed a moment from beginning to end. Best photographter I’ve ever worked with!

- Michelle, Palm Springs

Becca Dilley is a fantastic wedding photographer and I couldn’t recommend her enough. She was incredibly responsive and made all the planning very effortless. On the day, she was very professional and managed to corral a large family/wedding party with a fun and energetic attitude. She stayed through the bouquet toss at the reception which is very unusual for most photographers. All of my wedding party commented on how great she was.

- Katrina, London

• Guthrie Theater Wedding Photos – preview {Meghann & Matt}
• Loring Pasta Bar Wedding Preview {Amy & Jeff}

“Every challenge brings a new set of opportunities.”  When you have the right bag of experience, every location becomes a playground of possibilities – sometimes you want to show the location, sometimes it is all about the people, sometimes you want to bring  a touch of the unexpected  - using the right tools to capture the right moments.

Erin & Paul’s wedding had a lot of right moments, and it was my pleasure to document many of them.

Ceremony & Reception: WA Frost
Officiant: Briana Melom
Cake: Pastisserie 46
Flowers: Marthas Gardens

• Old St Paul Cobblestones & Brick
• Landmark Center Winter Wedding in St Paul {Amanda & Ben}

The top image is the final result of the flash composite – I love how the wedding party really stands apart from the background.

The second image is a “normal” wedding party portrait of the *same people* at the *same time* with an on-camera flash (the way most photographers would take the photo)

• Karen & Jeremy’s Carousel Wedding photos {preview}
• Downtown Minneapolis Engagement Photos in Winter {engaged}

• Emily & Lance’s champagne leather flush mount album
• Flush Mount Wedding Album {Nicole & Rob}

• Wedding album – Lauren & Jim’s leather flush mount album
• Linen wedding album – Emily & Aaron’s flush mount book

Love is not play, and it is not (always) work – but Kim & Dan love hard, too – and that makes them incredibly fun to be around. Whether it is parading around the capitol square with the UW Marching Band, dancing down the aisle, or just being together, they are fully in that moment.

Ceremony Location: Monona Terrace
Reception & Catering: Graze
Photo Booth: Traveling Photo Booth
Flowers: daffodil * parker
Marching band: UW Marching Band  
DJ: Style Matters DJs (Chicago)

• The Old Fashioned Restaurant – Madison, WI
• Madison wedding dramatic portrait {favorites}