At some point in the evening, Bill had a beer in one hand and said “I don’t know why we didn’t do this before”
Sometimes wedding planning is about anticipating details and expenses and emotions and logistics. It can be easy to lose site of how much fun you can have, surrounded by everyone you care most about, celebrating with the person you love best.
Not afraid of the night time – Alicia and Bill under the Grumpy’s sign at dusk 
A moment that could be from 1950 or this year
Alicia and Bill clearly had this balance in mind when they planned their amazing Northeast Minneapolis wedding – casual park wedding under the trees, a little walking with their close friends for a quick drink, and then a reception at Grumpy’s bar Northeast.
Bill had a lot of laughter, and I love this portrait of him. 
A few formal portraits with the pup. Always make room for the pup. 
This is what summer feels like to me – a little wild and fresh and un-tamable
Let me just be clear. When I say that their wedding was in a dive bar, I mean that in the totally loving and awesome way that anyone should describe Grumpy’s Northeast. It is a local, it is so northeast, it is welcoming and dark and has booths that squeak slightly.
Amazing things about a dive bar wedding:
• The looming potential for a meat raffle. Despite growing up in Wisconsin, I had never heard of meat raffles until I moved to Minneapolis. The met raffle sadly had to be postponed, but the mere chance of winning meat in a game of chance remains delightful to me
• Beer and lounging whenever you need a break. Alicia and Bill took a few moments to grab a drink and sit in a booth together, away from their guests chatting in the outside space. Its rare in a wedding to have so many quiet conversations with your spouse.
• Dancing under the stars. Alicia and Bill planned for amazing music, and their DJ CHristy Costello definitely obliged. Dancing on grass, with Grumpy’s behind them, in the twilight, is one of my personal favorite moments from their wedding
• Time to enjoy their guests. They had an extended cocktail hour and had real time to hang out with their guests. Long conversations, guests meeting each other, dogs hanging out and dancing with kids running around.
Ceremony: Gluek park
Reception: Grumpy’s Northeast
Music: DJ Christy Costello
Food: Holy Land
Bouquets and Boutonnieres: Bloom & Buttercup
Dress: Davie & Chiyo
Cake: Dairy Queen
A perfect summer day for a wedding in Northeast Minneapolis 
just waiting for a wedding to start 
Everyone should feel this comfortable with their best friend. 
When your officiant is also a friend, things feel very comfortable! 
I took more ‘formal’ portrait of these four, but what could be better than this one? 
These two and their totally classy casual vibe all day long 
Post wedding shenanigans begin with this tiny guest checking beards. 
Alicia, laughing as she greets her guests 
A tiny escape along the water 
This is one of my favorite photos from their wedding – just so comfortable that they can’t help but be classy 
When the light streams in ways you couldn’t imagine. 
two pints 
An amazing DJ makes for an amazing experience, and DJ Chrisy Costello is the real deal. 
Enjoy your time with your guests 
Grabbing a beer inside grumpy’s midway through their wedding 
Another personal favorite photo 
A few toasts to begin the evening 
This best man speech was awesome 
Dairy Queen ice cream cake – hard to get at just the right level of melted, but worth the wait. 
Dancing begins, Minneapolis dive bar weddings never looked so good. 
Ending the night outside of Grumpy’s with just these two, a light I had to edit out, and a perfect blue dusk.
