The Knot Minnesota Weddings Magazine

When I got engaged the first thing I started thinking about was my wedding vision—something that proved much harder to settle on than I expected. I had recently vacationed in Italy and thought I wanted a family-style feast with rustic tables covered

My fiancé is Hindu, and while we’ve chosen not to have a religious ceremony, I want to surprise him with a few personal touches from his heritage. Any suggestions? The best way to do this is subtly. Gold and red, both auspicious colors in Indian trad

2800 Northview Road, Minnetonka Beach; (952) 471-8493; LafayetteClub.com A Grand Ballroom with stunning crystal chandeliers and 17 charming hotel rooms are just some of the many reasons why this Lake Minnetonka locale has earned its reputation as one

Minneapolis PHOTOGRAPH BY KRISTEN DYER PHOTOGRAPHY After fooling Maria into thinking they were meeting friends for dinner, Clay caught his high school sweetheart off guard by filling his apartment with candles and orchids. “We were about to leave for

BRIDE Lauren Huisinga, 26, a PR account executive GROOM Paul Fredin, 27, a business analyst HOW THEY MET At a church Bible study WEDDING STYLE Rustic-chic elements and orchard-inspired details paired perfectly with a romantic palette of burgundy, blu

BRIDE Kristen Gura, a screenwriter GROOM Andy Fickman, a director, producer and writer HOW THEY MET On the Walt Disney Studios lot in Los Angeles WEDDING STYLE Family was the focus of Kristen and Andy’s affair, which featured literary details in the

BRIDE Ishanaa Rambachan, 29, a management consultant GROOM James Anderson, 31, a communications manager HOW THEY MET The groom’s dad set them up WEDDING STYLE Hand-drawn maps, a cheery carnationcovered mandap and saffron linens all contributed to Ish

BRIDE Bianca Cornelius, 26, works for Lululemon GROOM Christopher Jensen, 34, a business development manager HOW THEY MET At Lord Fletcher’s on Lake Minnetonka WEDDING STYLE A refined palette of blush, ivory, champagne and gold made for a classic, el

BRIDE Samantha Bunda, 27, a retail category manager assistant GROOM Bryan Karr, 28, a sales account manager HOW THEY MET In first grade, but they start dating in college WEDDING STYLE Mixing rustic accents with organic florals inspired by the animate

BRIDE Leigh Shadko, 32, an associate educator GROOM Brian Hanson, 32, a financial consultant HOW THEY MET On a blind date WEDDING STYLE Glass growler centerpieces, soft pretzels and an autumnal arch made of beer hops lent a laid-back vibe to Leigh an

BRIDE Ashley Johnson, 27, a senior program evaluator GROOM Daniel (Danny) Ryan, 27, a senior software engineer HOW THEY MET On their college campus WEDDING STYLE “Our desire was to have a fun but not too fancy celebration,” Ashley says of sticking to

BRIDE Emily Genco, 26, a content strategist GROOM Daniel Kastner, 28, a QA lead HOW THEY MET Online WEDDING STYLE Tartan plaid accents, sprigs of evergreen and various Twin Peaks references made for a rustic, ultra-personal fete at a chalet in Hennep

Maybe one of the hardest things about wedding planning is getting on the same page with your vendors. You may be explaining your vision of the most perfect rustic soiree, but your planner may be hearing the makings of a bohemian bash. This could happ

We’re all about a personalized wedding, but we also really love a good trend. So we’ve rounded up our favorite ideas to steal for an of-the-moment celebration. And yes, a few of these trends could blow your whole budget, but there are infinite ways t

Add color and panache to a simple round cake with a bevy of blooms. Choose stems found in your bouquet or centerpieces, or flowers that match your wedding palette. A single cascade makes a statement, while multiple floral sprays are a total wow. CAKE

It seems like there are a million places to create registries (yes, plural—we recommend making a wish list at two or three stores) and the idea of having to play favorites between beloved brands can leave you feeling exhausted. So, we’ve taken the gu

The location of your wedding is going to be instrumental in determining the overall vibe of your celebration (rustic, sophisticated, beachy). You want your guests to walk away from your wedding weekend thinking, “That was so them!” so it should say s

Once you have the essentials figured out, it’s time to set the mood. Make your bridal suite as relaxing as possible—right down to scented candles or aromatherapy spray. Getting ready on a tight schedule is stressful, but a calming aroma can reduce th

You may not realize this, but some metals look better with certain dress colors. As a general rule, ivory is best paired with gold since it highlights the creamy tint of the fabric. For a pure white dress, choose accents in silver or platinum or with

Q I bleach my hair and it’s become dry and lifeless. What can I do to revive my locks before I walk down the aisle? A The best way to fix overprocessed hair is to invest in a good haircut. I also recommend weekly mask treatments (I personally like th

NEW RULE Every couple funds the festivities in different ways. Maybe your parents want to pay for everything, but unlike in the past where the bride’s family was expected to foot the whole bill, they’re in no way obligated to now. Grooms’ parents and

There’s something about the fresh outdoors, a relaxed vibe and a nostalgic first look on the dock of your childhood summer camp that makes for an unforgettable wedding. For the ultimate celebration, bring your loved ones together for a few days of ca

Small versions of these tents are typically used on residential patios in the summer. They have no interior support poles that obstruct the view or limit the options for furniture layouts, but the frame tends to be visible from inside the space. Thes

Your wedding is probably the priciest party you’ll ever throw in your life. It’s easy to say you’ll stick to a budget, or have tons of fabulous DIY details, but at the end of the day, your venue and catering bill could amount to way more than you ima

When planning your wedding, there are things that are nice to know, and then there are things you really need to know. If you’re worried you missed something (or even if you’ve got everything under control), check out our planning advice and put your

Once you’ve narrowed down your list to two or three potential photographers, meet with each in person to see if you feel comfortable with them. We can’t stress enough how important this is—almost as crucial as their camera skills. Aside from your gut

The photographer’s original take allows for a different perspective (like the couple not looking at the camera, for example). If you want something unique, go with a pro who’s eager to use a little artistic freedom. Lighting, especially using an off-

Whether you consider yourselves music people or not, the tunes at your wedding are super-important—and a great band or DJ can be the difference between a fun wedding and an unforgettable one. Avoid these mistakes and you’re guaranteed to have a packe

Let’s say you’re the types who just can’t bear the thought of speeding off in anything that doesn’t come with a minibar—and your local limousine service has tons of souped-up options. Take the time to test-drive other options, like a classic white Ro

People will want to congratulate you on your engagement, and a party’s a lot more fun than a phone call. It’s also a great time to introduce key people from your lives who are going to be seeing a lot of each other (and possibly helping plan your wed

NINGALOO COAST WHY GO The Great Barrier Reef gets all the hype, but the Ningaloo Reef on the northwest coast is equally spectacular. WHEN TO GO April to September is prime time. Whale shark swim experiences are available April to July and humpback wh