Wedding Date: June 2nd 2022

When I got engaged, everyone told me it would be impossible to step away from the photographer role and all I would want to do is grab my camera. I was lucky enough to find a dear friend who I trusted to take on that responsibility so that I could just be a groom and be fully present. This is what I want to be for every other photographer out there, give them the gift of being in the moment.

Starting out in the photography business isn’t easy, so when I began, Parker’s mother was one of the first people to reach out to me as a friend and mentor. She’s been part of the wedding industry for years and offered invaluable advice and support. However, this time she called me as the mother of the bride and was looking for her own advice and support. I was beyond honored to be asked to capture her daughter's wedding finally pay back her kindness to give her the gift of being the mother of the bride and take in every single moment.

Parker and Charles are an incredible couple with a unique vision for their wedding. They chose a Thursday evening at a local brewery and let me tell you, it was perfect. Their love story is also unique. No one thinks you’ll marry your first love, but for Parker and Charles this was absolutely the case. It was as if the world created one for another because there’s no denying that they’re the perfect pair. They’re head over heels in love and their joy and passion for each other is contagious. Seeing weddings every weekend can make the love story lose it’s sparkle every now and then, but these two reinforced the meaning of true love and showed it to one another at each and every opportunity. In fact, if someone had been secretly recording their conversations it would have been the most romantic exchange fit for a story with the happiest of endings. “Can I tell you how beautiful you look?”

Their personal and loving ceremony was held at the Como Zoo Conservatory with a few close friends and family members looking on in admiration. We then took the party to Paikka, a fun local Saint Paul brewery that was filled with charm. We stepped away from the party for a few moments at the end of the night to take in the sights and also admire this scene that seemed right out of a movie. Loved ones gathered under the stars drinking, talking, and laughing. They breathed it all in and the world stood still for a moment in utter perfection and joy.

Amazing Vendors: Paikka (reception venue), Como Zoo Conservatory (venue), Urban Growler (catering), Custom sweets by Sarah (dessert), The Wedding Shoppe (dress shop), Bonobos (suit)