Wedding Date: October 11th 2025

I arrived at their home already knowing this wasn't going to be a typical wedding day, and even then, I wasn't ready for how much fun it would end up being. No traditional first look here. Sarah and Gina were both already ready when I walked up, hair and makeup done, ready to just be together instead of building the day around a big reveal moment. Their dog was right there in the middle of it all, and some of my favorite images from the entire morning came from those few minutes, just the three of them before anything official even started.

We headed up to the 51st floor of the IDS Tower for photos before the ceremony, and the city just opened up beneath us. Minneapolis in every direction, and somehow it still didn't feel like the most impressive part of the view. And then they met up with their friends and the energy changed completely. This group is genuinely funny. I don't say that lightly. I was laughing right along with everyone else more than once while trying to keep my camera steady.

The ceremony itself was casual in the best way, no stiffness, no formality for the sake of formality, just genuine emotion from start to finish. Tears, laughter, sometimes both at once. When it wrapped, the whole room was howling, in the good way, the kind of laughter that comes from a group of people who feel like family.

Champagne toasts followed right after, and then they walked through downtown together looking like they owned the sidewalk. Genuinely, it felt like trailing a couple of celebrities. Heads turned. People smiled. It's rare to photograph a couple that has that kind of natural, easy confidence, and they have it in spades.

Dinner at Manny's brought everyone together for toasts that hit exactly the right note, funny and heartfelt in equal measure. But if I'm being honest, nothing prepared me for karaoke. I've photographed a lot of receptions, and I can say without exaggeration that this was one of the most memorable nights I've ever had a camera in my hand for. This wasn't a traditional reception with a dance floor and a DJ. This was a room packed with best friends, crammed shoulder to shoulder, belting out songs at the top of their lungs like nobody was watching. Except I was, and I got to catch every second of it, loving it the entire time.

Vendors: IDS Center (venue), Manny's Steakhouse (reception venue), Candlelight Floral (florist), No.3 Fine Jewelry (ring designer), Indochino (suit designer)