Wedding Date: July 22nd 2023

I’ve been working with the Pop Up Weddings team for almost two years now and we’ve all become so close like a tight knit little family. So when Dawn of Flutterby Celebrations called to refer me to Shelbie and Anthony I knew I couldn’t miss this opportunity. I had a family event later that night but we all wanted to work together so much that we decided that I would cover the first three quarters of the wedding day and then our talented Team Photographer, Murphy, would take the baton for the reception. We all hit it off instantly and knew this day was going to be filled with good energy and tons of laughs.

When I pulled up to the gorgeous Radisson Blu the morning of their wedding I could feel the good vibes already. I was greeted with smiling faces filled with love and excitement and then I turned the corner and saw Shelbie in the most stunning dress with the biggest smile of all. She looked like a fairytale princess and I knew Anthony was going to be completely floored. I walked him down the to sky bridge which was filled with natural light and was a quiet little nook where the pair could share a private moment before the big celebration began. Shelbie playfully peeked around the corner and could barely contain her excitement when she saw him. He grasped his heart and tried to hold back tears as he turned around and saw the love of his life standing in front of him. I did my best to hold back tears as well but these two were so sweet with the way they laughed as she twirled and I don’t think his jaw left the ground once.

We decided to mix up the super modern stylings of the Radisson Blu with some lush greenery by visiting the Fort Snelling overlook and riverbank. The trails were picturesque and the pair fit perfectly as if they were walking into their very own fairytale forest. We popped a bottle of bubbly as a pre-ceremony celebration and enjoyed the gorgeous views and cool breeze blowing off the riverbanks.

Back at the hotel, friends and family were gathering and the excitement was building. Everyone took their place and Dawn made a brief introduction before the ceremony began. She said to take all the photos they want now because during the ceremony they should be present in the moment. I love this. Guests quickly and happily took out their phones to capture the beautiful surroundings and then the second the music began, they were tucked away and all eyes were on Anthony as he smiled at the end of the aisle waiting for Shelbie. The ceremony was so personal and touching and somehow I was getting misty-eyed while laughing, so it was the best of both worlds. The crowd jumped to their feet and cheered as the pair happily walked down the aisle as newlyweds.

Shelbie has a cheer background so naturally the wedding party had to show off their moves during the grand march and wow, it was impressive! The pair twirled on the dance floor as the crowd cheered once more and their friends whistled and clapped. Murphy masterfully captured the touching speeches that had the crowd hanging on every word. Then they went back to the dance floor for their first dance as husband and wife before everyone joined them to celebrate.