Catherine and Ryan's joyful wedding reception full of community

Catherine and Ryan are two incredibly thoughtful people. I had the privilege of getting to photograph their engagement session as well as the small wedding ceremony they held in Stillwater, MN amidst the pandemic, with only a handful of close family and friends. You can read more about their story in a past blog post I wrote after that wedding ceremony, and here’s a link to my blog about their beautiful engagement pictures. They chose to plan a renewal of vows ceremony and a bigger reception at the Theodore Wirth Chalet exactly one year after their wedding, and those are the photos I am so excited to share with you today! 

Catherine and Ryan wanted the day to feel like a continuation of their small wedding so that their communities who weren’t able to be present the year before would feel included and celebrated. They intentionally curated the tone and outline of the day to match that of their original wedding ceremony. The day began with a mini first look moment beneath a beautiful canopy of trees, just as they had done the year prior. They knew they wouldn’t be surprised this time (as they had already seen each other in their wedding attire), but I loved how they still asked for this quiet moment together to pause, to take a deep breath, and to enjoy one another. It was such a peaceful, exciting way to start the day. 

The Ceremony

After gathering for some family photos inside the Chalet while their other guests arrived, the ceremony began. One of my favorite photos from this day captures Ryan walking down the aisle with his parents. He has this huge smile on his face and you can really feel how much he and Catherine were relishing in the joy of having all their people present in one room to help them celebrate their marriage! The vow renewal ceremony felt beautifully aligned with their first ceremony, and it showed how much energy Catherine and Ryan had put into making their guests feel like integral parts of their story as individuals and as a couple. As they walked down the aisle together afterward and waved to all their people, they were just beaming with joy!  

The Reception

During the cocktail hour, Catherine and Ryan prioritized time to socialize with their friends and family. They also snuck outside for a few moments during the golden hour to take several couple photos and to again pause and be present with one another. I loved seeing how sweetly they looked at one another in these photos- you can feel their authentic joy and gratitude! 

The reception was decorated with gorgeous flowers and string lights, and it created a warm and festive atmosphere in the dark, elegant, space. After a round of toasts, spontaneous singing to get the couple to kiss during dinner (in lieu of clinking glasses), and even an acapella rendition of the St. Olaf fight song to honor Catherine and Ryan’s alma mater, the dancing began! 

The Dance Party

Now a quick fun fact: Catherine and Ryan love to dance. At their first wedding reception at Lora in Stillwater, despite being in a small room with less than 20 people, they got everyone to dance the night away with them. They succeeded in doing so at the Chalet too! After their first dance together and with their parents, their guests filled the dance floor. Catherine even had a quick dress change so that she could really embrace her dancing spirit! 

A romantic moment to end the night

Catherine and Ryan’s first wedding took place on a full moon, and there was another full moon– the harvest moon–  on the day of their vow renewal celebration. They kissed each other beneath the full moon’s glowing light; what a tender and romantic moment amidst the festivities of the night. I felt so lucky to be part of Catherine and Ryan’s wedding days!