Kelsey & Brandon's Wedding at Huber Park and Turtle's Social Club

As Kelsey's mom opened their front door to me with a big ole' grin, I was greeted by serene silence and a room full of calm smiles. At first, I thought that the bridesmaids and siblings and cousins must not have arrived yet, for how would it be possible for so many people to be so quiet?? Usually when there are a lot of people hanging out before a wedding, there's a kind of exciting but nervous energy in the air--a tizzy of giddy bridesmaids and stressed-out parents swirling around the bride. This was a totally different story. Kelsey's childhood home was full of people--her five bridesmaids, her parents and siblings and sister-in-law and newborn niece, her future mother-in-law, her extended family visiting from Norway... and everyone was spread about their first floor, eating lunch, sprawling on couches chatting, finishing their makeup in front of a mirror. Yet the atmosphere was anything but frantic; everyone was relaxed and quiet, almost reflective. It was excitement and joy expressed in the most chill, lovely way possible.

I left their home and went to meet Brandon at Huber Park in Shakopee, MN, where their ceremony would take place. He bounded across the park with his own giant grin and calm demeanor, ready to take in the day and super excited to see his bride.

These two happy, down-to-earth people are meant to be, and their calm, happy sense of ready-ness as they prepared for their wedding made that so completely clear. Their sweet ceremony (and Kelsey's touching moments with her dad before they walked down the aisle!) brought me to tears, and their reception at Turtles 1890s Social Club was a party and a half--live music and dancing and awesomeness galore!

Congratulations to a beautifully happy couple!!