Lindsey & Jordan’s Wedding Photos at The Loft At Studio J Stillwater MN

After their engagement photos, it was now time for their friendly photographers to capture their ceremony. I warn you, it’s one of the most terrific weddings I have ever covered!

I first met the newly engaged couple, Lindsey and Jordan, in Minneapolis during the winter and I was immediately seduced by their project to get married in the birthplace of the bride, Stillwater, MN. For that reason they chose to host their wedding reception at the Loft at Studio J, located in the Historic Downtown Stillwater. It’s a large event center! After their gorgeous photo session in Saint Paul, they were about to tie the knot!

If you haven’t seen it yet and before looking at their ceremony pictures, check their engagement photos with their Minneapolis Photographer. Have a look at the crazy part of St Paul’s rooftop, a romantic part of the Kellogg Boulevard, and the first part of the Raspberry Island.

The Bride’s Getting Ready for Her Wedding in the Saint Croix River Valley

For her big day, the forecast was not very promising and the temperature pretty low, which I noticed while I was driving from Rochester to Stillwater, Minnesota.

Lindsey decided to get ready surrounded by her relatives and bridesmaids in her parents’ house. When I arrived, she had her hair and makeup being processed. The result was simple and sophisticated at the same time. So, while she was seated, I took detail pictures of her wedding gown, her shoes, jewels and rings. I was not surprised she chose such an elegant open-back dress. Lindsey, as confirmed by the choice of her photographer, is a person of upscale taste (joke).

When ready, she was not only beautiful; she was transformed into a majestic and stately princess. She has something rare, an unparalleled natural grace: she has this little shining thing in the eyes that (only) smart people have. In addition she has the sweetest and kindest of mothers (I mean, the representation of St Mary in paintings). And finally her big smile offers to others the joy of life (OK, I stole this sentence from her sister’s speech, but it’s true). What a dream for a wedding photographer capturing such a stunning bride!

The Groom Getting Ready in a Loft Downtown

It’s on Main Street that the groom got ready in a penthouse with scenic views of the river. Inside the loft, the guys were relaxed and enjoying the brunch while remembering some memories from school. Jordan asked his brother to help him fix his suit. Those two were making jokes all the time, which allowed me to capture lovely moments. The ambiance was pretty cool and I tried to create unforgettable pictures, using natural and artificial lights. Moreover, Jordan is smart and good-looking, a perfect groom with charm, making it easy for me to photograph.

First Look and Wedding Photos

The bride and groom had their first look in the backyard of the parents’ house, with the woods as a backdrop. The groom was amazed and speechless. Then, they opened their letters and she made fun of him because she finished reading before him. What a joyful show for all the witnesses that we were. Then, we took the trolley with all the bridal party to downtown in order to take the couple and bridal party pictures. In my opinion, renting a trolley was a better idea than a limo or a modern shuttle service.

We first stopped at the wedding venue, the Loft at Studio J, in order to enjoy the natural light coming from the windows. I played with the crystal chandelier, the backlight and the memorable antique picturesque Coca-Cola wall.

An Efficient Photo Session from St. Croix Shore to the County Historic Courthouse

You got it, the session was a bit faster. It’s not the recommendation I give in my pre-wedding planning checklist. But it turned out well! The reason is that we previously did the pre-wedding session in Saint Paul. During the current session, the bride and groom felt at ease, knowing what to do and we used every precious second to capture their love. During the planning process, we considered going to the St Croix Boom Site, but given the weather we adjusted and decided to skip that part.

After the Loft at Studio J, we went to the waterfront, adjacent to the Lift Bridge, to take pictures on the river. I integrated the marina and the steamboats in the pictures and you can see the Wisconsin shore in the back. I also used the trolley to take bridesmaids and groomsmen pictures. Then we enjoyed the historic Washington County Courthouse for some bridal party pictures on the staircase and some pictures in the courtyard. Finally, we moved to a luxury house to celebrate this special day with the close family members. We also took some family portraits.

Ceremony at the Ascension Episcopal Church

The religious part of the wedding was held at the red brick Ascension Episcopal Church, adjacent to the Stillwater Library. By the way I covered a small wedding on its rooftop a couple of months earlier. So, the bride walked down the aisle with a lot of emotion. My priority was to catch it in an unobtrusive and documentary way. The lighting conditions inside the church were quite awful (and no flash allowed by the officiant, which could potentially be a source of problems). Nevertheless I managed to push my equipment to the maximum of its capacity and handle this low light environment. Sometimes, church rules are a real disappointment!

As a photojournalist and having covered a lot of celebrations, this one was a memorable one! As a matter of fact, Lindsey continuously looked at Jordan with passion. Sometimes the officiant and the stress put a distance in the couple. But here it was the opposite: a real connection between those two lovers. It created some timeless and romantic photographs that I hope they will cherish when looking at their wedding album. And then they exchanged vows and she said “I do” and became husband and wife! When they stepped out of the church, guests threw confetti on the newly married couple.

Escape with Your Wedding Photographer During the Cocktail Hour

While guests slowly arrived one by one at the reception, the bridal party headed up to Stillwater historic downtown to have a drink. While we walked down Myrtle Street, we used fountains to shoot some posed portraits. Also, when we turned on Main Street, I did more candid and photojournalistic shots, with all the bookstores and antique shops in the background. We stopped at the Feller coffee shop for a glass of wine. It’s where I used the fireplace to catch those breathtaking and spectacular pics. After the cocktail hour, we all headed up to the reception area to celebrate their unique wedding reception.

Why I Really Loved This Wedding Reception at the Loft at Studio J

Among the plenty of chic wedding venues that Stillwater offers, Lindsey and Jordan decided on the loft to celebrate their wedding day. It’s a renovated historical building with bright wood floors and vintage red brick, adorned with trendy decoration elements everywhere (modern and post-industrial) that provide the venue with a funny personality. The dinner was good and the memorable speech, with an exceptional traditional sister’s dance! To produce such images, I had to work with off-camera flash.

Then I took advantage of the location assets, staging artistic pictures with the chandelier and the bar’s glasses (thanks to the help of the bartenders).

Then the bride and groom opened the dance floor with their first dance, followed by the father-daughter and mother-son dance. I especially like the emotion from the picture of the father holding his daughter. Soon after all the guests joined them to dance under the variety of songs coming from the DJ speakers. Before leaving them for their nuptial night, I took them a last picture of them using the wood staircase.

I can’t thank Lindsey and Jordan enough for choosing me and trusting me to document their wedding day. From the planning process to the last picture, it was more than a real pleasure to work with them.

Wedding Vendors:

BRIDE DRESS Annika Bridal

DRESS DESIGNER L’amour Calla Blanche

CHURCH Ascension Episcopal

FLORIST Rose Floral

HAIR STYLIST Tina Voss at Viva Voce Salon

GROOM SUIT/TIE/BOOTIE DKNY

GROOM SHOES Johnston and Murphy

DJ Midwest Sound DJ Entertainment

VENUE AND CATERERS The Loft at Studio J

RENTALS: No

BRIDAL PARTY DRESS & WAREHOUSE Raffine Bridal Shop Sorella Vita

Ready to Drive? 4 Alternative Photo Locations You Would Find Only in the Twin Cities

Stillwater features a bunch of locations that would work perfectly for your wedding’s portraits: the courthouse and the post-industrial red brick buildings. Though, if you are still not satisfied, find here a short list of other photogenic spots.

Rooftop

I can’t repeat it enough. Empty rooftop parking areas are nothing but amazing.

Lyndal Rock Garden

Check out this reportage (from makeup to dance) taking place at the Lake Harriet Brasserie, in Minneapolis. As wedding photographers we especially love the Rose Garden and the Rock (Peace) Garden. If you can find quite similar atmosphere at the Como Park Japanese Garden and the Arboretum Japanese Garden, I definitely prefer the Rock Garden because it’s adjacent to two other photo spots in the Rose Garden and the Harriet Lake Shore.

Tons of Options at Centennial Lakes

The Centennial lakes (located in Edina, Minnesota), is a unique place offering a high variety of backdrops for photography. Indeed, it’s a mix of modern part including glass buildings, and a city park carefully designed by landscapers. You can find there a mini golf (which is great in photography), some old fashion iron and modern bridges, some pine trees, some meadows, weeping willow trees and much more. The result is a location where you can have your pictures taken all year long! In a way, it reminds me of locations such as the Trellis Outdoor Gardens and the Camrose Hill Flower Studio that concentrate dozens of sceneries in a small field.

Majestic Historical Buildings

If Saint Paul and Stillwater, the birthplace of Minnesota, both offer library rentals, the impressive Historical James J. Hill Center Library is located downtown near a wider variety of historical buildings that you could use. Let’s think of the immediately adjacent Landmark Center, the Rice Park, the St Paul Hotel for instance. But don’t forget to mention the Summit area, the Capitol and the Cathedral.

Conclusion: Should You Get Married at the Loft by Studio J in Stillwater?

As you might have already guessed by the venue’s name, it’s a location owned and managed by a photography studio. So, of course, as good vendors, they would highly try to persuade you to hire their professional cameramen…That being said, let’s be honest, that’s a gorgeous venue. I would say that the main downside is probably the yellow electric lighting (that requires hiring a good photographer) if you don’t want all your images to be yellow.

The Main Reasons for Booking Such a Venue Are

• A gorgeous historical style (if you like a loft-style event)
• A location downtown close to other photograph spots
• A new photogenic makeup room, all equipped, with a big mirror great to picture
• A bar and bartenders
• A choice among a large selection of caterers (contrary to other venues that impose only 1 or 2)
• Modern bathroom amenities (yes we never consider amenities but that’s important too!)
• An included photo booth (Given I also offer a photo booth option, I can’t deny I like the one they offer)