Should you choose the Terrace at Stillwater Public Library for your wedding?

In a previous post, I explained how much I enjoyed capturing a rooftop engagement session near Minneapolis and how I wanted to cover a rooftop wedding ceremony in the city. My prayers were heard and realized. A few months ago, I covered Stacy and Travis’s family wedding at Stillwater‘s Public Library.

Stacy contacted me via the internet. She was planning a small family wedding and was in need of a photographer to cover only the ceremony. After a couple of phone calls, she realized that they would need a photographer covering their wedding starting from the preparation and bride and groom’s pictures until the end.

That’s why, on a sunny day in August, I drove from Rochester, MN, to the beautiful Public Library.

A Nice and Friendly Couple

They are the typical modern couple: both hard workers with experience in their respective businesses and knowing what they want. Travis had been married and has a cute daughter from his first marriage. Both of them take care of a friendly and beautiful black Labrador.

Given that Stacy and Travis are pretty busy (she is the manager of several restaurants downtown), I didn’t have the chance to meet them prior to their big day, nor to cover their engagement session.

First Impression of the Public Library Building

When I arrived in the city of Stillwater, my GPS took me to 3rd Street North, and I stopped in front of a parking building. It didn’t look like the kind of library I was looking for. So, I started to wonder if I was actually in the right place and had not taken the wrong street. From the street point of view, you can’t guess that behind the local parking building stands a wedding venue!

After climbing the stairs, I finally faced the library entrance, but still I wasn’t sure if it was the right one.

First of all, we were outside of the opening hours and all doors were closed (but that was not surprising). Second, on the external sign over the main entrance door was written “Carnegie Public Library.” I was about to go back to my car to call the bride when I saw a bridesmaid in front of the windows.

Later, I understood, when I visited their website, why “Carnegie Public Library” was written on the top of the door! For those who may be interested to know, about one century ago, a rich businessman (Carnegie) gave all his money to communities all over the Midwest to build libraries. Even today you can find his name written on similar historic buildings he financed for construction. You can find some in Minneapolis and Saint Paul, too!

The Getting Ready in the Margaret Rivers Room

The library offers some amenities to host weddings, and a “bridal suite.” The bride was surrounded by her bridesmaids and all of them were having their hair and makeup done. The least we can say is that the Margaret Rivers room looked more like an office for meetings than an elegant hotel room. Anyway, I took some detail pictures inside the library.

Sunlight was streaming through the large windows and I had a lot of fun staging dramatic photos of the shoes, the ring, and the dress.

Then I took pictures of the bridal party wearing their getting-ready satin dresses.

During this time, the groom was fixing his bow tie with his brother in another large room. His daughter, who was ready, came to help him. I love the way she looked at him and took care of her father!

I also staged the groom and groomsmen group pictures inside the library, in front of the fireplace trying to reproduce a men’s club atmosphere.

Wedding Ceremony at the Johnson Terrace

The Stillwater Library offers a unique place to host weddings, the Johnson Terrace. It’s a 9,600 square-foot terrace offering a view of Stillwater Downtown. We can see the adjacent Ascension Episcopal Church made with red brick, and behind, the St. Croix River Valley. We can even see Wisconsin!

A structure, that I would call an arch, stands at the center of the Johnson Terrace. Its design evokes an antique structure (in Victorian style if you prefer).

Some white curtain fabric was attached to this arch and was nicely decorated with eucalyptus leaves. It helps people focus their attention on the bride and groom, and not on what is happening in the background: the St. Croix River.

In front of the arch, the library staff had installed white chairs for the guests to sit. The chairs were protected from the sun by a kind of rolling curtain in solid fabric. That is a very important point to consider when you are planning a rooftop wedding in Minnesota! You don’t want your guests to be roasted under the sun during your event!

After the ushers helped the guests to sit, the music finally started.

Special and Unique Moment

When Stacy was looking for her wedding photographer on Minneapolis to cover her ceremony near the Twin Cities, she explained to me how important this moment was for her. So I did all my best to catch each single moment of this ceremony.

Beyond its special location, this wedding was special for two reasons:

First, the bride and the groom asked Stacy’s grandfather to celebrate their union and he accepted. Before being retired he used to be a pastor, thus he was happy to share his love with that young couple. When you personally know your officiant, everything is emotionally more powerful. Getting married by the grandfather must be an incredible emotion!

The second point that made this ceremony outstanding is that a young girl and a fifty-pound animal with dark-silky coat got involved. I can’t really say who was petting whom, but what’s certain is that she was extremely happy to be involved in the bridal party on this particular day! And having such a dog at a wedding is not very common.

Downtown Photo Session in Stillwater, a Touch of Midwest

After this, we took the family and bridal party pictures. We used the library’s adjacent park and its view of the historic city area.

Then, the bride and the groom escaped to have their photos taken in Stillwater streets. During this time their guests enjoyed the happy hour, with a donut cake and outdoor wood games.

First, we went to one of the local cafes/restaurants managed by Stacy, the Lora located on Main Street. Some people were dining, but we had access to a private part of the restaurant to take pictures. We also enjoyed the hall of the adjacent hotel with its pieces of art. After that, we stayed in the neighborhood and went close to the street along the St. Croix River and the Lowell Park South. There, we had the best view of the historic bridge and the beautiful steamboat, with maple trees. (I love how maple trees turn orange during fall.)

We probably were away for thirty minutes and could have done much more in this city, which is one of the best places in Minnesota for having pictures taken. But Stacy and Travis didn’t want to leave their guests alone for too long. Therefore, we left the area and drove back to the event.

I would like to thank the bride and the groom for trusting me to eternalize the memories of their event. Also, I am glad I discovered this special venue where rooftop weddings can take place!

What should you consider if you plan an event at the Public Library?

What should you consider (except hiring an amazing documentary photographer), if you want to book this venue?

• Great Nearby Locations for Your Photos
• The Weather
• Room for Meetings
• Rentals
• Rehearsal
• Transportation
• Kids

Weather

Of course, the first and most important parameter that you can’t control (unless you have some special power) is the weather. The best months are probably June and July. Luckily, the library offers some rooms. And that’s always great to have a backup plan.

If there is a lot of sun, you might consider a tent, some fans, and some free sunscreen. In case of cold temperatures, bring some blankets and umbrellas.

Room for Meetings and Rentals

Of course, the room looks more like rooms for meetings than a sumptuous, sophisticated restaurant or a modern museum designed by a famous architect. Let’s be honest, the bridal suite could be improved, and the interior rooms and the furniture are pretty basic. But at least, you won’t need to rent expensive chairs. In consequence, if you need the interior, you would need a good vendor team (florist, coordinator, decorator, DJ) to decorate and transform a simple room into a wonderland.

Plan a Rehearsal

There is no one on the rooftop, so plan if you have the time, plan a rehearsal ahead. It’s the best way to notice all the tiny details. This is a technical point of view (microphone, chairs, etc.), and a human point of view (speech too long, the sun in the eyes, wind, etc.)

Transportation: Trolley or Horse Carriage

The Library is located 10-15 minutes walking from Stillwater downtown, so if you want to transport all your bridal party (for some pictures), you can use the services of those fun vehicles that give a touch of Midwest to weddings (and work great for photos).

Kids

If libraries are for adults, they are the perfect location for kids. They can read stories or just leaf through books all day long.

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Discover Teresa and Steve’s winter wedding, at the Aster Cafe, in old industrial Minnesota. Thanks to their coordinator, they had a rehearsal, even if it was a small wedding. The area made of old red brick reminded me of the buildings in Stillwater. Indeed, it looks like a time from another period, which generates a lot of charm.