Jared & Tiffany’s Wedding at The Happy Gnome

After she said I do in Irving Park in the Cities (in front of Harriet Island) for their intimate wedding in Minneapolis), their celebration took place in the firehouse room at the Happy Gnome in St Paul, MN.

Intimate Reception at the Happy Gnome Saint Paul

Tiffany and Jared decided to host their wedding reception at the Happy Gnome. This gastronomic restaurant is located in Saint Paul on Selby Avenue. They chose this restaurant because the food is excellent (a mix of simplicity and sophistication). It’s an elegant and picturesque restaurant, conveniently located, and they didn’t need a huge wedding venue.

The reception was in continuity with the ceremony: simple, timeless, welcoming, centered on the dearest family members and devoted friends, and offering them fun. The newlyweds had set up a fingerprint tree (I’ll let you guess the color of the ink), a DIY photo booth with Polaroid, and games.

After sharing champagne, a variety of beers from Minneapolis, and other cocktails, they started their luncheon. They ate some delicious hors d’oeuvres and entrees! No kidding, that’s one of the best restaurants I have eaten at in the Twin Cities. Check the caterer menus, they are delicious!

Some Special Wedding Photos

After dinner, they cut their wedding cake carefully decorated by Mandee’s Cakes. The top was ornamented by a personalized figurine of the bride and groom performing deadlifting. I wanted to take advantage of this idea and involved the innkeeper. She helped me design a fake deadlift. We staged a funny picture of the silhouette of the bride on the groom performing deadlifting in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows.

The Happy Gnome: A Photogenic Place for Small Events Close to Minneapolis

I was delighted to discover this wedding venue and the firehouse. It’s a charming, well-decorated restaurant. Besides funny gnomes in the patio, they have dark wood panels and a sophisticated ornamented wood ceiling reminiscent of the old world, such a chic gentlemen’s club atmosphere. Adding to that a dark carpet, it’s a pretty dark event space. That said, on a sunny day, several large windows, with more than a stunning view of Minneapolis and the Twin Cities, allow enough light to enter for a good professional wedding photographer to shoot pictures of the lovers’ engagement in good conditions.

Also, as previously mentioned, the food was just succulent! I have no idea of their wedding package, but I can testify that the food is more than fabulous. And on top of that, the staff was nice and responsive. For your special day, check their menus and follow their recommendations (scallops and mussels are mouth-watering).

So, if you are in the process of planning your intimate wedding, it’s definitely a good place to celebrate a small wedding.

So, What Really Made This Intimate Wedding Unparalleled and Unique?

Suspense… The toasts. Not the parents’ ones (even if they were great), nor the brother’s (even if it was touching). What really made the reception step out of the box was the kids’ toast.

A toast is usually an emotional moment, but in this small and intimate wedding, it was very emotional.

In France we have an expression “The truth comes from children’s mouths,” and that applies well to this situation. Kids told the bride (their new mother) how much they were happy she married their father and how much they were thrilled to have her as a mother. It’s the kind of very intimate and deep declaration that is not always easy to formulate, especially in public!

Indeed, you have probably already faced a situation where you have to speak loudly in front of a lot of people. It’s not easy and most people try to avoid that, even in small and intimate weddings!

A Special Toast

Well, those children took the microphone (the braver first, so the girls of course) and made a joint declaration of love to their new mother.

It was spontaneous and improvised with their own words, own sensibility and most of all, their own sincerity. It was deeply genuine and beautiful. The bride was crying (and I guess she was not the only one). As a Minnesota wedding photographer, I try not to be overwhelmed and to focus on shooting candid pictures, wanting to document this moment for them later. I was thinking of them looking at their wedding book in twenty years and remembering all that. My eyes were wet, too. When I left, I gave my congratulations to the bride and groom, and I was still emotional with a lump in my throat.

Conclusion on This Wedding at the Happy Gnome

I can’t thank Jared enough for trusting me from our first contact on the internet and letting me catch his surprise proposal. And then later, I would like to thank him for his non-traditional wedding. This couple was so friendly during all of this perfect day.

This unique day is one of those that make me go back home with a big smile and make me remember why I am a wedding photographer in Minneapolis.

Should You Consider the Happy Gnome If You Are Planning a Restaurant Wedding?

5 Arguments to Book

What follows is only my subjective opinion, and I do not have any link or any interest in the Happy Gnome.

Gastropub

It’s a real gastronomic restaurant with a talented chef. The food is really succulent and way beyond what I am used to tasting at weddings.

Firehouse Room

With wood panels on the walls, the Firehouse with its fireside offers a warm and chic atmosphere, quite similar to a gentlemen’s club. Of course, the fireside is especially appreciated during winter.

The View

You have an open view of the Minnesota Capitol and St Paul Cathedral.

All the Amenities Needed

Conveniently located on Selby Ave, this 2-floor restaurant offers all the comfort needed to welcome guests: a great team offering perfect service, a private room for your celebration (the firehouse), private parking, large bathroom amenities, and a patio for the summer.

Selection of Drinks

If you love beer, the bar offers a large choice of craft beers in association with local brewing companies. In addition to the beer selections, they also have selections of whiskey and bourbon.

Option to Host a Rehearsal Dinner

If you already booked your venue but want to share a good meal with your close relatives, then the Happy Gnome can be a great idea for a rehearsal dinner.

6 Locations Near the Happy Gnome for a Photo Session

For your engagement session, you can easily go to the best places in Minnesota, in Taylor falls, MN. But on your wedding day, that would be much more complicated to abandon your guests on their own for 4 hours. That’s why I propose 6 locations close to the restaurant to have your pictures taken.