Photography Services Provided by Captured by Maggie
Karla & Thomas - Lanesboro MN
Once upon a time... I think every woman has dreamt about their wedding day long before they ever met "Mr. Right". Some dream of Big elaborate weddings with hundreds of guests, and wearing a beautiful wedding gown with a long train, and finishing it off with a long flowing veil, that makes them look a princess. This was not the case for my first wedding of 2009. Upon meeting Karla & Thomas, I was excited at the opportunity to photograph their wedding. First, because I hit if off so well with the awesome, down to earth couple. Second, because of the location and feel they wanted for their wedding.
The setting Berwood Hill Inn in Lanesboro MN, is a storybook wedding location. Upon 1st arrival you notice the beautiful Inn with it's wrap around porches, surrounded by gorgeous gardens, eclectic antiques, and gazebos that are from another time. Just past the "Ye Ole Roost", a former chicken coop transformed into a beautiful, warm and welcoming reception location- you can't miss the gorgeous view of valleys and fields as far as the eye can see.
Originally Karla and Thomas had planned for a small and intimate outdoor wedding, with a guest list that included only family and a few of their closest friends. However once the wedding planning started, Karla & Thomas got "caught up in the emotion of getting married", and their simple, intimate wedding had now transformed into a much larger venue. With a guest list of over 150 guests, and a catered dinner and dance taking over where a simple social hour was before. It was exciting to get the phone calls from Karla letting me know about the changes, and even more exciting to share in Karla's excitement as she gave me a sneak peek of her knee-length bridesmaid dresses in a shimmery brownish bronze that changed colors in different lighting, her guestbook that she personally designed, and most of all to get the phone call from Karla 2 days before her wedding day to let me know that she had gotten Thomas a special surprise gift, and wanted me to photograph him receiving it.
The big day arrived, and it was a cold 50 degree stormy day. I arrived at the Berwood Hill Inn early to check lighting, and to offer any help I could. You see, Karla & Thomas' dream of a outdoor wedding had been squashed by Mother Nature. However, the amazing staff at the Berwood Hill Inn rose to the occasion and had a plan already in place to relocate the wedding into "Ye Old Roost". They worked with swiftness and efficiency to transform "Ye Old Roost" into a magical and perfect storybook location. How? You ask. With Warm and inviting mood lighting draped though rafters, a fire lit in a fireplace, candles, beautiful white linens, and fresh potted purple petunias. It was a wedding location to remember! Many guests were overheard commenting that it "was the most beautiful and intimate wedding they'd ever been to", in the next sentence they were usually overheard exclaiming over the excellent meal provided by Ye Old Butcher Shoppe, and the exciting kissing game after dinner... Yes Kissing Game. A name of a wedding guest and their date would be drawn from a hat, and however they kissed Karla & Thomas had to kiss. It made for some great laughs and photo opportunities.
When looking back at Karla & Thomas' wedding day those involved could dwell on the fact that it was rained out. But honestly, everything happens for a reason, and the weather was not what people took away from that day. Instead, at the end of a beautiful day, the most important thing was 2 little words. "I Do".
