Brandon & Kalley | A Minnesota Fall Country Club Wedding
Tali October 9, 2021
There is just something about a classic country club wedding that feels so right. A perfect place for friends and family to gather, beautiful scenery, and the kindest staff always make these days special. Brandon and Kalley’s early October Minnesota wedding was no exception. Everything fell perfectly into place to make this fall day about as magical as they get.
We started the day in the nearby Renaissance Hotel to get ready. The ladies got their hair and makeup done for the big day while the group sipped on mimosas amongst the happy chatter and laughs. Across the hotel, the guys hung out chatting about aviation (Dom was fully in his element lol), learning how to fold handkerchiefs, and getting their suits ready for the ceremony.
Before the ceremony, Brandon and Kalley decided to privately exchange vows through their handwritten vow books. This charming touch added a very personal element to their day and allowed them to have this sweet moment to themselves while still having a big wedding with all of their friends and family. It is always so fun to see couples put unique little twists on their day to personalize and prioritize different elements of their wedding. As someone who personally isn’t as comfortable expressing my true feelings in front of large crowds, a private vow exchange definitely seems like the perfect option.
After everyone was ready, the bridal party took a shuttle to the ceremony location at the Minnesota Valley Country Club. Kalley and Brandon decided to do a first look, made extra exciting by the golf cart ride to the other side of the club for the perfect covered bridge backdrop. The rolling hills and fall-touched leaves of the club made the perfect backdrop for pictures with the wedding party, a fun bunch for sure! After photos in the most perfect fall weather, we climbed back on our golf carts and made our way to the ceremony.
Friends and family gathered outside in a little courtyard lined with flowers boasting bold fall colors. An unusually warm autumn breeze rustled through the leaves as the sun barely managed to dance between the clouds gathering overhead, threatening to add an early fall drizzle to the ceremony. The weather reports warned of a chance of rain at the close of the ceremony, but I am convinced Kalley’s will for it to not rain changed the course of the weather as we didn’t see a single raindrop until we were getting home much later that night.
Some couples choose not to do a first look, often because they want to see the face of their significant other as they see them for the first time that day walking down the aisle. Dom and I have shot many weddings with first looks and that walking down the aisle moment is still so special. There is so much emotion in seeing your other half as they join you for your wedding ceremony… it will always be a special moment and one that we are honored to get to witness so personally with our couples. Brandon and Kalley’s moment was no different, despite having seen each other just moments before, the genuine smiles of excitement as their eyes met when Kalley began her walk down the aisle were nothing short of fairytale material.
After a lovey (rain-free!) wedding ceremony, the group gathered inside for food, drinks, toasts, laughter, dancing, and some of the best cupcakes we have ever had (Dom may or may not have gone back for seconds). The day ended as perfectly as it began, in a room filled with all of the material for lifelong memories of happiness.
