Wendy Woods Photography

Katie and Brian's Wedding

Saturday Katie (Kathryn) Meyers and Brian Merz tied the knot in a ceremony at the Incarnation Lutheran Church in Shoreview and classy reception at the Calhoun Beach Club. If you missed their engagement session blog entry, you can still view it here. Katie was a stunner in her Mori Lee gown. The bridesmaids wore apple green dresses that really set off the magnificent flowers by Wisteria Flower Studio.. The sun finally cooperated too. Their party bus delivered them to Lake Calhoun for some outside fun with the wedding party, then they enjoyed a wonderful dinner prepared by D'Amico, the club's new event managers. I can't think of anything that didn't go perfectly on Saturday. Katie and Brian are wonderful, happy people and good sports, letting me pull them away for a moment when the moon was full for a few portraits around the terrace. We wish them the best and Nick, Miranda and I enjoyed every minute of their wedding. It was also fun running into Noah Wolf who was photographing a wedding in the other ballroom. Click on any image to open larger, and please leave a message for Katie, Brian and us!

Courtney and Justin's Wedding

Saturday's wedding was the rainiest we have ever seen in 5 years of photographing weddings! Guess that's one ocean of good luck for Courtney Craig and Justin Salzl. The wedding went off without any other hitches, though - and for that matter it was absolutely perfect, planned by her mom Bonnie down to every detail. Courtney was a goddess in her MoriLee gown, absolutely elegant. After dressing, they had a private meeting on the dramatic top floor of the Northland Inn in Brooklyn Park, overlooking 8 floors into a central atrium. That view is not for the squeamish!

Then it was off to Advent Lutheran Church in Maple Grove for a sweet and elegant ceremony. The wedding party stopped for drinks later at the Claddagh Irish Pub in Maple Grove and then returned to the Northland for a big beautiful party. We were there long enough for the grand march, a raucous affair with chorus lines of bridesmaids and groomsmen dancing to the tune of "Rock and Roll part 2" by Gary Glitter - the "Hey" song usually heard with sports! The high energy fun continued well into the night.

We had a blast photographing all the fun and loved working with Courtney, Justin, Bonnie, and all the family and wedding party. Click on any image to open larger. Leave a message please for Courtney, Justin, and us!

Private meeting on the 8th floor

That's a LOOOONG way down

Arriving at the church during a driving rainstorm

Courtney in her beautiful dress

Air kiss for maid of honor Madeline Bisanz just before the ceremony

Mr. and Mrs. Salzl are announced

Claddahs where the celebration starts

Shots by the bridesmaids Part I

Shots by the bridesmaids Part II

Gorgeous cake by Northland's own pastry chef!

Tablescapes and decore were amazing

First dance

Bridesmaids in the chorus line

Bonnie's heartfelt hug to her daughter Courtney,
presenting her with a ceremonial champagne flute

Madeline's toast to Courtney

Best man Scott Welle's toast to Justin

A perfect dip!

Rachel and Matt

Another glorious evening last night as Rachel Meagher and Matthew Struck met me to do a Nicolette Island engagement session. Rachel and Matt recently moved here from Texas and will be married September 15th. Both grew up here in Minnesota and dated in high school, moved to Texas where Rachel worked for Fossil (the purse and watch company) and Matt worked for the Texas department of natural resources. He's an outdoorsy type - check out his tan! - hoping to find something like that here in beautiful Minnesota, while Rachel has a new job at Compass. The wedding will take place September 15 at the Westwood Community Church in St. Louis Park with the reception at the gorgeous Carlson Center rotunda. Should be fun! Click on any image to open larger.

Julia and Greg's Wedding

Greg Maki, the groom of Friday's wedding, is an aerospace engineer, and his new bride Julia Knittel is an anthropologist. We got to know each other at a fun artsy engagement session at Nicolette Island in the spring. They tied the knot at a lovely ceremony Friday at the Calhoun Beach Club in Minneapolis. We photographed the day from start to finish, with mostly a photojournalistic approach, following them through the sweet private meeting before the ceremony to the toss of the bouquet late into the night. Interestingly, her uncle Rocky and aunt Barbara are professional photographers in Baltimore, and it was they who helped her choose us - so we are truly honored! Elegance was the best way to describe this wedding from the beautiful flowers and decore to the food by D'amico and music. We also enjoyed meeting Greg and Julia's parents, Joanne and Mark and Leslee and Steve. Speaking of Calhoun, we also learned the place will be undergoing some major renovations soon. It was a lovely day. Click on any image to open larger. Please leave a comment for Greg, Julia, and us!

Their first meeting on the veranda.

Best man Ryan Hannay and his parents give Greg last minute support.

Julia was as beautiful as a movie star.

The grass was dry and crispy but the light was beautiful in the park across the street.

Beautiful flowers by FloraBella

Toasts to the couple from Julia's father Mark.
DJ: Instant Request