It all started with a set up and a dozen roses.

I was on the phone with my aunt when I saw him approaching the house in a black button-up shirt, flower tucked securely under one arm, his cowboy boots clicking across the icy cement driveway. I laughed into the phone and told her I had to go; my date was here. Shaking my head, I answered the door. Smiling as he politely met my parents, we headed out into the night. As he dropping me off that night, even after putting the truck in the ditch, I remember thinking to myself this could be the start of something good.

The months flew by and five and a half years later, on a rooftop bar in Minneapolis, he asked me to marry him.

We began planning and set a date. I started packing and he started making room.

The winter was a brutal one as I seemed to have a head cold or flu every other week and our jobs kept us both very busy. The holidays passed by in a blur and it was suddenly January. I woke up slowly on the morning of our wedding and smiled to myself. The planning was over. I could hear the soft murmur of my mom and bridesmaids chatting upstairs with the smell of coffee wafting through the house while the stillness of a cool winter morning enveloped us all. I couldn’t believe it was finally here. I bounded up the stairs, down the hall and into the living room and let out an excited whoop. The day had begun.

Our wedding day.

{our ceremony took place outside at my parent’s house–the place where I grew up}

{keeping with a tradition started by my sister and her husband on their wedding morning, the ladies got ready in the house while the guys shot guns out back}

{I designed and, with help!, put the invitations together. Judy’s Floral Design did an amazing job with the flowers and decorating of the reception hall. My dress was something new, my veil something old–it was my mother’s that she wore on her wedding day as did my sister on hers}

{We opted to see each other before the ceremony and I’m so glad we did. Those few moments that we spent, just the two of us, are a few of my favorite memories.}

{He makes me laugh. Much.}

{my Ladies and Brides-Dude!!}

{super pumped!}

{My Nana made gorgeous scarves for all the bridesmaids, brides-dude and myself. Not only were they so beautiful, the were SO warm!!}

{Yes, that guy is our friend. No, he’s not an actual Russian.}

{Our friends are awesome.}

{THEY’RE NEXT–YAY!!!!!}

{hot chocolate and tea bar for our guests}

{we transferred ink to vintage hankies for our programs}

{so awesome how many people braved the cold weather to witness our wedding!! completely overwhelming…}

{MARRIED!!!!!!}

{The reception was at the Holiday Inn in Lakeville. All our decorations were borrowed or made. We used drawers from my Papa’s old tool box, twigs, windows from our old out buildings at the homestead, lots of mason jars, candles, and fabric. Instead of a guest book, we opted to have our guests sign fabric squares that I will sew into a quilt this winter. Neither of us really like cake {Angie did a great job with the little one we had for our wedding party and parent tables!} so we had a candy bar instead featuring our favorite candies. We’re candy freaks.}{Our wedding party was awesome. What a fun group of friends and family we have grown up with–seven of these guys graduated high school with us, eight are family and one is just a pretty cool guy.}

{My sister’s toast…hilarious.}

{Andy’s toast…awesome.}

{Our dads!}

{MY BOYS!!!!!}

{All the bridesmaids jewelry was hand-made by a friend of mine. Betsey did such a beautiful job!}

{all photographs taken by the AWESOME Tasha Herrgott with Red Bird Hills Photography. She was amazing and I could not be happier with these amazing images that we have to look back upon. When it’s all said and done, the dust settled, the boxes unpacked and the gifts put away–all you have is great memories and photographs.}

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