The Burke's Classic Catholic Wedding || A November wedding steeped in tradition, beauty, and love.
For Cassie and Jack, at the end of the day only one thing mattered: the Sacrament of Marriage. As a Catholic myself, wedding days like this are always particularly special. Not a single detail went overlooked by the couple. From guest comfort and enjoyment to the florals to their outfits to the ambiance, everything was taken into account. The emotions were strong all day for both the couple and those that loved them most and I consider myself fortunate to have been able to document it.
Getting Ready at the Renaissance Minneapolis Hotel || Some curated details, excited smiles, and final preparations.
The bride and groom decided to get ready separately for their wedding day at the hotel attached to their venue. Cassie and her girls shared a back room where they sipped champagne and touched up their hair and make-up with Emile Freitag and The Beauty Collective. Meanwhile Jack and his guys prepared in their room upstairs. I took some of the details that Cassie wanted to have photographed into their reception space for some intentionally-designed photos while my second, Emma Rose Photography, and the couple's videographer Kye Jouwstra of Forest Bound Films captured some of the getting ready fun around the hotel. In the background, Honeyhill Weddings was carefully assembling all of the place-settings and decor from Linen Effects for the evening and Malana Sophia Floral prepared all of the gorgeous floral touches and bouquets. I then went upstairs to Cassie's room with her, her mother, and her maid-of-honor to capture the bride putting on her Pnina Tornai wedding dress from Annika Bridal.
The Bride and Groom's Solo Portraits || Classically-styled with modern details.
Once ready, the bride and groom took their solo portraits apart so as not to see each other before their ceremony. Emma photographed Jack in his custom tuxedo from Bills Toggery and I captured Cassie with the sunlight streaming into The Depot. The two looked radiant in their own ways, shining through exquisitely in their portraits.
Jack and his Guys || The groomsmen portraits.
Before going to the church, Emma took the guys outside for some groomsmen portraits in front of the fall colors and the federal building. It allowed for them to get out some of the pre-ceremony jitters and energy before Jack said his vows.
Going to the Chapel || A brief trolley ride for the girls and the details of Holy Cross.
When it came time to go to the church, the girls piled into a trolley rented from Renee's Limousines for the ten minute drive to Holy Cross. Once at the church, Emma and I walked around capturing the little details before guests came in to take their seats. The light filtered in softly and the beige and brown marble pillars gave everything a soft, warm-toned glow.
The Ceremony || A ritual of light, vows, blessings, and The Eucharist.
The Burke's ceremony was nothing short of pure beauty and love. Their pastor, Father Howe, spoke blessings upon the couple and shared touching anecdotes about their time preparing for marriage. The traditions of Mass flowed from one to the next, from the readings to the songs to the prayers. But when Communion began, that is when I truly took a moment to step back and take in the moment occurring around me. Cassie and Jack kneeling before the true presence of Christ, in reverence, awe, and gratitude and holding hands between them, everything leading up to this moment. By the time that Fr. Howe announced the two as husband and wife, there was not a dry eye in the room nor a hand that could refrain from clapping. The support system and love and joy that surrounds these two is immense and the Lord is evidently doing His wonders through them.
Portraits at the Church || Family and the Bride and Groom
I don't have much to note about this moment of the day apart from the sheer excitement and surreal joy felt by everyone photographed. It was a "did that really just happen?" kind of moment. Everyone laughing and smiling and congratulating the happy couple while a few portraits were captured before moving into the second half of the day.
The Wedding Party near St. Anthony Falls || Formal portraits with the whole gang and just the gals.
The newly married couple decided to spend their first married hour celebrating with their wedding party by taking full party portraits and photos with just the bridesmaids in the St. Anthony district outside of Aster Cafe. Everyone was full of energy and more than ready to kick off the celebrations, leading to plenty of authentic smiles in the portraits.
Sentimental Bridal Portraits || The bride and groom where it all began.
Jack was politely adamant about taking their bridal portraits outside of the Aster Cafe in the St. Anthony district. While not at all opposed, I was curious. It's rare that grooms have such specific input in terms of location, usually making it all the more special. Sure enough, once the time rolled around Jack explained to me that he would like a picture recreating the moment that Cassie first walked up to him on a bench outside the Aster Cafe for their first date. My eyes welled up. It's not often that I cry at weddings these days, but this got me. I happily captured that image and then guided the two through some more portraits before we all walked back to the trolley to enjoy the rest of the evening.
A Trolley Ride to the Depot || Kicking off the celebration.
The formal portraits were done, now it was time to celebrate the newlyweds. The pair kicked it off with a round of drinks in their trolley on the way back to The Depot, all of their closest friends offering toasts and sips from a bottle of champagne. The smiles were contagious and the laughs abundant, exactly as a wedding celebration should be.
A Reception Fit for Royalty || The details at The Depot.
Honeyhill Weddings, Linen Effects, and Malana Sophia Floral all contributed to an absolutely show-stopping reception space at The Depot. The warmth of the tones added to the inviting feel while the candlelight and soft pinks of the florals captured that cozy ambience for a November wedding. This was the type of reception space that you dream about and it was a joy to document it before the night continued.
Cocktail Hour || Drinks, formal wear, and candlelight.
We spent most of cocktail hour taking formal portraits outside of the Aster Cafe and riding around on the trolley, but we managed to make it back for the last twenty minutes or so. The bride and groom tucked away into a private room for a moment to breathe and take in the quiet while the rest of us joined the guests outside the Great Hall for drinks and shared stories.
Dinner, Toasts, and Notre Dame Football || The beginning of the reception.
Cassie and Jack had a seated, plated dinner served in multiple courses followed by toasts from their respective fathers. In the background, many of the guests had the Notre Dame football game playing silently on their phones, subtly keeping tabs on the score while they listened to the kind words and well wishes. Cassie and Jack finished with a few gracious words of their own before moving to the dance floor for their first dance as husband and wife.
A Whirl of Music and Joy || The dances and more.
The rest of the night unfolded easily. The Burkes shared their first dances with each other and their respective parents, they cut their cake and shared a slice, Cassie decided to cut the sleeves from her dress to have an easier time dancing, and they partied for hours on the dance floor with their people. The Riverside Hitmen was their live band for the evening and perfectly paced the party and matched the feel of the room.
I was able to take a step back during my final hour documenting this day and soak it all in. Cassie and Jack were lost in each other's eyes as they swayed, some of the groomsmen had started to loosen up their apparel, uncles and aunts had found quiet corners of the room to reflect on old times, pairs of high heels were scattered all over, spotlights flickered between dancing guests and lit up the Great Hall. Everything told one consistent story: true joy. It left me with the most effusive smile. The whole day was a privilege to play a role in, but Cassie, Jack, and their people were truly a honor to meet. Cheers to the Burkes, forever and ever.
