Surrender {by Louisa}

Winter in Minnesota is cold. It's cold and windy and (often but not always) covered in snow. But winter in Minnesota? It can be breathtakingly beautiful too. If you surrender to the cold and the damp and the wind you can get portraits more beautiful than you ever imagined. Of course it helps if your model is the gorgeous and easy-going Lauren Beuckman and the florals and styling are the brainchild of Jackie from Munster Rose. The moral of the story? Don't let a few chills slow you down...just surrender.

presents! {by Leslie}

Last weekend I shot one of the "wedding parties" over at Crate and Barrel. The store opens up to registered couples during the morning on Sunday (while the store is closed to the public) and they have lots of staff there to answer questions about items you may want to register for (so what *is* the best coffee maker, anyway?). They also have all this great food to sample (like french toast! and espresso! and cupcakes!) and several vendors there to answer questions. Including us from Rivets and Roses to take free portraits. Anyway, below are some of the photos of the event, in case any of you were thinking of checking it out.

The Florist's "Superbowl" day {by Leslie}

Well, I went back to Spruce during the lunch hour on Valentine's day, and man-oh-man were they swamped! Surprisingly, there weren't lines of men at the counter as I had imagined (there were a few, but not hoards), but the store was overwhelmed with getting all of the deliveries out for the day -- which makes sense now that I think about it. I had never pondered the coordination of sending out orders by a) time needed and b) geographic location and the puzzle that may be! Amy, the owner, explained that the lines of men I was expecting would probably arrive around 4:30 as they tend to pick up flowers after work. I wish I could have gone back to the store then to shoot that, but my own man had a Valentine's dinner surprise for me, so I didn't make it back. Below are the photos I got during the lunch hour though. Man, what a lovely shop!

Love is Watching Someone Die {by Marc James}

I know with a title like that you may be wondering what this post is even going to be about and why am I posting it on Valentines Day. Well a week ago I had the pleasure of shooting a Celebration of Life party for Marylou Kenrick. Marylou was 68 years old and for the past 2 years she had been courageously battling cancer. I was lucky enough to be with her friends and family as they gathered in Stillwater, MN to celebrate the wonderful life she had lead. The day was filled with tears of joy and pain alike, and though it was clear the Mary Lou only had so much time left, it was apparent the impact that she made on everyone's life. 4 Days ago around midnight Marylou took her final breathe with her family by her side, so this is for you Marylou, we all love you

Valentine's day prep {by Leslie}

I've always wanted to do a photo essay on a local florist getting ready for the boom that is Valentine's day, so I called up Amy over at Spruce this year. I love this flower shop — the design of  the store is impeccable, as is all of the logo work and even the address numbers above the door. As a designer, I really appreciate these small details. But what I love most about her shop (besides the scent) is all of the air plants and succulents she offers. I've never been much of a flower girl, but I love a good arrangement/bouquet that is made up of more unusual things such as artichokes, kale, air plants and succulents. So Spruce was the perfect match for me!

Below are images from the staff getting the shop ready today. I also got to eavesdrop as Amy was doing a wedding consultation, and ladies? This woman knows her stuff. If you're looking for a florist with a unique eye, check this shop out.

A Brief Introduction to the Man of R&R (by Marc James)

When I first was presented with an opportunity to shoot for Rivets and Roses I was both excited and a bit nervous. I had never seen myself as a wedding photographer and frankly was not exactly interested in it. I got my start as a photographer shooting concerts in the Minneapolis area and from there with my background in design began working with musicians on album design/photography, promotional material, etc and that is something I will always do, but I yearned for more. I truly enjoy documenting the events of the night at a said concert but to me there wasn't enough substance or emotion. I always left satisfied but I felt I was in need of documenting something with a bit more depth.

When I first met Eliesa I expressed my concern that I had been told that a wedding photographer could not be considered an artist but the more I became familiar with her work I began to realize that this is far from the truth. Through Rivets and Roses I have been given the oppertunity to not only retain my artistry but to document the most important time in someones life. I have always been afraid of creating something 'conventional' or 'boring' and now that I have found Rivets and Roses I know that this is something I will never be. I don't strive to be an average photographer, I will always strive to be something more and I am so excited to bring my unique vision to lives of the people I work with.

Now another thing I wanted to touch on briefly was what I am looking to accomplish in the wedding world. As you can tell already I am staying away from the conventional. I am looking to carve a new path in this world and I am excited to see who will go there with me. This is my opportunity to basically define a new style in wedding photography while creating images that will truly last froever for each and every couple I work with.

I am more than excited to continue to share my vision with you and I hope that we may get the chance to work together in the future. I am not just looking to be there on the day of your wedding with my camera in hand, I want your experience with me to be more than that. I am not just a photographer, I am an artist, and through Rivets and Roses I have been given the oppurtunity to let my work carry over into the wedding world.

So here goes nothing.

m.james

2012 Rivets & Roses Wedding Photography Giveaway!

[quote]I'd love to work with a couple who is ridiculously in love, has a great sense of style & a passion for art & beauty. Whether it be a large wedding in an extravagant location or a small intimate ceremony in a backyard, I'd love to photograph a wedding with unique details. Above all else, I am very much looking forward to working with a genuine, fun loving couple on the most important day of their life![/quote]

Click here to view Natalie's Portfolio!

Want to send your nomination to Natalie? E-mail her [at] natalie@rivetsandroses.com

[quote]My biggest goal this year is to work with more clients who have little, tiny weddings. I love the fanfare and hoopla of a a day with 200 guests, but this year I also want to challenge myself to photograph events with 50 attendees or less. I'd love to give away a wedding shoot to you if you're having a backyard ceremony, a potluck wedding dinner, if you're eloping to a far-off destination or if you just want to have a low-key day. I can't wait to meet you and hear your stories and find the perfect wedding giveaway couple![/quote]

Click here to view Louisa's Portfolio!

Want to send your nomination to Louisa? E-mail her [at] louisa@rivetsandroses.com

[quote]Hello world, I'm Marc. I'm the man of the Rivets and Roses team and I'm looking for a couple that has some true style and swagger. I'm a newer photographer to the wedding scene, so my ideal client is someone with a big personality who is willing to run with all of my creative ideas and think outside the box.[/quote]

Click here to view Marc's Portfolio!

Want to send your nomination to Marc? E-mail him [at] marc@rivetsandroses.com

[quote]I'm thrilled to be giving back to others as I feel I have received so much from so many good people in my life!  I really enjoy getting to know the couples that I photograph and know their love story so I can connect with them.  I'm inspired by artful, creative people who like to do things a little bit different and if photography is important to you then I could be your photographer![/quote]

Click here to view Desiree's Portfolio!

Want to send your nomination to Desiree? E-mail her [at] desiree@rivetsandroses.com

[quote]I love live music, dogs and living in Minnesota. I could talk your ear off about the local music scene, horrible sci-fi movies and the latest recipe I have fallen in love with. If you are looking for a photographer to make your big day even more "fairytale" like, I might not be it. But if you want to have a lot of laughs along the way and photos in the end that are beautiful, creative and have an edge to them, I'm the perfect fit. I want to document your day as it happens from a journalist's point of view, catching all the important details of your big day. [/quote]

Click here to view Leslie's Portfolio!

Want to send your nomination to Leslie? E-mail her [at] leslie@rivetsandroses.com

 All nominations must be submitted to the photographer of your choice by Friday, February 17th! Once we receive all of the nominations, we will narrow them down to the Top 3 couples per photographer. From there, we will post the candidate's stories on the blog for YOU, the public to vote and choose the winning couple who you think deserves our mad skills! We are accepting nominations from all around the world, travel fees may apply.

Happy Nominating!

- Team Rivets and Roses

Germany in an Instagram! {by Desiree}

Hey friends! I'm out of the country visiting my twin sister Kelly in Germany.  YAY!!!  It's been slightly chilly but completely FANTASTIC.  Does it get better than fairy tale castles, German beer, large hunks of pork, and medieval chastity belts?  I'm not sure...but I am heading to PARIS next and I have a good feeling about it.  :)  I'll be spreading the Rivets and Roses love ALL around the world! Here are a few shots I've taken with my iPhone using Instagram.  Most of the images I took yesterday in Rothenburg and the Bavarian part of Germany...and the infamous Neuschwanstein!   I carry my big Canon with my most places when I travel, but sometimes it's nice just to snap a quick shot with my iPhone so I can share it almost instantly.  Find and follow me on Instagram or my more personal Facebook photography page.  ---->  Onward to Prague for a day trip then France and Norway. Have any tips? : )  CHEERS.

No winter blues here (by Louisa)

This is Jackie. Jackie is not only drop-dead beautiful, but she is also the talent behind one of my favorite florists of all time, Munster Rose. Jackie and I have a little collaboration that we're working on at sunrise tomorrow and I can't wait to show it to you. Stay tuned for a sneak peek of her amazing work!

a little rock'n'roll {by Leslie}

So January is a pretty slow month for weddings, but it allows me to shoot my *other* passion: local music. Lucky for me, the dead of winter is when a lot of new, local bands start playing more frequently since the larger touring bands are avoiding our frozen tundra like the plague. It's pretty rare for a concert photographer to also love shooting weddings, but I think it's because my real passion lies in capturing emotion and mood -- and both weddings and performances afford me this opportunity many times over. These photos are from the Current's birthday party on Saturday night at First Avenue. That evening featured music from Haley Bonar, Sims, the Suicide Commandos and Poliça. Sims and Poliça are among my faves, so that was super fun!

To Have and to Hold (by Louisa)

On this grey February day I just wanted to share a few lovely bouquets from last year. Enjoy!

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summertime wedding {by natalie}

This winter has been so brown! Oh how I've been yearning for a little color! While it's nice to have a little snow now to freshen everything up, I still long for green & gold summer days & purple & blue sunsets...which made me think of this pretty little wedding I photographed! Ben & Megan were married in the month of June at a friends house. Personally, one of my favorite parts of their day was stealing them away to get photographs of the two of them alone...such an amazing couple & such a perfect summer day! ciao!

High School Sweethearts {by Desiree}

These two started dating when they were in 11th GRADE.  Through it all - college, long distance dating, and more they stayed strong.  They're also two of the coolest cats in town.  They were married in the beautiful big church at St. Kates here in St.Paul.   It was an ABSOLUTE BLAST photographing their wedding here in the Twin Cities. Cheers!

A Tale of Two Dresses (by Louisa)

Sam and John. John and Sam. Sweeties for the past six years, when both of them were even younger youngsters than they are now. They got married at the beautiful Trellis Center in Stillwater, Minnesota and I was overjoyed at all of the pretty things that they made for their wedding day. Sam loves beautiful things so much that she had not one, but two dresses! One of the best moments of the day was when Sam walked down the aisle in her long, GORGEOUS formal dress. John had no idea that dress #2 existed and the expression on his face was priceless. It goes without saying that I wish these two all the best and I can't wait to see what's next for them.

FOUND // EVENT {by Leslie}

So! Did you make it to the Found Event? Wow, was that a great time or what!? I don't know about you guys, but I met a ton of great people that night. And man, anybody else still feeling guilty about all those delicious treats from Cocoa & Fig? Here are some photos from the evening.

FOUND // The Art of Wedding

What an amazing evening! More images from last night's FOUND // The Art of Wedding coming soon!

An Island Wedding (by Desiree)

Prince Edward Island to be exact! The adorable little Island in Canada where Anne of Green Gabels comes from. : ) I can't tell you how fabulous it is to see two people SO IN LOVE and two people who make each other the best person they can be. Rachel and Matt are these people. I was correct in expecting a lot of tears at this wedding...tears of JOY of course...but yes, they did last about all day. (That's 'about' with a Canadian accent.) Their love overflows and reaches everyone they know and meet. It was very clear how incredible these two are and how awesome their families are. Twin sister Kelly and I jammed all my gear into her Honda and we drove from Washington D.C. to Prince Edward Island. We spent an incredible 3 days at a beautiful home on the red sand beaches. Let me tell you, Island life is freeeeking shweet. Thank you to both the Cutcliffe and Harper families! You made us feel like family. : )

winter wedding

Well hello there! I just wrapped up this December wedding, which was fun because the light and accessories are so different in these colder months (hello fur wraps!), but sadly it did not snow. I dream of the wedding that is surrounded by large, fluffy snow-globesque flakes. But I guess I'll have to wait another year for that one. Anyway, Katie and Nate were married at Bethlehem Lutheran Church with their reception at Silverlake nature center. Both were gorgeous venues and it was an amazing day. {Leslie}

Thomas Fox {a homespun vintage wedding}

This wedding was an especially special wedding for me to photograph...Mary is an actor {who has traveled the world, moving back to the twin cities to both direct & act} & Blake is a musician {who captivates his audiences with his guitar & "honey-wiskey" voice}. Mary is my sister-in-law & Blake is her husband. This entire day was completely Mary & Blake. From grandpa's suit & a wedding dress worn by two aunts & her mother, vintage wine glasses found at thrift stores & china borrowed from friends...to the all organic feast & home baked pies...everything that Mary & Blake are, everything that they believe in, was reflected in every last detail of their wedding day. Congratulations to two of the most amazing people I know! {x! ciao! natalie}  

FOUND Event // January 20th - You're Invited!

 

Rivets & Roses will be hosting a fabulous fine art event called FOUND // The Art of Wedding on Friday, January 20th! Stop by to see some amazing art installations, as well as meet all of our new photographers! Minnesota Bride will be there, giving away copies of the newest issue and the first 75 guests to arrive will leave with some sweet swag!

For more information, please visit FOUNDEVENT.COM and follow the event on twitter @FOUNDEvent. Hope to see you there!