Nicollet Island Where Anna Weds Tim

I've been gushing about Anna + Tim's wedding for months now. Not because of the food (though I always give three cheers to Mintahoe) and not because of the decor (although Kim with Artemisia knows how much I like her moss runners). No, I've been telling anyone who'll listen about their wedding all because I liked it.

Once again, I'm going to tell you, your wedding should be about YOU. It should include elements you appreciate, people you love, and the things that you want to do. Anna + Tim did this to a T.

It all started TWO DAYS before their wedding, which was on a Sunday. Twin's game Friday; Vertical Endeavors + Groom's dinner at Town Hall Brewery on Saturday. Because family came in from out of town and because they had been to Vertical Endeavors often as a couple.

NO BRIDAL PARTY

You read right, they had no bridal party. I mean, they had no one standing up with them and their officiant during their ceremony. They did have people that were important to them (close family) that walked down the aisle during the processional, but they sat down. Center stage was just Anna and Tim and Jay (their officiant). Funny, I have a wedding coming up with a different Jay officiant. Someone should do a poll on how likely you are to be asked to officiate your friends wedding based on your name...

Back up a bit, no bridal party means that when Anna was getting ready, it was intimate, which is perfect for the Nicollet Island Inn bridal suite. Actually most bridal suites aren't expansive rooms. They are meant to be cozy, to induce a sense of calm, to encourage you to focus on the task at hand: getting ready to get married.

Ordinarily, I list 6 things we can learn from the couple in each of my couple blog posts. But Anna + Tim did things SO right. They had family drop off decor, which I set up. They hired the florist to set up and come back late night for take down. They relaxed on the day of, and it was the most chill I've ever seen a wedding. EVER. Instead of things we can learn, I need to tell you 6 of my favorite parts of their wedding. NEED.

6 THINGS I LOVE ABOUT ANNA + TIM'S WEDDING

1. Anna had been in a bluegrass band in college, The Dusty Porch Sisters, she had that band play their ceremony music and the first dance. They play Prince, I Would Die for You, as Anna walked down the aisle escorted by her mother and her father. DIE.
   

2. They took a moment, in their ceremony, to recognize the persons in this world, on this earth, who've come before us. Who've made it possible for us to be alive, to love and to get married. They named the river, as it was once called, and really put the day into perspective. Josey likes this kind of stuff. #hahawakpa
   

3. They did not have prayers or a blessing. Instead, two readings, one which included the BEST message. "I love you and I like you". Seriously I die. I can't stress enough how important I think (and my husband wholeheartedly agrees) it is to LIKE one another. To not just be in love but to be best friends. To want to spend time together, to want to be by each other's side, in sickness and in health, 'til death do you part. #allielliuia #devilinthewhitecity
   

4. Instead of waiting to have a first dance, Anna + Tim did it right as they were announced for the grand march. FYI: Technically the grand march need not be any one other than the happy newlyweds. They marched right onto the dance floor and hopped right into their first dance. Which everyone watched and clapped along for, and then they invited guests to the dance floor for a song or two (and yes Anna sang along for one of them. REVIVAL). I heavily encouraged guests to get on the dance floor, they happily acquiesced (for the first dance lol. HUNGER).
   
   They later had an official first dance, yes it was to Prince, yes it was Nothing Compares to You with Sinéad O'Connor. I DIE.
   

5. Head table included family, I love this, but not just adults, family and their children. Take a peek at the layout here. This sheet is IMPERATIVE when you are not the one setting up the head table. And you are not going to be the one setting up the head table, say it with me, 'I am not going to be the one setting up the head table, I will give this information to my planner or the caterer or not me.'
   

6. The dance included moments with instructions like these on the timeline:
   
   "Steve announces the tarantella! (Check out the youtube clip i sent you)

   Steve invites everyone to the dance floor to make a circle around anna & tim - gives instructions on how to do the tarantella - anna & tim spin around in the middle, everyone else joins hands and dances in a circe.
   
   Steve tells them when to change directions, everyone laughs, goes faster & faster!"
   
   P.S. Steve was the DJ.

VIEW THEIR IMAGES:

CHECK OUT THEIR VENDORS:

Beauty // Primped | Bridal Ready Room // Nicollet Island Inn | Cake // Buttercream | Floral // Artemisia  | Photography // Russell Heeter | Venue // Nicollet Island Pavilion | Wedding Dress // Bridal Reflections of Massapequa | Wedding Planner // Sixpence Events and Planning 

Prosperity, Love & Happiness,
Josey

P.S. we did learn that if you do not bustle your dress, it will rip, but don't worry, there's a Leatherman in my fanny. #thingsJoseysays #youdknowwhatimeanifyouhiredme