lasting impressions weddings is an award-winning minnesota wedding planning and design company

When I originally received the email from Lauren and Jonathan asking if I would be interested in helping with their Lake Minnetonka Island Wedding the only thing I could think of was.. YES.. OF COURSE!!! If you know me, you know that I love the water… and we have a boat on Lake Minnetonka and I spend every minute that I am not at a wedding.. either in the water or on the water!!

Lauren and Jonathan lived in California and were planning this celebration remotely, which is an undertaking even when you are not creating a venue on an island. They were organized and throughout the whole planning had the best perspective on everything!! The wide range of challenges you can run into while planning a backyard wedding are long. Everything from bugs, Heat, Rain, Transportation, Bathrooms, etc, etc. But even with the wide range of challenges.. backyard weddings are always my favorite types of events; Because there is nothing more special than getting married in a place that means so much to you!

The Lake Minnetonka island has been in Lauren’s family for generations and it was her special sanctuary that always seems to lead her back to Minnesota summer after summer. Lauren is a teacher and spent most of her breaks in Minnesota… at the lake.. planning the wedding!! We had numerous conversations about how to get guests out to the lake, Plan A, B and C for the weather, where vendors were going to park, how catering was going to load in and out… and after 18 months of planning.. It was their wedding day!!!!

The wedding day was exactly how I pictured it; One Hundred of Lauren and Jonathan’s best friends and family celebrating love , life and the lake that meant so much to them!!!  Thank you to all of the vendors that helped make this day possible…. There were hundreds of logistics emails, reminders and follow-ups and we were lucky to have such an amazing group working on this!!! And Like Always.. Joe and Jen Photography captured the day so perfectly!!!!

Vendors:

Wedding Coordinator: Lasting Impressions Weddings

DJ Instant Request

Photography – Joe and Jen Photography

Ceremony and Reception Site-Private Residence

Floral – Bachmans

Rental Items – Lake Minnetonka Party Rentals

Cake – Muddy Paws Cheesecake Company

Caterer- Fork & Flair

Boat Transportation for Guests – Lady of the Lake

Bus Transportation- Northfield Lines

Bartender – With a Twist

 

 

 

Like so many other Minnesotan’s “Going Up North” is not just a fun summer vacation, but it is really an escape from the hustle and bustle of life. That is exactly what Erin and Ross’s wedding felt like to me! Even though out of town weddings pose a lot of additional challenges for wedding vendors, I jumped at the chance to be apart of Erin and Ross’s intimate wedding celebration at Madden’s on Gull Lake.

Erin’s family has had a cabin on Gull Lake all of her life and she really wanted to share the love of the lake with all of her guests. Erin and Ross were also traveling for this destination wedding from Texas, so most of our planning was done in marathon planning sessions and lots and lots of emails 🙂

Their wedding day was one of the most beautiful days of the summer and with the help of all of our amazing vendors that traveled many miles to help with this wedding…It was a picture perfect day on the lake!!!!

Vendors:

Wedding Coordinator Lasting Impressions Weddings

Venue  – Madden’s on Gull Lake

Photography- Graddy Photography

Videography – Landon Oldenburger

DJ – Instant Request DJ

Ceremony Musicians – Billy Mclauglin

Floral – Sadie’s Couture Flowers and Events

Rental Items – Apres Party and Tent Rental

Photobooth – The Traveling Photobooth

Hair and Makeup – Brett Dorrian Artistry Studios

Stationery  – Paper Rock Scissors

Dress- l’atelier couture

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Vendors:

Wedding Coordinator: Lasting Impressions Weddings

Ceremony and Reception: Private Residence

Ceremony and Reception Musicians: Adagio Djay Entertainment

Photography: Geneoh

Photo booth : Clix

Floral : Zinnia Design Floral

Cake : Sweet Mandy B’s

Rental Items : Ultimate Events

Makeup : Bri Standa

Hair : Ashley Richards

Catering : Common Roots Catering

Officiant : Pastor John Rogers

Transportation : Lorenz Bus Service Inc.

WOW…. 3 months later and I am still in awe of Marissa and Derek’s wedding. Not only was the weather picture perfect.. but everything just really came together.
There was “cueing” the wedding processional from two different boats, there was sparklers in champagne and then there was a surprise fireworks show. All of these elements on their own could have created some planning issues.. but then add in the fact that the weather was outside.. In August… and we could have had some really crazy wedding elements.. and that could have created a disaster!!
But like all wonderfully planned weddings with great vendors.. This wedding went off without a hitch and I was honored to be apart of it!! Marissa and Derek live in San Francisco.. so we planned this wedding on a few “whirlwind planning trips” with the bride and groom and the tireless planning of the mother of the bride, Jean!! God Bless this amazing mother….. I can only imagine the amount of time she poured into this wedding and I know that based on these photos.. she has something to be very proud of!!

Marissa and Derek’s love was very infectious and I had so much fun coming to the lake everytime they were home.. to talk through ideas and logistics and to get to know them as a couple!!!! Congratulations you guys!! I hope that you are enjoying newlywed bliss… and I am sure you are already planning your next big adventure 🙂

Vendors:
Wedding Coordination- Lasting Impressions Weddings
Photography – Janelle Elise Photography
Ceremony and Reception Venue- Private Home
Caterer-         Damico Catering
Cake – Nadias Cakes
Ceremony Musicians- Lake String Quartet
DJ – Instant Request
Floral- Sadie’s Couture Flowers and Events
Hair and Makeup – Laura Jenkins
Hair and Makeup – Emily J
Rental Items – Tent, Tables and Chairs – Apres Party Rental
Chargers – Festivities
Linens – Linen Effects
Stationery – A Milestone Paper
Dress- Bridal Accents Couture
Photobooth- Traveling Photobooth
Transportation – Renees Royal Valet
Videography – Virtuoso Video
Fireworks – Pyrotchnic Display

If you have been paying attention to our Instagram or Facebook pages you can see that we were really busy this past weekend with a beautiful Lake Minnetonka Wedding!! As a sneek peak the wonderful Janelle Elise Photography sent me some images to share!! It was a beautiful day celebrating this fantastic couple and family!!

A wedding takes a combination of vendors to make it successful.. a backyard tent wedding takes an ARMY of dedicated vendors to make it special… and this one was no exception. I saw Katiee (my Apres Sales Representative) Out at the tent location last week every single one of the 4 days that the tent was getting put up… that is dedication!!

More to come!!

Monica and Brendan are not only one of the sweetest couples you could meet.. They also have a great love story!! Monica lives in Central MN (In the Willmar area!) Brendan is from Tennessee and was living in Vegas at the time he met Monica. They were both in California for a friends wedding, happened to meet, hit it off and start a long distance relationship…. Fast forward a few years and Monica was able to get Brendan to move to this frozen tundra we call Minnesota so that they could be together!! If that is not fate and good timing, I am not sure what is!!!
The minute you meet Monica you realize exactly why Brendan would move across the country.. She is so sweet, thoughtful and has the most adorable little girl ever!!!

It was an honor to be apart of their big day and the planning process.. and It was so much fun to get to go to a location that I have never been (I cant wait to go back to Green Lake!!) And help design a wedding that was exactly what they wanted!!!!
Lots of Love Monica and Brendan.. I hope you get to enjoy some sunshine and beaches soon!!!

Vendors:
Wedding Coordinator and Chair Covers: Lasting Impressions Weddings
Ceremony Site: Our Lady of the Lakes
Reception Site: O’ Neils On Green Lake
Cocktail Hour Musicians: Dave Hudson
Photography: Ash and James Photography
Videography: Storyteller Videography
Floral: Stacy’s Nursery
DJ , Photobooth and Lighting: Studio Veil
Rental Items:Apres Party
Dessert: Cocoa & Fig