Historic venues are such a special choice for a wedding. For today’s couple, the historic courthouse in Stillwater, Minnesota served as a beautiful backdrop as the said their vows on the courthouse steps: “We knew that we wanted to get married in Stillwater, Minnesota. It is a beautiful city on the St. Croix River. Charley also grew up in Stillwater and it was not a far distance for Shelby’s family to travel. We chose the Historic Courthouse because of its amazing architecture, history, and natural beauty.”

Says the bride, “I absolutely love vintage scarves and inherited a beautiful collection of them from my grandmother. Because of this, I wanted to incorporate colorful scarves into the day. With the help of a friend, I collected scarves that we found at vintage stores throughout our engagement. Our florist was able to tie the scarves to the bouquets! Each of the scarves was given to the bridesmaid after the wedding as an additional thank you for being a part of our wedding. I also had a beautiful charm with a photograph of my grandparents from the 1940s on my bouquet.”

The Minnesota-shaped ring pillow is possibly my favorite details from this wedding. So fun!

“It is hard to pick just one favorite moment, but one point that I vividly remember is the moment after our first kiss as a married couple. Charley and I looked at each other during this moment and it was truly real- we were married! Luckily, Laura was able to capture this moment on camera perfectly. I love that image!”

SEE THE FULL GALLERY FOR MORE SWEET DETAILS FROM THIS MINNESOTA WEDDING.

 

What inspired you when you were planning your wedding?  The beauty of the Historic Courthouse was really the focal point of our wedding. We tried to have a vintage and classic theme throughout the wedding. We also really wanted people to be well fed and have a great time celebrating with us.

Did you include any traditions in your wedding?  Both of our mothers gave readings during the ceremony. That was something that was really special to both of us. Charley’s family is also Scottish, so a family friend read a letter welcoming me to the family from Lord Elgin of Scotland. After this letter was read, the Tartan pinning ceremony took place. Charley’s family tartan was pinned on me, welcoming me to his family. The tartan was also pinned on Charley.

What was the best advice you received as a bride?  It sounds cliche, but the best advice I received as a bride was to truly take everything in. The day goes by so incredibly fast that it’s important to be intentional about truly being in the moment.

What advice do you have for other brides?  Hire a day-of coordinator or have someone who can assist you with day-of tasks! Her assistance was completely invaluable to us. I would also echo the advice I received from so many other brides and tell other brides to truly take in the beauty and emotion of the day.

Is there anything else that helps tell the story of the day? Charley and I dated for 6 1/2 years prior to getting married. We were so excited to take this next step in our lives and we feel like we had the perfect day, surrounded by friends and family who flew in from all over the country to celebrate and support our marriage.

Photographer: Laura Ivanova / Venue: Washington County Historic Courthouse in Stillwater, Minnesota / Dress: Casablanca Bridal / Veil: Posh Bridal / Shoes: BCBG / Bridesmaid dresses: J.Crew / Stationery: Puddle Duck Paper / Catering: Brasa / Floral Designer: deBryun Designs / Cake: Cocoa and Fig / Minnesota Ring Pillow: Emily Steffen / Save-the-date: Katie Markquart