Kristin & Keaton’s incredible May wedding day arrived with perfect weather! I had been eagerly looking forward to this day since the day I met these two! They are kind, gentle souls and their wedding day reflected their love for their friends and family! After everyone arrived, the ladies started hair & makeup and the gentlemen started the day with gifts from Keaton! The entirety of their preparations, wedding, & reception happened at the stunning Abella Weddings & Events in Chisago City! This has quickly become one of my favorite venues!

The ladies had their hair & makeup done by the always talented Creative Beauté Agency and they all looked fabulous! We stepped out on the outside porch to do a few robe photos once everyone was finished! When we went back inside, Kristin opened her letter and gift from Keaton! He did such a great job on the letter and gave her a beautiful necklace from Shane Co.! Then Kristin’s sister helped her into her gorgeous dress from Raffiné Bridal! The lace on this dress was intricate and beautiful! Then the ladies put on their bridesmaids dresses from Birdy Grey! They all looked great with different styled dresses that all matched in color!

One thing I love about this venue is the getting ready spaces! The guys have a perfect, two story building to get ready in and the ladies have a beautiful house to get ready in. The buildings are offset just enough to create space where the bride and groom won’t run into each other before the first look, but close enough for me as a photographer to jump back and forth between the two! While the ladies finished getting ready, the guys all got in their dark grey suit’s from Milbern Clothing! Keaton looked so good and was so excited to see his bride! Just before the first look, he opened his letter and gift from Kristin! The letter was filled with meaning and honored his mother who has passed. Keaton’s mom loved bears so Kristin’s gift was a black bear pin that Keaton proudly wore on his lapel all day! Loved this!

First look time! The clouds came over perfectly for photos and we did the first look overlooking the beautiful farm property here at Abella! Kristin got close and we let Keaton know he could turn around and he was stunned! Love the emotions of this first look! You can see it all over their faces! <3 We then hit some favorite spots around the venue’s property and did couple’s photos and individual portraits! Then the wedding party joined us and we continued the party!!! Such a lovely group of friends and family in the wedding party! And how stunning are the boutonnieres & bouquets from Florals by Claire?! She always does amazing work! As the wind picked up a little bit, we did family photos behind one of the beautiful barns! Then before getting the couple tucked away, we did the couple’s love lock! When you get married at Abella, each couple gets an engraved love lock to lock on their gate! And just before the guests started arriving, the venue owner pulled the trolley out in preparations for guest transportation! She allowed us to get a few photos with the trolley and it was so much fun!

Once guests started arriving, the trolley took guests out to the outdoor ceremony space among the weeping willows! Such a perfect setting! Trustworthy Music DJ did a great job with the ceremony sound! Kristin & Keaton exchanged vows & rings, did their unity sand, and were pronounced husband & wife! When they walked out of their ceremony, guests blew bubbles and created a true fairy-tale moment! Absolutely love how Keaton was so excited he skipped down the aisle!

Guests then enjoyed a cocktail hour with drinks and apps out on the patio before coming in for the reception! Love the white, classy look inside Abella’s reception barn! Look at all the little details! After guests were seated, the wedding party were announced in and the couple followed! Their reception followed with an amazing dinner by Chef Jeff Catering, speeches by loved ones (where Kristin’s dad gave Keaton hiking boots for their future adventures!), a cutting of the stylish cake by Something Sweet by Maddie Lu, and first dances! Just before I left, I took the couple out for a few night photos! A perfect ending to a perfect day!

Ceremony & Reception Venue: Abella Weddings & Events Farm
Hair & Make-up: Creative Beauté Agency
Florist: Florals by Claire
Invitations: Truly Engaging
DJ: Trustworthy Music DJ
Videographer: Monroe Film & Photo
Catering: Chef Jeff Catering
Bartender: One More Bartending Services
Cake: Something Sweet by Maddie Lu
Dress: Raffiné Bridal
Dress Alternations: Reyna’s Alterations
Bridesmaid’s Dresses: Birdy Grey
Suit: Milbern Clothing
Her Ring: Gold’n Treasures
His Ring: Gold’n Treasures