Melissa and Murphy

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Photography | Eileen K Photography | @eileenkphoto

Venue | Private Residence

Floral | Martha’s Gardens | @marthasgardens

From the Photographer

Due to Covid-19 Melissa & Murphy rescheduled the big wedding celebration they were planning for to 2021 but still were married on their original date, 6.6.20. The couple celebrated with a small group of family & friends at their home in NE Minneapolis. My favorite thing about photographing smaller, intimate weddings is being able to see the emotions from every single person witnessing the couples marriage. During their ceremony Melissa and Murphy wrote their own personal vows to each other which was so sweet! Following the ceremony I did some photos with the couple around their NE Minneapolis neighborhood and even got a few with their adorable cat! Their family and friends celebrated with them in their back yard and the day was nothing short of perfect!

Tell us about your wedding! What was the inspiration behind your day? Did you have a specific theme, style or color palette?

We approached our wedding as one big party. It’s one of few instances where we get everyone we love in one room to celebrate. Our wedding ended up being a much smaller party, but it was still very fun and filled with a lot of love and joy.

Let’s talk wedding decor. How did you decorate your space for the ceremony and the reception?

Our wedding decor was minimal. We decorated with little touches around the backyard. We put up a small “happily ever after” sign in our garage and put metal hearts on our chicken coop. With the help of our families, we made the most of our small space. One our favorite decor elements was our wedding arch. We always envisioned sharing our vows in front of one. We love how it looked in photos. Also, it’s a super special decor piece because Murphy built it!

What were the florals like in your wedding? Did you use flowers in any of your design elements like the bridal bouquets, centerpieces or ceremony backdrop? Did they play an important part in the overall style of your wedding?

When we pivoted to a small backyard wedding we weren’t sure if we’d even have flowers. However, my (Melissa’s) mom was extremely helpful and found a local florist who was eager to help us out! She put together some lovely floral arrangements which included lots of greenery and white flowers. The florals included white peonies which are one of my favorites! We’re so happy with the flowers and are very grateful they were apart of our wedding. They looked fantastic in pictures!

Did you personalize the day in any way (food trucks, guest entertainment etc.)? What were some of your favorite parts of your wedding?

It feels like our entire wedding was personalized. The day was really a byproduct of us and our family. We made our own food, had our favorite beers, served our favorite local donuts, got married by a close friend from college, took pictures with our cat and the list could go on. Our wedding felt very familiar and very us.

Let’s talk fashion. How did you both choose your wedding day look? Describe the looks in detail.

I (Melissa) got my dress at Angelique’s Bridal in Blaine. It was actually the first dress I tried on. The dress is simple and classic while still feeling very youthful. We were torn over what color Murphy should wear for the wedding. He couldn’t decide if he should wear grey or navy. Ultimately, Murphy decided on navy and it was a great choice!

How did you meet? Tell us about the proposal.

We met on the swim team while attending St. Cloud State University. We dated for 7 years before getting engaged. We got engaged at the Japanese Gardens during a trip in Portland, OR.

What was the most anticipated or special moment of your wedding day?

The best moment was exchanging our vows. We were both nervous to write our own vows. The thought of sharing our vows in front of 200 people was terrifying. However, once our wedding was downsized, we felt more confident sharing our vows in front of a small group of people. It was a very special and intimate moment shared with the people we love most.

Do you have any wedding planning or marriage advice that you’d like to share with other couples planning their day?

Guests don’t remember many details about your wedding. I would try not to focus on pieces that, in the big picture, don’t really matter. I’ve been to a ton a weddings and I couldn’t tell you much about the centerpieces, programs, decor, invitations, etc. Guests member if the music was good, they had fun dancing, and they enjoyed the party. Focus on that.