Real Weddings, Venues

Classic & Contemporary Wedding at Aria

Erin Olsen ·

It's no secret that I love my job. I could fumble around with the words to explain just what makes my work so rewarding, but why try words when a single photo can explain it all! The look on the Bride's face when she sees that her dream has become a reality is everything to me. I was so lucky to work with Kristen on her wedding and overjoyed that her photographer captured the moment she walked into her reception and saw all her decor and design had come together just as she dreamed.

First look at wedding reception decorations all put together and in place.

Ok, now sappy stuff aside let's dive into the epic details of this ridiculously beautiful wedding!

Want to make a statement? Try hanging SIX chandeliers over your head table, and voila, you have a head table set for royalty!

Six crystal chandeliers hung above the head table for elegance and great style.

Chandeliers were just the beginning, Kristen carried her classic contemporary look throughout her reception. The tables were draped with black and white stripe runners and decked out with gorgeous white floral a top gold risers and surrounded by glistening gold mercury glass.

Table decor including flowers, candles and a back and white stripe table runner.
Wedding reception table decorations include gold chargers, black and white striped table runner, gold candles for an accent and beautiful flower arrangements as the focal point.

Kristen wanted to make a statement with her bar. We strung cafe lights 30ft down from the catwalks to create a backdrop for her bar.

Cafe lights strung down a beautiful brick wall with the accompaniment of a few crystal chandeliers.
Tall flower candlesticks are displayed with gold candle mercury glass votives on top of a classy table runner.

Pearls were a part of Kristen's design as well; they were scattered throughout the reception. Strands of pearls were swaged across the bride and groom's chairs and could be found dripping from the canopy of greenery centerpiece on the head table.

Great idea for chair backs is putting a table runner through the back to give it an elegant feel along with some added beads.
Wedding reception with gorgeous lighting from chandeliers, added garland for the head table and flowers that stand above all.
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First dance as husband and wife on a stage with the glow of chandeliers and stunning decorations.

This photo has nothing to do with decor, but it needed to be shared. Look at the love between Kristen and her wedding planner, Casey! Casey did an impeccable job pulling off Kristen's wedding.

The love between the bride and a wedding planner as the day came together to be beautiful.

Linens, Chargers, & Lighting: We've Got It Covered

Venue: Aria

Coordinator: Belle Noelle

Floral: Studio C Floral

Inspiration

15 Ways to Dress a Farm Table

Erin Olsen ·

15 ways to dress a farm table to make it uniquely yours.

  1. A pop of color. Include a pop of color. The color could be subtle, or bold like this royal blue wedding. Use napkins or table runners to introduce the color, this way the farm table still shows off. Shown here is our royal blue taffeta sash and royal blue polyester dinner napkin.

Head table with satin sashes tied in a bow and wood slice centerpieces with flowers.

2. Soft and Romantic. Use flowing fabric to soften the hardwood look of the table. Don't be afraid to go a little girly and use pink! Shown here is our ivory arbor draping, pink chiffon with ruffles chair covers, and chiffon table runner.

Outdoor arbor with draping and pink ruffle chair backs

3. Keep it simple and subtle. Use a neutral table runner and simple wildflowers to create a soft look. Shown here are our white rosette table runner, silver chargers, and glass cylinder vases.

Simple farm table with white rosette runners and wildflowers.

4. Lanterns. There are so many ways to style a lantern, fill with a candle or three, add floral or greenery. The beauty of using a lantern is that they look lovely during the day and evening. Shown here are our white lanterns, champagne chair sashes, ice chiavari chairs, gold chargers, wood floral boxes, and pink matte satin napkins.

5. Chair Options. Swap out the venue's chair for something unique to you. Whether it be a rustic farm chair, upholstered chair, or chiavari chair.

Farm table with unique chairs surrounding the table, and garland and lighthouses for the centerpiece.

6. Lighting surrounding the table. While lighting on the table is important, lighting surrounding the table is key too. Use lighting on the wall, or ceiling around the farm table to make it the focal point of the room. Shown here are our ivory chiffon with ruffle chair covers and cafe lights.

Cafe lights hung around the head table to give it a glow in the background at a Minnesota venue.

7. Greenery Garland. Let the greenery be the highlight. Add some floral for a pop of color and include a chiffon runner for a polished look. Shown here is our chiffon table runner.

8. Candlesticks. Use candlesticks along or with floral mixed in. Shown here are our mercury glass candlesticks.

Farm table that has candlesticks and floral mixed in for an extra rustic appeal.

9. Lace. You can never have too much lace. With so many varieties of lace available, you are sure to find one that fits your style. The lace could be a table runner or overlay, or even a chair sash.Shown here is our Aubrey lace table runner and lace chair sash.

10. Details. Sprinkle some details throughout your tablescape to create a simply stunning table. Use custom paper products, a unique napkin fold, small bud vases, or add a floral stem to the napkin or chair. Shown here are our blush mercury glass candlesticks, mercury glass bud vases, gold charger, navy matte satin napkin, and mercury glass candlestick.

11. Chair Decor. What you put on the table is important, but so is what you put on the chair. Use fabric, chair covers, signs, or even floral to decorate your farm table chairs. Shown here are our pink chiffon with ruffle chair covers, eggplant satin sashes, and ivory chiffon chair backs.

12. Big floral. Use big floral pieces to accent your farm table. Height is great, especially in a venue with tall ceilings. Pro tip: be sure that tall centerpieces don't block your view when you and your guests are seated. Shown here are our eggplant chair sashes and Aubrey lace table runner.

13. Backdrop. Use a fabric backdrop to highlight your table or to hide an unsightly wall. Shown here is our taupe fabric backdrop, mercury glass candlesticks, matte satin eggplant napkins, mercury glass floral pedestal, and blush mercury glass candlesticks.

Farm table that has a beautiful taupe backdrop that make greenery and other decor stand out.

14. Table placement. Don't be afraid to think outside the box (or room in this case) and place your table somewhere other than in the front of the room. Your farm table can sit in the middle of the room, which is called harvest style, this way guests can sit all around you. Move your table to a space with better lighting or even bring your dinner outside!

15. When in doubt, add a horse! I find that horses make everything better!! Oh, and a full moon doesn't hurt either.

Inspiration

Legacy Hill Farm

Erin Olsen ·

Oh, how we love early mornings decorating weddings on the farm. But not just any farm, Legacy Hill Farm, to be specific.

Legacy is one of Minnesota's newest farm venues located in Red Wing, Minnesota. Legacy stands apart from other farm venues in many ways, it is the only farm venue that has a French country inspiration. You will find soft colored woods here, wide open airy spaces, quaint areas for getting ready and small touches of country chic glamour. Legacy Hill's vibe is very much soft, simple, elegant, warm and inviting. Just as sweet as the setting are the people that run it. The owners, Joan, Britni and their families run the farm and will make you feel at home. You couldn't ask for more loving, passionate people to be helping you with your big day.

Some other cool features at Legacy are a getting ready space for the groom and his guys, a fire pit, a bar underneath the barn open to the outside, twinkling lights in the trees and the single most beautiful farm ceremony site I have ever seen!

So, how do you decorate a place that is already SOOO beautiful? Here are some design ideas from We've Got It Covered that I think to enhance the beauty of Legacy Hill and make the venue uniquely yours.

Pavilion draping! The picture says it all......

Photography: Levi Hoffbeck

Photography: Levi Hoffbeck

Entrance draping. As you walk from your ceremony to your reception you will want to make a grand entrance. Draping the entryway into the pavilion makes a statement for you to greet your guests for the first time as a married couple!

Photography: Delight Photography

Photography: Delight Photography

Draping at your ceremony site. This is a place where you can decorate to make the site special to you. Some decor ideas include: draping on the ceremony arch, draping down the aisle, lanterns down the aisle, floral down the aisle or a chandelier hung on the ceremony arch.

Draping down the wedding ceremony isle and an arch that has a unique draping style.

Dress up the tables and chairs. The tables and chairs at Legacy can stand alone or can be done up to fit your style. Some chair decor ideas include chair covers, chiffon wraps or sashes. Some table decor ideas include linens, table runners, chargers, lanterns, mercury glass, wood box floral containers, and floral pedestal bowls.

A view from behind the ceremony arch and down the aisle.

Photography: Levi Hoffbeck

Photography: Levi Hoffbeck

A chandelier adds a touch of glamour and can be left on in the evening to create a romantic ambiance and an evening photo opportunity.

Farm venue arch with white curtain draping and a crystal chandelier hung in the middle of a field

Below are some images from a special wedding we got to help with. The bride wanted to incorporate her Native American heritage into her decor and her husband's western style. The result was fun and beautiful!

Pavilion draping running along reception tables for an outstanding look.
Native American Heritage with western style decorations for a Minnesota wedding.

Cowboy boots lined the aisle!

Different ideas for wedding ceremony isle include boots and hats.

Here are some images from one of our lovely brides, Amanda. Amanda wanted to play up the French county theme. We used soft flowing fabric to highlight her ceremony and reception.

Pavilion entrance draping tied back with floral arrangements.

We get a little help from our feathered friends!

wedding on the farm with ceremony draping on the arch and help from animals
Peek through at the wedding ceremony site with white curtain draping and a beautiful farm backdrop.
Ceremony site with outdoor pews and trees and draping on the ceremony arch.
Added decor to an outdoor wedding site with chalkboard sign, antique tables and draping with a chandelier.
Green grass and white draping at a gorgeous Minnesota wedding farm venue
Ceremony with a beautiful bride, and teal accent colors.
Romantic look between newlyweds with draping on an entrance
Farm decorations include bird cages, clover table runners, crush linens, chargers and gold napkins.
Crisp morning wedding with an outdoor ceremony that has draping on the arch and a chandelier.
Different kinds of draping for an arch
Asymmetric design for draping a wedding ceremony arch
Wedding ceremony with a rainbow and draping on the ceremony arch
draping on an outdoor farm venue arch with floral tied back

Real Weddings, Venues

A Timeless Wedding at the St. Paul Athletic Club

Erin Olsen ·

A timeless wedding at the St. Paul Athletic Club

From the minute I met with Danielle, I knew she had put a lot of thought into her wedding decor. Danielle had a very specific vision for how she wanted to adorn the ballroom at her venue, the St.Paul Athletic Club. Danielle picked out decor pieces to create a totally custom reception that transcended the definition of classy. Her linens, a champagne satin, set the tone for the timeless look. Danilelle's must have was a touch of sparkle which she incorporated with a rhinestone sash buckle. The table tops glistened with mercury glass candlestick and mercury votives, mixed with white floral by Sadies Floral and just a pop of red. Danielle wanted her head table to stand out so we picked our stunning Aubrey Lace as an overlay to make the head table stand out.

Wedding chair covers set up for a ceremony

Get this look: Ivory Chair Covers

Ivory chair covers set up for a Minnesota wedding ceremony
Birds eye view of wedding reception that has gold satin tablecloths and gold satin sashes
Gold satin sashes tied with a diamond buckle and tables with flowers and candle votives

Get this look: Ivory Chair Covers, Champagne Satin Linen, Champagne Satin Sash, Rhinestone Sash Buckle

Wedding reception with gold sashes and table linens with chandeliers and balconys.
Table numbers and centerpieces on gold satin linens
gold sashes with ivory chair covers and gold candle votives with white floral arrangements
diamond accent on gold sashes and ivory chair covers for wedding inspiration
Wedding reception with decoration ideas that include gold and ivory