Category Archives: Weddings

Mara and Jeremiahs Love Story ~Mount Frontenac Golf Course

JWPhotography 2016 - 1a

I met this couple quite few months ago for their engagement session, which was so much fun! They had me a tad worried when we drove down some random dirt roads and man-made paths, but the session turned out amazing, what an adventure that was! I had a blast with them and was looking forward to their special day!

Now, I feel like I blinked my eyes and it was already June 18th! The sun was shining and the drive down to Mount Frontanec Golf Course was a dream. Far enough away from the cities to have minimal traffic and no road construction. In June? I know! I think that was the best part of the drive! I arrived at Mount Frontanec Golf Course. I slowed down, thinking I was there when I pulled in, but then I realized it was still a mile straight up a HUGE hill. I later found out, this used to be a ski resort so this massive hill made sense. At the top of the very steep hill was, hands down, the most gorgeous golf course I have ever seen. To be honest, I have not been on many golf courses, as I do not golf. I have done a handful of weddings on them, but this one had a one-of-a-kind view. Being so far up on that ski hill they had a very unique and mesmerizing view of Red Wing, Minnesota. I made sure to capture some of the killer view, plenty to see below in the pictures!

I was greeted by the sweet owners and they were just the most helpful couple. They showed me around to some of the places to take photos and where everything was going to take place. I love when someone can show me around and let me know where the nooks and cranny’s are! When Mara arrived, everything went according to the plan. We hopped in the car and ventured our way back down the steep hill to head into Red Wing, where Jeremiah was waiting to see his beautiful bride. They decided to do a first glance before the ceremony, I love when couples do this so I can catch the grooms face! So glad she chose the river for her first glance, couldn’t have been any better if I picked it myself! After that, we all rushed back to finish up formal pictures, then it was time!

The ceremony was beautiful, the music, the dresses, the flowers, everything. The reception definitely was their style and the food was so good, I mean sooooo good! I LOVED the adorable cake toppers! When it was about time for Gretchen (my second shooter) and I to pack up, we were so lucky to get to take Mara’s ’68 Purple Mustang out to the beautiful bluff overlooking Red Wing. These were definitely some of my favorite shots of the day! Thank you Mara and Jeremiah for giving me the honor to capture your special day. It was perfect in every way. Thank you to Mount Frontenac staff and owners for being so amazing!

Tim & Renee’s Fairytale Wedding at The Cannon River Winery in Cannon Falls, MN

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JWPhotography 2016 - 1

70 degrees, sun shining bright, light breeze, wine waiting to be poured and a beautiful view. These two love birds couldn’t have gotten married on a better day! But, before I go into the details of their big day, I thought I would share with you a little bit about these two. This is how they met and how Tim proposed!

“We met at my work–He started bringing his dog to the daycare that I worked at, at the time, and continued to bring him, just to see me! Tim proposed when we arrived to move all of our stuff into our new house.”

Renee started her special day at Regis Hair salon, in Apple Valley, with her favorite hair stylist! I love to capture all the fun getting ready shots, so many of them are spontaneous, and not posed! It really captures how much us ladies go through to complete the look of one of the biggest days of our lives! After her hair was all prettied up and she had that beautiful bride glow, we hopped in the car and headed to Cannon River Winery in Cannon Falls, MN. It was about a 35 minute drive from the St.Paul, so great that a place this gorgeous is just a short drive away! The winery has a quaint small town feel, plus, it is adorable and elegant at the same time, I can see why they chose this location. Renee finished getting ready there with her bridesmaids. Once she had her dress on we hopped on a shuttle that brought us to their secret vineyard about 15 minutes away.

Yes, I said secret vineyard, how romantic! We got there and words cannot begin to describe this place, it was just gorgeous! As you pull up the long dirt road, you see where the ceremony is going to take place, with a cute little shelter to keep the sun off guests, as they watch. Then, you look out and realize, all you see for miles are grapevines! With it being only the middle of May, the grapes and leaves were just starting to form. That touch of extra green definitely made the pictures pop! Tim and Renee had their first look in the shelter. Once we were done with pictures, the ceremony started. Everything was just perfect! We headed back to the winery via shuttle, no one was to drive out to the secret vineyard location, I thought that was fun! The rest of the night was priceless, filled with smiles, laughter and making memories. They had the winery decorated perfectly, the food was excellent and the DJ’s were a blast. There could not have been a better day or location for these two to tie the knot!

Thank you two for choosing and trusting me to capture your BEAUTIFUL wedding day! Congratulations again and I wish you both many, many years of happiness!

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Dakota & Evan’s Wedding at Stonebrooke Golf Club in Shakopee, MN

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Welcome to 2016 wedding season!

Thank you Dakota and Evan for being my first wedding this year! I cannot believe it’s already been just over a month since these two walked down the aisle! I met Dakota and Evan through their fabulous wedding coordinator, Jackie! I actually took her family photos and she referred me to them! When I finally got to meet them, we had some of the best burgers ever, at the Lions Tap in Eden Prairie, MN. YUM! I knew they were some pretty cool people when they wanted to eat there! The day of their wedding was so beautiful! The sun was shining, it wasn’t too hot or too cool, it was a tad windy, but that is what hair spray is for! The entire wedding party was really into the shots, which is always a plus on my part! The ceremony was so beautiful, it was so bright and magical! The reception had such amazing natural light, it just makes my job so much more exciting! Then, to end the night with the bon-fire, just perfect!

Thank you guys for choosing me as your photographer, you couldn’t have asked for a better day! Also want to add, a huge THANK YOU, it is because of your sacrifices that I am able to enjoy our freedoms. So I just want to say simply, THANK YOU for all you’ve done and continue to do for me, my family, my friends and our country.

Now, here is Dakota’s and Evans story of how they met and how he proposed!

“We met our freshman year at Iowa State. We were both starting ROTC and met at the freshman orientation. We became friends quite quickly and began dating in May of our second year at Iowa State. In late May of our junior year, we decided to go to dinner to celebrate being done with finals week. Evan said he had to go to a scholarship interview first, so he went and I came to pick him up for our fancy dinner. When I got to the building of his interview, one of our good friends was waiting with flowers to escort me to Evan, who promptly got down on one knee!”

Kayeden + Cassia 12.19.15 ~ Lakeville, MN

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Cassia and Kayeden are just the cutest couple!!! Cassia and I met, which now seems forever ago, to talk about her big day and see if Jessica Wilson Photography was the right fit for her; and what she was looking for in a photographer. As it turns out, we both were pumped for what Minnesota ALWAYS has to offer us in winter months, SNOW! Well, we can never predict mother nature and what she is supposed to offer… The weather was a little off, all over the country, like Minnesota having NO SNOW in December! I was a little sad because I was looking forward to beautiful snowy shots. Then, I finally got to the Chart House, and the moment I saw how the ice on the lake glistened with the little bit of snow along the lake shore, it turned my frown upside down! The temperature that day was not forgiving either, so we had to move fast.

My best photographer moment ever was when I was trying to get a better angle so I took a few steps backwards out onto the lake. Kayeden looked at me with fear in his face and said he just saw fish swimming… right under the water where I was standing! With the lack of snow here in Minnesota, we also had a lack of cold weather so our lakes were not completely frozen yet either. That could have been very bad, but I have to do what I have to do to get the best shot! Despite the elements, your wedding turned out beautiful and I am so happy to have been a part of it.

Congrats again! I wish you two the best for many years to come!

Belmir + Amanda’s Wedding ~ Como Zoo St.Paul, MN

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Belmir and Amanda just fit together perfectly. I love when couples share their little back stories with me. Turns out, these two are high school sweet hearts! AWWW! Finding your true love so soon is so beautiful and something to be cherished, not everyone is that blessed. I sometimes get a little nervous when brides call me up and tell me they need to change something, but this time I was very excited! I received the call from Amanda, who told me she had changed her venue. I definitely did a mini happy dance when she told me the change. They got married at Como Zoo and Conservatory right here in St. Paul, MN. Can you say gorgeous!

We started our day at Belmir and Amanda’s home for all of the getting ready photos, LOVE the personal touch of their home. We then rush out the door to get to the Zoo for their first glance photos, I just adore these shots because they show so much emotion. The zoo Closes to the public at 4pm so we were on a time crunch because we wanted to get a picture of the bridal party on the amazing carousel! How fun is that?! Seriously?! The mad rush was completely worth it. I rode the carousel with them and captured them just joking around and having fun! It is so in the moment and something I haven’t done before with a wedding. The sun started to set as we wrapped up pictures and we headed inside to rush back out the door quick for some gorgeous sunset shots. Minnesota fall sunsets are just to die for, especially when you have the stunning backdrop of the conservatory (where they got married) in it.

I wish you guys nothing but the best! I can’t wait for you guys to start having little babies! Congrats!

Lauren + Casey’s Wedding! ~ Bracketts Crossing Country Club – Lakeville, MN

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Lauren got my information from another one of my clients, another bride actually! She was so excited to work with me and I was equally excited to work with her. Lauren and Casey live in Florida but both grew up here in Hastings, MN. Because of the distance, I never got the pleasure of meeting Lauren in person before her big day; but just from talking to her on the phone the couple times I did, I learned so much about her from just by her voice. Lauren was super bubbly, extremely out going, the-glass-is-always-half-full type of gal. She seemed like someone that always has a smile on her face and love to put a smile on others faces as well. I could just tell all that from her voice!

When we finally met up together on the big day I was totally right! She is super sweet and one of the kindest women you’ll ever meet. Her smile is contagious. No wonder Casey put a ring on it! Their day started a little cloudy, which was great for pictures in that big open area, some people think that clouds will ruin a day, but I see the beauty in them, so I take full advantage! Then, like clockwork, the clouds rolled out- what you read next REALLY happened, I know it sounds unreal, but it happened: As Lauren walked down the isle the clouds moved aside and the bright, shining sun came out! I believe that God was shining down on these two that day and gave her that sunshine as a blessing. It was definitely meant to be. The sun ONLY came out for their ceremony then peaked back behind the clouds. Her whole day was just that amazing and I am so grateful Lauren and Casey trusted me to capture their big day.

Congrats again and thank you, I hope when you come back to visit, I get to see you too!