Tag Archives: marryme

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!

An Engagement Session ~ Minneapolis, MN

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I met tons of fun and out going brides and grooms in February when I was out at the Plymouth Creek Wedding Expo. Vlad and Carmen were one of them! When they met me for the couple minutes walking by my booth, I knew we would be a great fit; I was ecstatic when they said they for sure wanted me to capture their memories! Vlad and Carmen wanted their engagement session in Minneapolis. They love the downtown skyline and the Stone Arch Bridge and so do I, We even walked across the Stone Arch Bridge to explore St.Anthony on main too.

I definitely had a first on this photography adventure. As we were walking down a heavily wooded gravel path, I thought I saw a cat run across the path. Nope! It was a big fat beaver!! Seriously, I could have reached out and touched it if I wanted to! It was just chomping along on leaves, not a care in the world we were there. Towards the end of the evening the sun started to set as we went back over the Stone Arch Bridge in Minneapolis. The sun set and the Minneapolis skyline looked amazing. Naturally, they had to dance, right in the middle of the bridge. These two definitely love each other and I cannot wait to shoot their wedding in a few short months.

An Engagement Session ~ Plymouth and Stillwater, MN

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JWPhotography 2016 - 1

Meet Blaine and Adrienne! My word, these two are unbelievably cute! Blaine is Captain of the Plymouth, Minnesota Fire Station 2! So, naturally, we had to get some fun shots at his station. These two were so natural behind the camera I just couldn’t get enough of them. Kissing in the fire truck?! Adorable! After a few AMAZING shots and laughs at the fire station we headed over, way over, to Stillwater, Minnesota.

For those of you who have never explored the fabulous and historic, Downtown Stillwater, I highly recommend taking a trip to see this cute town. Check out their website for events and things to do! It’s a cute little town right on the St.Croix River, they have tons of stuff to do year-round. Its filled with unique shops, a beautiful one of kind lift bridge and a breathtaking view of it all, at the top of a really, really high set of stairs. I love doing photo shoots here, every time I come here, everything is a little different.

There are tons of historic buildings, nooks and doorways to take a few moments to smile by. I love that it can be rustic and urban at the same time! They have an ice cream shop right on Mainstreet, called Leo’s Malt Shop. Ice cream is their “thing”, so of course, we had to stop! There is always a line, but its worth the wait!

We ended our session where it all began, where Blaine proposed to Adrienne! Remember those really, really high stairs I mentioned earlier? Well, at the top is a beautiful over look of everything and that’s where he popped the question!

Simply stunning. We went up there at just the right time, to get some beautiful golden sun shots, right before it went down!

Congrats you two, I cant wait to capture your special day in just a few short months!

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!

An Engagement Session ~ Taylors Falls, MN

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Tarin contacted me about taking her engagement pictures, but wasn’t sure where to do them, so I was excited to work with her to find the perfect location. We were brain storming locations around the Twin Cities and Tarin it was at that time she shared with me they would be getting married in Iceland!!! How exciting! They just wanted a small, intimate wedding, and they had never been there but wants to go… So yes, Iceland!!!! A photographers dream. That landscape and lighting, who could ask for anything more?! That got me thinking, what about the beautiful Taylors Falls, MN?

Taylors Falls is a small town on the very mid eastern edge of the state bordering Wisconsin. It’s a quaint little town with lots of little shops and an amazing little mom and pop ice cream parlor (check it out next time your in the neighborhood http://www.schoonys.com/ ). Taylors Falls main attraction is Interstate State Park on the St. Croix River. This park is unique due to the “pot holes” created hundreds of years ago from the glaciers. If you have never been, I would suggest taking a trip out and spending the day exploring the bluffs and along the river just to see these amazing holes. This location I think tied right into a MN version of Iceland… Well… that may be a stretch but I think it really fits their wedding style.

Plus, who doesn’t love puppies in ties!

Congrats you two! I can’t wait to see pictures of your gorgeous wedding!

Heather & Charlie’s Wedding ~ Afton, MN Avonlea Farms

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If I had to use only two words to describe this wedding, it would be: rustic elegance. There is so many details and personal touches that go into these weddings. I think these are some of my favorite weddings to capture, and I think its because this is so close to my style. I felt right at home, almost like I put the whole thing together myself (I didn’t). I think Heather is a natural in front of the camera, some people are hard to capture and she is NOT one of them. It was so hard to narrow down her images, she is so photogenic that they all turned out so beautiful. The bridal party was so awesome, I was horrible at remembering names, but they all put up with me asking names over and over again. In Minnesota, they always say that the weather changes every five minutes… not this day! It was perfect all around. I always prefer the cooler days because of all the running, and Heather was pretty happy because her dress got hot and heavy very quickly so the cooler air was nice for her too. You can’t tell in her pictures though! I am sure Charlie was happy as well, since those suits get pretty warm too!

Finally, talk about an unbelievable sunset. I was inside the barn capturing the memories there, when I popped my head out the upstairs window to take some shots and I saw the amazing cotton candy sky. These skies just don’t happen everyday! I almost tripped twice running outside to get Heather and Charlie, who were already outside. I ran up to them so excited about the sun set, when Heather turned around and saw it she gasped and grabbed Charlie. We ran to the field, she was wearing boots so she could really run! We got everything set up, and WOW. I can’t even describe it. I think that this sunset is one of the best ways to describe Heather and Charlie. There isn’t a word for it, but its a moment that you see and all the feels come out.

Congrats again Heather and Charlie, I cannot wait to capture more of your precious moments!

Oh and the frog! Heather used to work with amphibians’ so when we saw the cute little frog hopping around, getting a picture with it was necessary!