1. Real Weddings

A Luxury Lakefront Wedding at The Minikahda Club in Minneapolis, Minnesota

Katie Hancock (30 and a buyer for Target) and Nick Koesters (32 and a financial analyst) had three priorities for their wedding: First, the couple wan

Katie Hancock (30 and a buyer for Target) and Nick Koesters (32 and a financial analyst) had three priorities for their wedding: First, the couple wanted their wedding day to feel intimate and personal. They exchanged their own vows at Lake of the Isles Lutheran Church; “It was such a personal moment, emotional pauses were definitely necessary along the way,” says Katie. The bride also handmade the signage and monograms throughout the wedding, and the couple’s mothers homemade jam for wedding favors. The second priority was for the wedding to be family-focused. “Our families mean so much to us and we really wanted that to come through wherever possible,” says Katie. The couple honored their parents at the ceremony, Katie wore her great-grandmother’s veil and her flower girl wore a dress that Katie wore to a family wedding 25 years prior. The third vision was for the wedding to feel traditional with a twist. The cocktail hour and reception took place outside on the dock at The Minikahda Club in Minneapolis, Minnesota. A classic color palette of navy, blush and champagne with accents of gold and ivory, inspired by her fashion-forward champagne wedding dress and blush wedding cake, blended with subtle hues of blue and green to showcase the beauty of the couple’s home state. “We wanted an al fresco feel to our reception decor,” says the bride, who was set on having string lights above dining tables covered in garlands and overflowing blush flowers. “It looked like what you’d see at a winery wedding except it was on a deck overlooking a lake.” says Katie. “My jaw dropped when I first peeked through the window at the whole set-up.”

Katie wore a traditional A-line, champagne silk wedding dress by Lazaro with an accompanying statement necklace. “My everyday style has always been somewhat traditional with a twist, and I love statement necklaces. The dress color was the perfect ‘twist’ to fit my style,” says the bride.
DIY Framed Welcome Sign with Eucalyptus and Garden Rose Decor
Ivory and Blush Bouquet with Anemones, Garden Roses, Greens
Minnesota-Inspired Navy and Blush Wedding Invitations
Nick knew that Katie wanted a cushion cut diamond ring with a halo and simple band, and unbeknownst to Katie, Nick pre-ordered her ring before he took her shopping. “I walked right up to the setting Nick had already picked out and exclaimed that was the one I wanted,” says Katie.
Lazaro Wedding Dress Statement Necklace
“In the picture of my great-grandmother on her wedding day, she is carrying a cascading bouquet. It is such a romantic look, and I felt it was perfect for my ‘traditional with a twist’ style,” says Katie. Her bouquet included ivory and blush garden roses, ranunculus and anemones surrounded by lush greenery.
“I wanted my bridesmaids’ style to be reflective of my own,” says Katie. The bridesmaids wore floor-length navy dresses with white anemone bouquets and custom-made statement necklaces in colors to match the bride. The groom wore a trendy navy tuxedo with a polka dotted bow tie, and the groomsmen wore tuxedos in charcoal gray with matching polka dotted ties.
Eucalyptus Wreaths on Lake of the Isles Lutheran Church Doors
Katie and Nick had their ceremony at the Lake of the Isles Lutheran Church, which sat on the edge of the Lake of Isles near where the couple went on their second date. They took time to honor each of their parents with a rose, and exchanged their own personal vows.
Vintage Car Exit Lake of the Isles Lutheran Church
Katie and Nick at Minneapolis Wedding
Katie hand-painted the cocktail hour sign, which greeted guests as they entered the terrace. “What I loved most about it was the personal aspect,” says Katie. “We named our cocktail hour drinks after two of our favorite things: Madeline Island, where my family spends summers, and Peach, our very beloved maltipoo, who could not make it to our wedding but who we are sure would have encouraged us to drink peach bellinis in her absence!”
Cocktail Hour Decor with Custom Monogrammed Napkins
DIY Custom Monogrammed Cocktail Hour Napkins
Peach Bellini Specialty Cocktails at Minneapolis Wedding
Lakefront Reception Dining Tables at The Minikahda Club
Lush floral garlands and overflowing flower arrangements in low gold mercury vases decorated alternating tables. Small mercury votive candles were scattered throughout, and bud vases at each guest’s place setting added fullness to each table. “It looked like what you’d see at a winery wedding, except it was all on a deck overlooking a lake. My jaw dropped when I first peeked through the window at the whole set-up,” says Katie.
DIY Watercolor Dining Table Numbers
Blush Dining Table with Custom Menus
Handwritten Escort Card on Individual Bud Vase
Katie and Nick at The Minikahda Club Reception
Katie and Nick’s wedding cake featured two blush tiers to complement Katie’s wedding dress with fresh ivory and blush garden rose accents and a gold, twisted metal ‘K’ cake topper.
“My dog has the nickname ‘Best Puppy,’ or ‘BP’ for short, and when Nick and I were dating, the joke was that Peach called Nick ‘Best Boyfriend,’ or ‘BB’ for short,” says Katie. Therefore, the couple felt it was appropriate for the name of their first dance song to be “You Are The Best Thing” by Ray LaMontagne.
The Minikahda Club Minneapolis Reception Venue
Katie was set on the idea of having string lights below a starry sky over the dance floor. “I will never forget seeing the tables and lights all set up on the deck overlooking Lake Calhoun with the Minneapolis skyline in the background. It was magic!” says the bride.