Back in November 2017, Amalia and Nate swiped right (and we are so glad they did)! Nate was living in Minneapolis and Amalia was in Saint Paul. After several weeks of messaging back and forth, Nate and Amalia met for their first date of coffee and waffles. Amalia was studying social work and Nate was studying public health. As you can imagine, the couple bonded over their shared values and interest in making a difference in their community. After this first date, they continued to grow in love, learning that life is not complete without daily snuggles with their four furbabies, weekly culinary adventures, and most of all one another.
Fast forward to the present, Nate is an epidemiologist working for the state of MN and Amalia is a clinical social work supervisor for Hennepin County. Oh yeah, and they’re married!! The couple had an Aster Cafe wedding in Minneapolis. This versatile venue also handles catering and bar service, which makes the process of serving your guests seamless. The venue is located on the historic riverfront of the Mississippi river only a stone’s throw from the place where Nate popped the question. The two have had many fond memories along the cobble stoned streets of St. Anthony Main and they knew it was a perfect place to create more memories together.
It was important to the couple that they host an intimate wedding with only the closest family and friends who have been an important part of their story together. With a small number of guests attending the wedding, the couple wanted to include elements that spoke to their family history. This included photographs of their ancestors’ weddings and space in the ceremony to remember those that are no longer with them. The couple’s favorite nod to ancestors is a bespoke family tree that was hand written in calligraphy incorporating five generations on both the bride and groom’s side that they plan to pass down as a family heirloom. How special is that?!
Amalia’s people spent the morning on site at Aster Cafe’s Hepburn Suite to get ready. Styled by Abbi joined the ladies to perfect their hair and makeup, both of which stayed beautiful all day long! While the ladies were getting glammed up for the big day, the guys went out for a groom’s brunch at Hope Breakfast Bar. The morning flew by and before we knew it, it was time for the first look! Amalia slipped into her gown from Blue Sky Bridal that fit her like a glove thanks to the talented work of Weddings by Tess. The bride had her mother and stepmother help put on her necklace and button her dress. Nate and his groomsmen all wore suits from Heimie’s Haberdashery and MN themed socks. His best man and brother helped with his tie. Amalia’s bridesmaids wore dresses in shades of green and earrings designed by a local Pacific Northwest jeweler.
After Lauren Baker Photography directed the first look and captured couples photos, family photos, and wedding party photos, it was time to prep for the ceremony. Studio B Floral absolutely nailed the floral piece for the ceremony backdrop! It tied all the colors together and gave the ceremony a cohesive look. It was such a sweet moment shared with their closest friends and family. We loved that they had their mothers and grandmothers participate in the ceremony by lighting unity candles. They truly involved family in every step of their day! KP Hong did an amazing job officiating the ceremony, making it both sentimental and lighthearted.
The reception was just as special as every detail leading up to it. The seating chart and table numbers incorporated important places in Oregon and Minnesota that the couple has visited together. It was so fun for the couple, their families, and our team to see the vision come to life in the venue. We worked with the couple to make their Aster Cafe wedding feel unique to them. They have beautiful hardwood tables that people normally do not cover. We decided not only to put linens on them, but to use a thick, textured one from Linen Effects. The result was nothing short of amazing and it really lit up and transformed the space! Not to mention the shades of greens and peaches that perfectly complemented each other.
After a delicious dinner served by Aster Cafe and a few yummy desserts from Cocoa & Fig, it was time for the special dances. The couple shared their romantic first dance, along with joint parent dances which made for another moment of unifying their families. The remainder of the night was spent socializing and enjoying the company of loved ones while Josh from DJ Mark Haugen mastered the music. The Keyed Up Events team is so grateful to have been included in this special Aster Cafe wedding day!
One final shoutout to the amazing vendor team from this day!
Accommodations: VRBO and The Depot – Renaissance
Alterations: Weddings by Tess
Bartending: Aster Cafe
Bridal Gown: Blue Sky Bridal
Suits: Heimie’s Haberdashery
Caterer: Aster Cafe
Dessert: Cocoa & Fig
DJ: Mark Haugen DJ
Florist: Studio B Floral
Linens: Linen Effects
Hair / Makeup: Styled by Abbi
Officiant: KP Hong
Photographer: Lauren Baker Photography
Venue: Aster Cafe
Planner: Keyed Up Events
Creatively written by: Hope Konkol
