Harriet Island Pavilion Wedding

Looking for wedding planning inspiration? Amy and Brian’s stunning romantic Harriet Island Pavilion wedding was a dream come true! From finding the perfect venue to curating every special detail, their journey with KUE was nothing short of magical.

Bride and groom stand forehead to forehead, smiling softly at each other during golden hour by the water, with a docked boat and cityscape in the background.

Bride and groom embrace along a riverside path with the city skyline of St. Paul, Minnesota in the background. The bride's dress flows gently behind her as they hold each other close.

Amy and Brian weren’t sure exactly what level of planning they needed, but they knew they had to find a venue fast. With a May 2024 wedding in mind and the calendar already reading October 2023, we kicked things off by searching for a venue. After sorting through their wish list they decided a romantic Harriet Island Pavilion (HIP) wedding would be the perfect fit. The only catch? There was just one date left, and the couple was heading out of town before they could tour!

Close-up of a bride and groom walking side by side on a sidewalk. The bride's flowing tulle dress and veil billow with movement as she holds a colorful bouquet of roses and peonies. The groom wears a dark green suit and brown dress shoes.

Dana met them outside HIP on a Sunday, walking them through the flow of the space and helping them visualize their wedding—even without stepping inside! With our experience at the venue and plenty of online photos, Amy and Brian took the leap and locked it in. Fun fact: They didn’t see the inside of their venue until their actual wedding day! We loved the trust they placed in Dana.

Rows of white chairs are set up for an outdoor wedding ceremony on a sunny day, overlooking the St. Paul skyline in the background.

Wedding guests gather and chat outside a historic stone venue with arched windows and red doors, enjoying the warm weather before the celebration begins.

After the venue search, Amy and Brian decided that even with a budget to keep in mind, their time and sanity were worth the investment—so they went all in with our All-Inclusive wedding planning services. We were so excited to help bring every detail together!

Flat lay of wedding details including light blue bow heels, a velvet ring box with gold rings, a pearl clutch, and a black-and-white "Save the Date" card featuring the couple.

A romantic, flowy wedding gown hangs on a white closet door in a softly lit room, ready to be worn on the big day.

We had a feeling that Kaylah Hammer would be the perfect wedding photographer for them, and sure enough, they clicked instantly. Kaylah is a dream to work with, ensuring our couples feel comfortable and cared for throughout the day.

Black and white image of a bride in a flowing gown and veil, standing at a bathroom vanity, softly lit by window light as she prepares for the ceremony.

Groom in a dark green suit buttons his jacket while getting ready in a hotel room. A television and another groomsman can be seen in the background.

Amy and her bridal party got ready at home thanks to Primped hair and makeup. But, she still wanted to take full advantage of our Wedding Party Concierge service. Bella, one of our KUE employees, was on hand to steam dresses, grab last-minute items, and even pick up Kaylah so she could ride the shuttle from Minnesota Coaches with the wedding party. Stress-free wedding mornings are our favorite!

Bride in a flowing white dress and veil walks toward a black and white "Minnesota Coaches" shuttle bus, holding up her gown. A driver stands outside the bus, ready to assist, on a sunny residential street.

For their first look, Amy and Brian chose the gorgeous exterior of their wedding night hotel, the Celeste of St. Paul Hotel + Bar. The historic architecture and charming backdrop made for the perfect setting as they saw each other for the first time on their wedding day. Their reactions were pure magic—full of love, excitement, and happy tears.

Bride and groom see each other for the first time on their wedding day, smiling joyfully during their first look. The bride stands on the sidewalk in a flowing white dress, while the groom descends stone steps in a green suit outside a historic brick building.

Bride and groom share a joyful moment during their first look outside a brick building. The bride reaches out with a big smile as the groom laughs, dressed in a green suit.

Bride and groom share an intimate portrait indoors, standing close together beside a floral wallpapered wall and vintage fireplace. The bride holds a bouquet as they gaze lovingly at each other.

Bride and groom share a quiet, tender moment by the water at sunset, resting their foreheads together. The bride holds her dress while greenery and a docked boat fill the background.

Bride and groom walk hand-in-hand down a charming city sidewalk with string lights overhead. The bride carries a colorful bouquet and they smile at each other in front of a brick building.

After the first look, the couple and their wedding party headed to Irvine Park for some stunning portraits. The lush greenery and timeless elegance of the park added a romantic touch to their photos before making their way to the ceremony.

Groom surrounded by a playful group of groomsmen in navy and blue suits, all laughing and crowding around him in a wooded outdoor setting.

Bride and her wedding party pose joyfully in a sunlit park, laughing and leaning in together. The group wears a mix of colorful dresses and suits, with the bride holding a bouquet of flowers.

Large wedding party poses together in front of a historic fountain in a tree-lined park. The group includes the bride, groom, bridesmaids in colorful dresses, groomsmen in suits, and flower girls in white dresses, all smiling under the midday sun.

Amy and Brian wanted a simple, elegant ceremony with minimal florals—just bouquets, bud vases, greenery, and garlands from a trusted florist, Special Touch. One of the best perks of our All-Inclusive package is access to our wedding decor rentals, making it easy to coordinate drop-offs and pick-ups!

Elegant wedding reception setup in a warm, stone-walled venue. Long banquet tables are dressed in white linens, with gold-accented place settings, glassware, and tall candle holders.

Close-up of a reception table centerpiece featuring soft pastel flowers in small vases, a water carafe, and a table number card labeled “15,” all set on a white linen tablecloth.

Amy and Brian’s ceremony was nothing short of magical. Surrounded by their closest family and friends, they exchanged heartfelt vows with the Mississippi River as their backdrop rented by KUE.

Bride and groom stand facing each other, holding hands during their outdoor ceremony. A circular greenery arch frames them with the St. Paul skyline in the background.

Bride walks down the aisle with her parents on either side during the outdoor ceremony, heading toward the altar with the city skyline rising behind the guests.

Bride and groom strike playful poses on the grass outside their venue, both wearing sunglasses. The bride lifts her dress to reveal a medical boot on one foot, while the groom crouches beside her in a green suit and white sneakers, both smiling and carefree.

When it comes to wedding catering, you can never go wrong with a taco bar—it’s always a crowd favorite and works well for guests with dietary restrictions. Amy and Brian wanted to serve something fun, flavorful, and satisfying, and their choice of Pajarito did not disappoint. And let’s be real—who doesn’t love tacos?

Buffet table set up with taco bar ingredients including shredded cheese, lettuce, jalapeños, guacamole, salsa, and sour cream in black bowls, ready for guests to serve themselves.

Plated tacos with shredded meat, cheese, and cilantro on a white plate with a gold charger, set on a formal table setting.

For dessert, they treated guests to a delicious selection of full-sized donuts from Cub Foods, including gluten-free options from Sift to accommodate dietary needs. To keep the energy going, they wrapped up the night with a late-night crowd favorite—fresh, hot pizza! It was the perfect way to satisfy guests after hours of celebrating on the dance floor.

Wedding dessert table filled with an assortment of donuts displayed on stands and trays, including glazed, chocolate, and cinnamon rolls, all arranged on a white tablecloth.

Bride and groom stand smiling with dessert plates in hand in front of the donut table. The couple is warmly lit, posing together in front of an arched wooden door at their venue.

A wedding reception isn’t complete without great music! Amy and Brian went back and forth on whether their friend Dave would DJ, MC, or just announce them—but in the end, he never even touched the microphone! It’s a great reminder that while friends and family love to help, most of the time, they just want to relax and enjoy the celebration. Instant Request made it happen perfectly as usual!

Black and white image of the bride and groom dancing with their parents during the reception. Guests are seated at round tables in the background, watching the sweet moment unfold.

Bride and groom make a joyful grand entrance into the reception hall, holding hands high as they smile and walk through the doors into the warmly lit venue.

With an epic dance floor, amazing food, and so much love in the air, the night was unforgettable. And, of course, we even got a big group photo to capture all the joy and excitement!

Guests dance enthusiastically under colorful lights during the wedding reception. Motion blur and vibrant lighting add a lively, energetic feel to the celebration.

Amy and Brian’s wedding was the perfect mix of trust, fun, and thoughtful details. From the first consultation to the last dance, they embraced the planning process, made intentional choices, and created a wedding day that truly reflected their love story and a romantic Harriet Island Pavilion wedding.

We love the kind words they left for a review:

It’s been almost 2 months since our wedding, and all of our family and friends still comment frequently about how incredible our wedding was! As someone who really thought they could plan a wedding on their own before getting engaged, I now know that it was a necessity for us to have all-inclusive planning and that it was money so well spent. Dana and the entire Keyed Up team were incredible to work with; they were responsive, timely, and detail-oriented. They were so helpful during the planning process and truly made the wedding day stress-free so we could just focus on enjoying our day. 10/10 would recommend them to anyone in a heartbeat!

Learn more about how you can really have a stress-free wedding with another KUE blog post! We’re here to help you.

Venue: Harriet Island Pavillion

Hotel: Celeste of St. Paul Hotel + Bar

Caterer: Pajarito

Bar: With a Twist

Florist: Special Touch

Hair and Makeup: Primped

Photographer: Kaylah Hammer Photography

DJ: Instant Request

Transportation: Minnesota Coaches

Dessert: Cub Foods / Sift

Wedding Dress: Vow’d