Chris Freytag: Pretty in Pink

Mother of: Mathew
Venue: Equestria West at Bavaria Downs in Chaska, Minnesota
Vibe: Playful summer formal
Dress: Sachin & Babi

The bride, Ellie, had a clear vision. “She wanted an elegant garden party, and she loves pink,” says mother of the groom Chris Freytag, a fitness expert and founder of online workout platform Get Healthy U TV, whom you’ll typically find in black—whether in her activewear work uniform or dressed up.

But Chris wanted to reflect the color and spirit of the wedding, which took place at Equestria West, a modern equestrian-inspired venue with lush gardens and sprawling grounds just west of Minneapolis. The bridesmaids wore light pink, so Chris shopped for a deeper shade of pink, ordering—and returning—at least 20 gowns. The mother of the bride chose fuchsia.

When Chris tried on Sachin & Babi’s v-neck, box pleat “Brooke” gown in a pale pink hydrangea print, she knew it was the one.

“I’m always the person who wears a simple, straight dress. But I didn’t want to do the basic—I wanted something special and pretty. Ellie was wearing a princess dress. That’s another reason why I wanted a gown, not a sheath. I figure it’s the only time in my life I’m going to wear a gown like this!”

The Brooke is one of Sachin & Babi’s “Icon” styles for its timeless style and flattering fit. “I wanted to be able to dance, and pick up my 3-year-old granddaughter. The dress was comfortable, playful, and it had pockets. I loved the pleats, and how it moved without wrinkling.”

The summer wedding was the culmination of an eight year romance between Ellie and Chris's son Matthew that started at the end of high school. The couple stayed together while attending two different colleges. Through the years, the parents of both bride and groom have become friends. So the wedding day felt like the best family party for everyone involved, including the guests who showed up in bright colors and florals, in keeping with the dress code of “playful, summer formal attire.”

“People really understood the assignment,” Chris says.

The bride and groom wanted their wedding to be a dance party. So they opened the reception with the band (called Northstar, Chris highly recommends!) belting out high energy hits that brought everyone to the dance floor. “They really wanted to get the party vibe going,” Chris says, and it lasted throughout the night.

Chris and Matthew danced their mother-son dance to Billy Joel’s “Vienna,” a family favorite.

Knowing she would be on her feet the entire time, Chris shopped for comfortable shoes—she and the mother of the bride both wore Aerosoles “Camera” platform sandal in gold.

“It’s overwhelming, all the love you feel,” says Chris. “Happiness was truly in the air.”

| Photography by Russell Heeter