Mother of: Tess
Venue: Honeymoon House private rental property, Lutsen, Minnesota
Vibe: Intimate North Shore
Dress: Mac Duggal
A native southerner, Tess fell in love with the north, and in the north. She met John, a Midwesterner, while working in Minneapolis and they can trace their courtship through trips to Minnesota’s North Shore: exploring rocky beaches, hidden waterfalls, charming restaurants, quaint art galleries; kayaking and hiking in the summer, and even dogsledding a time or two in the winter.
“Growing up in North Carolina, we were always halfway between the mountains and the beach, and even as a kid, I'd always pick a mountain trip over a beach trip when given the choice. I just love feeling cozy and tucked away in the trees, and I love the small, quiet communities you find in those sorts of places,” Tess says. “North Shore communities like Grand Marais remind me of the North Carolina mountain towns I love in a lot of ways.”
Tess and John moved to North Carolina to be closer to Tess’s family and friends, but when it came time to plan their wedding, it had to be up north.
“They both adore the North Shore, and since they wanted a very intimate wedding, we knew it could be done,” says mother of the bride Donna.
And so, on a warm September weekend, a bunch of North Carolinians made the trip to Minnesota, and the four hour drive north from Minneapolis—past Duluth, up scenic Highway 61, hugging the shores of Lake Superior, to the ski town of Lutsen. Tess and John rented a property called Honeymoon House with its own private beach where their ceremony took place followed by dinner and dancing on the grassy lawn surrounded by pine trees.
Tess told her mom to wear whatever made her feel “comfortable and pretty.” Says Tess, “I wanted her to like how she looked not only on that day but also whenever she looks back at pictures.”
Donna homed in on green dresses. “It’s my favorite color, and it was a predominant wedding color and just seemed an appropriate choice for the setting.” She loved the idea of doing it up in organza, tulle or satin—”I love those fabrics but don’t have the occasion to wear them often.” She also wanted sleeves, because, after all, “It was Minnesota!”
Everything on her checklist added up to a modern boho high neck tiered midi dress with micro ruffles by Mac Duggal. She found it on sale at Bloomingdales.com. “I loved everything about the dress. It was green, had great coverage, and I loved the small ruffles and texture. It also photographed very well.”
Navigating the wooden stairs down to the rocky beach was no joke, so Donna chose Stuart Weitzman pointed toe Mary Jane gold flats. For the reception, she switched into gold sneakers, “So I could run after our grandson!” Her gold chandelier earrings by We Dream in Colour were a nod to the bride—”They featured flora and fauna, which I thought was very fitting for the surroundings, and reminded me of our daughter’s love of nature and animals.”
Tess loved it. “I think my mom killed it. She did a really wonderful job balancing her own style with the overall look of our event. It was very 'her,' and yet she looked right at home among our string lights and wildflowers. Her dress was formal enough to feel special without feeling silly or out of place on a rocky North Shore beach.”
The day played out just Tess and John dreamed, from the consummate North Shore beach ceremony to the family style dinner (think Coors on ice in a kayak and locally made pies for dessert). Everyone gathered at a U-shaped table decorated with colorful wildflowers by Bloom Wilder before breaking into a dance party under the stars.
“The reception was awesome! It was such a sweet and intimate time with the people that Tess and John love the most,” Donna says. “It was also such a joy to see Tess relaxed and enjoying herself after so many months of planning. That’s what I wanted, more than anything.”
| Photography by Peach and Honey