A Garden Party Wedding in the Heart of St. Paul

Madeline (A wedding photographer herself) and her Husband Max (he/him) met in college and reconnected after running into one another at bar. They married at Paikka in August 2024.

When Madeline and Max originally met she had taught him how to work the machinery at an electronic art studio she worked at. Two years later they ran into each other at a bar and after they went on a date the following week they’ve been inseparable. Max planned his proposal at Madeline’s childhood best friends cabin in Northern Minnesota, and even invited their family and friends to watch him get down on one knee. They love to thrift together, which is evident in the pieces they sourced for their wedding. They had 196 guests attend and one hell of a vendor team.

“We love to go to thrift/antique stores and look for little treasures. We also love to go on road trips, big or small! We are maximalists and love to collect unique artwork and trinkets.”

Wedding Budget and Vendors

They spent a total of $50,000 on their wedding.

• Planner or Day of Coordinator: RoseTree Weddings & Events (Paloma)
• Venue: PAIKKA
• Photography: Karrah Kobus Photography
• Florist: DIY by my sister-in-law Brandie Harpell
• Officiant: John Mills
• Rentals: Cafe lights by PHOS Lighting + Purchased a variety of vases and decor
• HMUA: Peityn Otto (Hairstylist)
• Attire: My dress: The Iris by Aleena Lena, purchased through a&be Bridal in Minneapolis / Tan suit by the Black Tux
• Catering: Marna’s (Costa Rican buffet) / PAIKKA Bar
• Cake / dessert: Sift Gluten Free Bakery Mini Cupcakes
• Stationary: The Knot Stationary for Save the Dates & Invites
• Music: Live Band! Purple Funk Metropolis
• Anyone else?: Our Rings! Mine is from June Rings, The Dahlia and The Briar. Max’s ring is The Wave from Brilliant Earth. Our rehearsal dinner was at The Paris Dining Club.

Madeline and Max were able to find most of their vendors through Paikka’s referrals. The rest were people Madeline knew within the wedding industry.

“Our favorite part of the day was our ceremony. It was held outside in the PAIKKA courtyard, and we filled the whole courtyard with our many family members and friends. Right before we started walking down the aisle, the light rain cleared and the clouds parted. The sun was shining on us the whole time! It felt like such a surreal, beautiful moment that we have both been looking forward to our whole lives. I was so nervous and excited that as my dad walked me down the aisle, he had to remind me to slow down and take it all in. Our dear friend John was our officiant, he was there at the very beginning of our relationship and watched us grow. It was the perfect mix of funny and romantic, and reading our vows to each other was the highlight of my life so far.”

The theme of the day was Garden Party so Madeline and Max focused on making the decor colorful and fun. They thrifted a lot of the centerpieces and vases as well as had a variety of flowers. Madeline’s sister in law helped pick out and design the floral designs. Foregoing a traditional florist. They kept the ceremony relatively simple and then filled the indoor space of Paikka with as many flowers as they could get their hands on. Madeline and Max did find a lot of their decor inspiration from pinterest, but also from attending friends weddings before they had their own. The originally chose Paikka as their venue because it was bright and spacious which helped pull the theme together.

“I knew I wanted Karrah to be our wedding photographer before we even got engaged! I had followed her on Instagram for years, and went to one of her photographer’s retreats a few years prior. We became friends and stayed connected over the years. I adore her style, she has such a unique eye with a blend of editorial and documentary style 🙂 We regret not hiring a videographer! I wish I could go back and watch our ceremony, first dance, speeches, etc.”

Their favorite photo from the day is the dip they did during their first dance. The way Karrah captured their happiness and their guests smiling feels like such an iconic, timeless moment. They also really love the photos of Madeline’s Grandparents. She lost her grandma recently and the photos of her show that she was happy, healthy, and had the best time at her granddaughters wedding. She couldn’t stop talking about it to everyone. Feeling her Grandma’s love in the photos is truly priceless.

When it came to the guest experience, Madeline and Max just wanted everyone to have fun. They wanted everyone on the dance floor and refused to have a reception that was stuffy and boring. They hired a live band, Purple Funk Metropolis, who kept the party going. Madeline said, “you literally can’t help but dance to their funky tunes.”

And on the topic of fun, that’s advice they would give to other couples planning. Just to have fun through the entire process. Planning a wedding is a lot of work, and if you don’t have fun with it, what’s the point? They also stressed that you should at least hire a coordinator to make the day run smoothly so you can enjoy the day as much as possible.