Annika and Ethan’s Golden Age wedding was one for the ages. I’m not even kidding when I tell you that their love story is destined to sit in the company of some of Hollywood’s most acclaimed classic films.

Here’s how Annika and Ethan orchestrated an Oscar-worthy wedding:

Vendors | Venue: The Skyroom | Hair and Makeup: Hair by BK | Florals: Stang Floral Design | DJ: Tevin Pittman | Bride’s Dress: Madi Lane Bridal | Bride’s Dress Shop: Bella Bridal Boutique | Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Azazie and Birdy Grey | Groom’s Suit: Halberstadt’s | Dessert: The Hanisch Bakery | Food: River Valley Catering | Day Of Coordinator: Robyn at Andy Kay Weddings

The Golden Age Wedding Film Set

Every bride-to-be-turned-Academy-Award-winning-movie-director obviously has a vision, and my goodness, did Annika execute her getting ready scenes to perfection.

Annika and Ethan were going to be saying ‘I do’ at The Skyroom in Red Wing, Minnesota, which is a whole vibe of a venue in and of itself. And, although this was the most picture perfect place to marry her forever person, Annika was still looking for a place (no, THE place!) to get all dressed up for her special day. 

And she stumbled on the perfect spot. 

The historic, Victorian-era, 1876 home that Annika found was the most eclectic, stunnnnnning space for her and her girls to get ready for her Golden Age wedding. Every room had its own color scheme, complete with original hardwood floors and adorned with vintage wallpaper that could, in theory, be considered a little bit ugly on its own, but somehow works in such a beautiful space. The house was such a vibe, and it truly made for the dreamiest photos.

There were so many elements in the house that contributed to classic, cinematic, and vintage imagery: the way her bridal shoes balanced ever-so-elegantly on the edge of the repurposed gold-accented sink, how her veil cascaded down the antique leather armchair, the pendant lights with their chintz-esque floral trim, the way Annika (looking an absolute VISION in her Madi Lane dress, by the way) was framed next to an old-timey radiator.

And because I could not and will not fail to mention it, let’s take a moment for the shoes (considering I still think about them almost-not-quite-but-actually-probably daily).

There was something about them that was so elegant, so timeless, and oh so Old Hollywood. It was as if Audrey Hepburn herself had crafted them out of the pearls from her iconic look in Breakfast at Tiffany’s.

I literally cannot get over them, so I obviously HAD to give them some air time in this blog post. Chef’s kiss. Perfection. No further notes (for now).

And, of course, every good romantic film needs its beaming starlet. One of my absolute favorite pictures from the gallery is one of Annika playing with her dress, hand on her heart, smiling from ear-to-ear, eyes crinkled in pure delight.

That picture is Annika: a modern day Grace Kelly, radiating joy with every ounce of her being because she was mere hours from marrying the man of her dreams.

The Star and Starlet

Another key to having a Golden Age cinematic wedding is, obviously, being a couple that is so totally head-over-gorgeous-pearl-adorned-heels-in-love. They have the type of main character energy that my signature movie mindset is all about. 

The truth of it, though? 

Annika and Ethan’s love doesn’t just emulate Old-Hollywood; it IS Golden Age cinema. 

It’s the ultimate love-done-right. It’s a love that their grandkids will be able to point to when they crack open their wedding album and say, “I want THAT.” It’s a love where they simply can’t keep their hands off each other, a love where Ethan’s world might very well just stop spinning on its axis every time he looks at Annika, and a love that makes their cheeks hurt from smiling so darn much.

It’s also a love worthy of an Academy Award: one where the groom accidentally says, “I, Annika, take you, Ethan” in all of his mid-wedding-jittery-bliss, and the bride can only toss her head back, absolutely cracking up, knowing that not even the best rom com director in the history of rom com directors could’ve scripted that one any better. 

The giggles, the smiles, the laughter… all unprompted authenticity.

The Cast of Characters

Every cinematic masterpiece needs an elite cast of characters, too, and this cast of characters was everything.

(I mean, someone give me the call sheet so I know exactly who to go for a good time.) 

Annika and Ethan’s wedding party and all of their guests were a testament to how many people freaking love them. Their people really showed up and showed up BIG. I’m talking hype crew of the century. 

Time to throw the groom in the air? Oh, they won’t do it once or twice, but four times.

The groom wants a picture of him and all of his groomsmen swinging golf clubs? A lot of the guys didn’t ‘see the vision,’ but you bet they were going to do it and do it stoked.

Picking up the bride and groom mid dance-off? You got it. 

There were also so many personal touches throughout the day that portrayed just how close knit and sweet the bonds in their families are. From Annika’s first look with her dad and brother as her mom and sister watched from the porch, to their niece using every ounce of her mighty little legs to fulfill her flower girl duties, trundling her cart of stunning florals down the aisle, to the families gathered in prayer around the newlyweds after they said ‘I do’… Every single moment was surrounded by their people and the love that they all have for each other.

Now, back to the party. My aim as your cinematic photographer is to be a fly on the wall… that is, until the dance floor opens up. Then, I want you to get in my camera’s face, point at it, sweat on it, put your hands in the air, and get down to the tune of Sir-Mix-A-Lot’s Baby Got Back (although, try as you may, you will never match Annika’s parents’ rendition).

Thaaaat’s the kind of dance floor we love to see. 

We’re talking drinks crushed, desserts half-eaten, Fireball shooters shot, blurry Polaroids strewn across the table, hands in the air, double-finger-gun dance moves– all the remnants of a good time. (Like, a really good time.)

All of this to say, Annika and Ethan’s wedding day deserved the big-screen treatment that it got. Their day is all the inspo you could really need for a wedding worthy of Golden Age cinema.

By picking a beautiful setting for the morning of, seeking details that added those nostalgic touches of vintage flair, being the On Screen It Couple without even trying, and surrounding themselves with an immeasurable amount of love, Annika and Ethan planned nothing short of a glamorous affair.

And being the one to document their cinematic love makes me one lucky girl.