Our beautiful Daalarna bride Emelia and her love Michael tied the knot at an apple orchard and vineyard in Minnesota, ‘on a warm night, with live music pooling out of a barn and people flowing inside to out, moving from dancing to drinks’. Check out our interview with the lovely bride who talks about the most memorable moments of the big day!
Could you please introduce yourself in a few words? Where are you from?
My name is Emelia, I was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota but live in San Francisco, California.
How did you meet your husband?
We met more than 10 years ago. We reconnected at a concert the day after Thanksgiving in 2018. I remember seeing Michael in the front of the crowd, handsome as ever. We saw each other a few times throughout the night, and every time, we were both ear-to-ear grinning. I’ll always remember thinking it his smile was so big and genuine, no holding back, two people wholly happy to see one another again.
At the end of the show, just as I was leaving, he asked for my number.
I called him when I came home for the Christmas holidays one month later and we were inseparable until I had to return to San Francisco. We started visiting each other every three weeks. The rest is history!
How was the proposal?
I am a writer. I am constantly writing poems for loved ones or leaving notes for Michael throughout the house. On a warm summer night, Michael took me on a walk and at a darling little creek, he stopped and read me a poem. Michael wrote the poem not even one month after we first met. He wrote how he knew I was the one and that he wanted a lifetime of love together. The proposal followed shortly after. We ended the night with our toes dipped in the water, sipping champagne straight from the bottle, watching stars speckle the sky. It was perfectly intimate.
How did you choose your wedding location?
We are both from Minnesota and wanted to be surrounded by our very big families. I always envisioned my wedding on a warm night, with live music pooling out of a barn and people flowing inside to out, moving from dancing to drinks. I also knew I did not want a country-themed barn wedding. I wanted the venue to feel rustic, to celebrate the outdoors and beautiful Midwest summer nights and to still feel refined.
We were married at Ashery Lane Farms, an apple orchard and vineyard, that gave us the exact romantic, rustic aesthetic we desired.
How did you choose your wedding dress, your Daalarna gown?
This dress and I had a journey! I always envisioned myself in a romantic dress. A-line, ballerina-esque, low back, thin straps, and light but full-bodied tulle. Pretty specific. 🙂 I wanted to feel elegant and whimsical; I wanted to be able to dance in my dress but still ensure that it had the drama and punch of a wedding dress.
Initially, I started searching for boho dresses but found many of them felt too ordinary. I went to numerous wedding dress shops before I found Daalarna. Your dresses are designed well for small-busted women and do not have all the heavy padding that many dresses are constructed of today. When I put one of your dresses on, I was struck but how airy and light it felt. It was as if I was floating. The beadwork and eyelash lace were impeccably subtle but still boasted an air of celebration and elevated style. Daalarna was willing to work with me on a few custom additions. I added my top to a tulle bottom and added a 3-foot train with a raw edge. My dress is both dramatic yet effortlessly boho romantic.
I even had one guest ask where I got the dress and whether she could have it for her own wedding. The highest praise a dress can get. 🙂
How was the big day? What are your favourite memories?
I am forever smitten with our wedding day. Up until the wedding, Minnesota was experiencing one of the hottest summers on record. The night before our wedding, the heat broke. We had blue skies, a slight breeze. More than 150 family members and friends from across the country came to join us. Michael and I both felt very present. My favorite memories from the day include:
- Taking golden hour photos with Michael. We were relaxed and so very happy. I felt free at that moment, overpouring with love. From being nestled together under my veil to walking through the vineyard rows to hopping in the mini donut truck. It was a mini date.
- Being on the dance floor all night long. Constantly turning and seeing friends and family intertwined, hugging and swaying and dancing. I was sweaty and out of breath and I loved every minute of it.
- Seeing our moms walk onto the dance floor holding hands. Seeing my dad hug Michael’s brother after his Best Man speech. I felt the power of our families’ love, for us and each other.
- Lastly, but most importantly, my favorite memory is having Michael by my side all night long. So many people warned us that we’d spend the whole night apart, busy thanking guests and talking to other people. But, we never left each other’s side. He was my whole world that night and I was his. It was magic!
If you could give one advice to our future brides, what would it be?
Before you start to plan your wedding, sit down with your partner and set an intention for your wedding day. Once you start to plan, or when things get stressful, remember to come back to this intention. It helps you to make decisions that keep you connected to the true spirit of the day for you and your partner.
Photos: Rachel Lynn Photography, thebyesphoto, Jennifer Jane Photography, Dress: Daalarna Couture / Annika Bridal, MN
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