Riley and Becca got engaged this spring during the pandemic. That in and of itself is a sign of hope for many couples who wonder how a wedding will work with so many restrictions. We can tell you firsthand how beautiful, joyful, and full of life these celebrations are! These two held back a lot of tears and shared a lot of smiles.

Their wedding took place on a gorgeous fall day in October at Holy Family Catholic Church in St. Louis Park, MN. Since it was a Friday wedding, school was still in session across the street. When the school kids saw Becca dressed in her gown they ran over with ooh’s and ahh’s at her beauty!

We loved that Becca did a first look with her father. These moments are so emotional. If you put yourself in his shoes, the whole day the dad is thinking about walking his little girl down the aisle and the toast he will give to honor her later at the reception. So having a private moment to have him see that little girl, all grown up, wearing her wedding gown without the pressure of other eyes on him and all of it happening in the moments before he gives her away…it’s a powerful moment! That was one of Katzie’s all time favorite moments from her own wedding so we always encourage couples to consider it!

Riley and Becca wanted to save their “first look” for when she walked down the aisle so instead they stood around a door holding hands, exchanging letters, and praying together. Riley was fighting back tears just hearing Becca’s voice around the corner and remained quiet trying to hold himself together. The waterworks came when he saw the back of the church doors finally open and there she was coming down the aisle to be his wife.

Our mutual friend, Fr. Louie Floeder, was the main celebrant and he reminded us in the homily about how God desires to give this gift of marriage to the human race and elevated it into a sacrament. He encouraged us all to reflect on the symbolism of Jesus, the bridegroom, giving Himself up for his Church. In the Eucharist, we see Christ continue to give Himself up for the bride… for 2,000 years(!)… desiring to dwell with us and within us. That deep unity in Christ and reliance on the sacraments are a strong foundation for marriage!

After their vows, Riley and Becca brought a bouquet of roses in thanksgiving to the holy family icon at the front of the sanctuary. This is one of our favorite traditions that couples incorporate into their wedding mass. Mary and Joseph had great faith and trust in God, especially in times of uncertainty. They’re a timely model for couples getting married during the pandemic – surrendering what we thought our plans would be for God’s in times of uncertainty.

Once Riley and Becca were announced husband and wife, we took family pictures in the church and then the couple rode off in a gorgeous white vintage Ford Thunderbird! When we got to their reception at Oak Ridge Country Club, we found some beautiful spots around the course for golden hour newlywed portraits.

Becca’s dad gave a sweet speech about the qualities he admires most in his daughter. He raved about how people always leave her company feeling better than they did before because of her good hearted nature. He admires how profoundly loyal she is to her friends and family, how she lives out her faith, and how trustworthy she is. It was also clear how proud he was that Riley is the man who gets to marry his daughter. In particular, he complimented Riley for his steadfast and patient pursuit of Becca over the past three years and how these traits complement her personality.

This couple was so creative with how they incorporated social distance-approved activities in lieu of a traditional dance floor. This included movie trivia for the adults, a hula hoop competition for the kids, and music playing for those who did want to move and groove six feet apart. Oak Ridge has a gorgeous outdoor patio just off the ballroom that includes a bonfire pit. Guests loved going outside to enjoy some mask-free time around the fire as they were winding down on this perfect fall wedding day.

Thank you for inviting us in to be a part of it! We can’t wait to see how your love grows through the years from here on out. Congratulations to the Ness newlyweds!

Wedding Team

Church: Holy Family Catholic Church

Venue: Oak Ridge Country Club

Catering: Oak Ridge Country Club

Cake: Buttercream Bakery

Florist: Nick Buseman

Hair Stylist: Tina Him from Coles Salon

Wedding Dress: The Wedding Shoppe on Grand Ave.

Men’s Attire: Milbern’s Clothing

DJ Entertainment: DJ Joe Masek from Impact Entertainment

Invitation Suite: Shutterfly