Ally + Mike

AG Church of Willmar and Robbins Island Park, Willmar, Minnesota

Ally and Mike were married on an unpredictable April day, with rain threatening the whole time, but that didn’t damper the love these two radiated out to each other and all their guests! Because Ally is my husband’s cousin, this wedding was especially meaningful for me to photograph. Nothing like being surrounded by family and those you love while you work!

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Having met through mutual friends back in 2012, these two had their first official date at Applebee’s in Ally’s hometown of Willmar, MN. In March of 2018, Mike proposed on a regular weeknight evening after a trip to Home Depot where Ally says, “He bought me a plant I wanted, which should have been a sign!” After talking about the great day they spent together, Mike proposed after getting up from the couch to “go to the bathroom”.

Ally’s gown and veil from David’s Bridal were elegant and classic. She wore a delicate blue and gold bracelet that was special to Ally because it had belonged to her sister Shannan.

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Mike and Ally love reading together, watching movies, doing puzzles, playing ladder ball and hosting bonfires. The couple’s highlights during their engagement period include hosting Easter last year, and adopting two kittens together.

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The AG Church of Willmar was chosen for their ceremony and reception because of the special place it holds in Mike’s heart. Mike works with the Royal Rangers youth program at the church and has been part of an Assemblies of God congregation for years.

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Ally said the two decided on a morning wedding because they wanted to do something a bit more unique. While a morning wedding is becoming more common these days, serving brunch to your guests is still not something you hear about every day, so she and Mike decided to go for it, to be a little different! Their brunch buffet included waffles, egg bakes, and a delicious yogurt bar.

Ally and Mike both have laid-back personalities and wanted their special day to reflect that. They wanted their decor to be simple and not at all over the top. Ally’s favorite color is purple so it makes sense she was drawn to this lovely lilac and grey color scheme. Ally said Pinterest became her go-to source for planning and helping keep everything “simple yet cute.” These gorgeous DIY centerpieces came together with the help of Ally’s sisters and mom.

While Ally was originally thinking of daisies, Wild At Heart Floral put together these gorgeous bouquets of lilac shoots and baby’s breath and Ally and Mike agreed, “this was way more us than anything else.”

Kids are an important part of both Mike and Ally’s lives and they wanted their wedding to reflect that.

The rainy morning turned into a slightly-too-bright afternoon once we moved outside for portraits. Despite soggy grass and a chilly breeze, we had such a great time with these photos–this wedding party was a blast to hang out with!

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Ally, Mike and I headed to the lovely Robbins Island Park in Willmar for a few more minutes of portraits at the end of the day. We were probably only a week or so shy of full blown leaves on our trees here in Minnesota, but I think we still had a gorgeous spring backdrop for these photos.

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Mike and Ally are now off to sunny Orlando for their honeymoon! Congratulations, you two! I couldn’t be happier for you.

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These amazing vendors were part of the big day:
Wedding Planner: Jan from Assemblies of God Church, Willmar, MN
Ceremony and Reception: Assemblies of God Church, Willmar, MN
Officiant: Pastor Ben Markwardt
Caterer: Linda Watkins, aunt of the bride
Baker: Sam’s Club and Alyssa Kent
Gown and Veil: David’s Bridal
Shoes: Payless
Tuxedo: Tip Top Tux
Bridesmaid Dresses: David’s Bridal
Hair: Kelsey Ruter at Bombshells and Brows
Make-up: Nicole Kowalczyk
Invitations and Stationary: Molly McTague and Print Masters
Florist: Wild At Heart Floral
Musicians: Danielle Smith, and bride’s cousins