We Won!! // Thank you!!

We won! Minnesota Bride Best of 2015! I couldn’t be more grateful for everyone who took the time to vote. Although I work solo this is entirely a team effort and I couldn’t have done it without being surrounded by talented colleagues - to the amazing wedding planners, florists, venues, DJs, photographers, caterers, bands, and the list goes on - thank you for making me look good by giving me beautiful things to film. Finally, my deepest gratitude goes to the couples and families who welcome me in, and allow me to tell their stories. Because of you I get to do what I love everyday and I am eternally grateful! I know I’m just repeating myself but THANK YOU!!! To my very talented fellow finalists, Sky Focus Films, and Snowshoe Productions, congratulations on your nominations and I’m truly honored to have been up for this award alongside you! Thank you also to my wife Emma for your constant support and encouragement - and for being way to good looking to be with me but still sticking around. And to Kaiser and Judy for taking me on walks and giving me some editing breaks to keep the creative juices flowing.

Brooke + Jason // More and Most

On a perfect Saturday in Minneapolis, on the banks of the Mississippi river, two best friends joined their lives together and I couldn’t have been more honored to tell their story. Jason and Brooke, as well as their family and friends, are some of the nicest people I’ve ever captured. The entire weekend was filled with warmth, joy, and laughter as the celebration continued from one event to the next. In their letters to each other before the ceremony, as well as in their vows, both Brooke and Jason ended their thoughts with “more and most.” I can’t think of a better way to start their journey than by trying to outdo the other with love. Like always there is SO MUCH more I want to say but their film says it all. This was a team effort and I couldn’t have made this film without the help Lizzie Anne who planned and coordinated a flawless weekend! Special thanks also to Woodhill Country Club, Nicollet Island Inn, and the Nicollet Island Pavilion! To purchase the music used in this film please click here

Howard + Tillie // Cabo

It’s hard to describe how special it is to being brought in to the most important moment in a couples life - when you’re one of only 10 people at the wedding it is even more of an honor. Howard and Tillie’s destination wedding in Cabo, San Lucas / San Jose was breathtaking, emotional, and just a blast. I feel like I’m able to get my best and most authentic footage when I can blend into the background and have everyone forget they’re being filmed - and I was nervous how that would work with such an intimate group. Not only did that happen but they made me feel like part of the family along the way. This is a trip, couple, and film I will treasure forever and am so honored I was asked to tell this story. Everything from getting ready at Querencia, cliffside dinning at El Farallon, boating to the arch of Cabo San Lucas, and to the ceremony at Las Ventanas was absolutely perfect! Like always I want to say more but their film says it better than I ever could. It was a pleasure to shoot alongside the incredibly talented Andrew Vick and a huge thank you to Lindsay Piram Creative! To purchase the music used in this film please click here

KB50 // Kauai

Keith turned 50 (to say he doesn't look it is an understatement) and had quite the celebration on Kauai at the St. Regis. I was lucky enough to have Keith and his amazing husband Rob, who put this magical week together, come in to my life life in December of 2013 when I was hired to film their wedding in NYC. ( vimeo.com/vibrantfilm/keithandrob ) Since then, along with my wife, the four of us have become good friends. This is a post that could go on forever describing the amazing gem of a person Keith is and how he exemplifies what it means to live and LOVE life to the fullest, to give everyone and everything your best, and to pursue goals with dedication and purpose. He is a daily inspiration! I could go on, but I'm better at telling a story than I am at writing so I'll let this film serve as my toast to the birthday boy! To purchase the music used in this film please click here

Catherine + Harry // Calhoun Beach Club

Catherine and Harry had a magical winter wedding on Lake Calhoun in Minneapolis. I have so many favorite moments from our time together (some of which include the Father of the Bride “performing” Sweet Caroline on the dance floor) but I think the words of the officiant summed up the significance of the weekend the best by saying “Now you shall say a few words that take you across the threshold in life and things will never quite be the same between the two of you. After these vows you shall say to the world this is my husband, and this is my wife.” Together with their friends and family, (and their beautiful boxer Stewart) Catherine and Harry celebrated, laughed, cried, danced, and just had a blast as they crossed that threshold and joined their lives together! And I am beyond honored to have been asked to capture that. Special thanks to Sally Berry who coordinated and planned a flawless and stunning wedding. Everything from the rehearsal dinner at Bar Lurcat, to the ceremony and reception at Calhoun Beach Club was perfect! Congratulations Catherine and Harry! To purchase the music used in this film please click here

Alex + Win // Graylyn

Alex and Win, including their friends and family, are some of the best people I’ve ever met - and yeah, they know how to throw a party! I’m incredibly honored to have spent a magical fall weekend with them in Winston-Salem, North Carolina as they began to write the next chapter of their journey. It felt as if every moment was filled with laughter, high-fives, hugs, and lots of love. From the moment we first met I knew they were a perfect match, best friends, and will do amazing things together! The father of the bride put it perfectly saying, "Love, much like water always finds its level." And it certainly has with these two. Alex was absolutely stunning in her Vera Wang dress, and Win couldn’t have been more dapper in his tux and Scottish tartan! Most of the festivities took place at Graylyn, a breathtakingly beautiful property with deep significance to Alex’s family. Everything couldn’t have been more perfect. Every detail was thought of and perfectly appointed. Although I have a million favorite moments from our time together, theirs is a film that definitely needs to be seen rather than heard- so I’ll stop. Special thanks to all the amazing staff at Graylyn, Old Town Golf Club, and Eric Nicolas & One Love. Again, I couldn’t be more grateful to have captured these two amazing people and to now call them friends. Congratulations Alex and Win! To purchase the music used in this film please click here

Luke + Claire // Maui {The Princess & Action Man}

Luke and Claire, (The Princess and Action Man) had the most incredible wedding on the Island of Maui. From New Zealand, they chose to have a destination celebration with almost a week’s worth of adventure, sun, laughter, delicious food, live entertainment, and so much more. Over a weeks time you really have a chance to get to know someone - and it didn’t take long to realize both Claire and Luke are best friends, head over heels in love with each other, and make a perfect team. You wouldn’t have known that Maui set an all-time heat record on their wedding day by looking at them - they were all smiles! They are two amazing people who have a beautiful future in front of them. Their family and friends are equally impressive and did their part by filling each moment with love and joy! I have a million favorite moments from our time together, I could write forever about how special this week was and how honored I am to have captured it. But more than that I want you to see their film so I’ll stop. Special thanks to the mother of the bride Deborah who, with Claire (from thousands of kilometers away) planned one of the most breathtaking weddings I have ever seen! Thank you also to Andaz Maui, Sugar Beach Events, Wailea Golf Club, ‘Ami ‘Ami, Morimoto, Rio Event Design, and our live entertainment The Three Waiters! It was a huge honor to shoot along the impossibly talented Anna Kim! To purchase the music used in this film please click here

Mat + Jennifer // Write Your Own Adventure

Mat and Jennifer put their relationship to the test right at the begging of this new chapter in their lives. They packed up everything they owned and together with their dog Jack moved across country the week of their wedding! I wouldn’t normally recommend this, however if anyone could do it it’s these two. After spending any amount of time with them it is so apparent that they are best friends, and make an incredible team! The wedding weekend started with a beautiful rehearsal dinner on Devils Lake. With Famous Dave's catering, lawn games, and a truly striking sunset it was the perfect way to start the celebration. The wedding was held at Trappers Turn golf club in Wisconsin Dells. Surrounded by family and friends, and the DOH (dog of honor), Mat and Jennifer joined their lives together and had one heck of a party! It was truly an honor to share this weekend with them and there is so much more I want to say but I’ll let their film say it for me. There is nothing better than seeing two best friends make really important promises to each other. Thank you for having me! To purchase the music used in this film please click here

David + Sara {and Bud!} // Breathtaking Intelachen Wedding

David and Sara are awesome - and it’s not just because they’re parents to Bud - they are both incredibly kind and share a deep love for their friends, family, and each other. Together with Bud, (one of the sweetest dogs I’ve ever met) they make a stunningly beautiful new family. The 4th of July is very special to David and Sara. It was on that date 3 years ago when they first met, and last year when David proposed. Without giving anything away I think they did a phenomenal job of incorporating the 4th into their wedding! I have a million favorite moments from our time together and one that stands out is a toast from Sara’s Grandpa who said, “If you hold hands with the the person you love… throughout life… the bumps in the road will disappear.” I want to share more, but their films says it all. Everything from Giannis Steakhouse, The Church of the Ascension, to Intelachen Country Club was absolutely perfect and I am so incredibly honored to captured this celebration. They had a breathtakingly beautiful wedding day planned and coordinated by the very talented Rita Swanson of Premier Planning. It was also a huge honor to shoot alongside Laura Ivanova! Congratulations again David and Sara (and Bud)! To purchase the music used in this film please click here

Chris + Gina // Stunning Minneapolis & St. Paul Wedding

Family, celebration and love are what come to mind when I think about the incredible wedding of Chris and Gina. Family and friends traveled from across the country, some from just a few miles away, and came together to surround the newly married couple with shared joy as they danced, ate, sang, toasted, laughed and cried. Even without the dramatic lighting, stunning decor, and flawless design the wedding day was beautiful in its own right. Two best friends joined their lives together, starting the next chapter of their adventure surrounded in love. This was a true Twin Cities wedding with locations in both St. Paul and Minneapolis. From the Loews Hotel, Church of the Assumption, to The Depot; every detail was perfectly appointed and each event went off without a hitch thanks to the very talented Joan Nilsen of Ambiente. I have so many favorite moments from our time together but Chris and Gina’s wedding film tells the story better than I ever could. I am beyond grateful to have gotten to know such amazing people and congratulations again on a very special day! Special thanks to Nick Pitera for his awesome performance of Edge of Glory at the reception! To purchase the music used in this film please click here