Howling Moon Wedding | Lizzy + Lucas
As Minnesota wedding coordinators who specialize in barn weddings, we always love when we get to work on a Howling Moon wedding. Lizzy and Lucas were one of our amazing couples who chose to celebrate their love at this rustic barn venue.
When working with Lizzy, she described her wedding style as “an elementary school art teacher’s biggest project.” As soon as we heard that, our team couldn’t wait to bring the day together for this sweet couple and their 130 guests!
THE MORNING
The morning of the wedding was cool and overcast, with hints of light rain in the forecast. It created a cozy environment for the ladies, who were getting ready in the bridal suite on the upper level of the barn. The vibes were high as the bride’s friends, Becca and Maddison, handled hair and makeup with music playing!
Meanwhile, our team was busy setting up decor, greeting vendors, and helping pin on boutonnieres. The couple also rented a few small wood tables and yard games from our inventory, so we made sure those were placed out as well.
Violet Cristina Photography set the couple up for their first look in front of their custom hanging mural, which the bride and her bridesmaids hand-painted during her bachelorette party (channeling those elementary school art teacher vibes!). It was then time for portraits around the property, including a few outdoor photos as the weather allowed.
We then pulled the wedding party aside for a quick day-of rehearsal to walk through everything. This is the best way to ensure everyone feels comfortable and knows their role during the ceremony!
THE CEREMONY
It rained on and off about an hour before the ceremony, then even hailed 30 minutes before. Our team was busy wiping down chairs every time the skies cleared, so we were still able to proceed with the couple’s outdoor ceremony!
Howling Moon weddings have the prettiest ceremony setups. The towering trees provide the perfect lush green backdrop in the summer and a colorful autumn glow in the fall. Lizzy and Lucas got a mix of both, as a few of the trees were just beginning to turn!
The couple used Howling Moon’s arch, which Fleurs de Lee decorated with white fabric. We also placed candles from Howling Moon on tree stumps provided by Lizzy and Lucas, surrounding the arch.
Once guests were seated, it was time to kick off the ceremony. Charlie Siggelkow played beautiful acoustic guitar as we cued everyone down the aisle, starting with the “flower child,” who was a huge hit!
She was followed by eight bridesmaids and nine groomsmen. The couple chose to have only their siblings stand at the altar with them. Buck, Lizzy’s brother, stood on her side, and Jenny, Lucas’s sister, stood on his.
Lizzy then made her grand entrance with both of her parents. We absolutely loved the floral detailing on her dress from The Wedding Shoppe. She looked stunning!
The couple shared a very emotional and meaningful ceremony with their favorite people. There were special readings, and they exchanged friendship bracelets as their unity symbol. They sealed these sweet moments with a kiss and made their way down the aisle as husband and wife!
Our team then moved the decor from the ceremony site to the dinner tables and lit the candles in the reception area as guests made their way to cocktail hour.
THE RECEPTION
After the couple finished signing their marriage license, they emerged onto the bridal suite balcony for a special toast. With a bubble machine going, they raised a glass with all of their loved ones. It was so cute!
Guests then enjoyed yard games, passed apps, and cocktails on the lawn. There were even a few celebrities in the crowd, including Bryan Cranston, Joel McKinnon Miller, and Taylor Dearden. The wedding party also snuck away for a few group photos during this time.
Then, it was time for everyone to take their seats for dinner. The theme of the wedding was “silly goose,” so every table was assigned a different type of goose—think “super goose,” “Shakespearean goose,” “suave goose,” and more. Guests found their seats by grabbing their place card button and matching it to their corresponding goose. So fun!
Once everyone found their assigned table, the couple made their grand entrance and went straight into their first dance to “Let’s Stay Together” by Al Green.
Eclectic Culinary Concepts then served a delicious dinner, and we loved working with their team. They kept everything on time and running smoothly!
As the couple finished their meal, Violet Cristina Photography pulled them outside for sunset portraits. The skies had cleared, and it turned into such a beautiful evening. We absolutely love how these photos turned out!
There were then four sweet speeches, followed by an equally sweet dessert—ice cream from What's the Scoop. This treat was a huge hit with guests!
Everyone then made their way upstairs in the barn for the traditional parent dances. Once those concluded, the couple kicked off the dance floor with another song to get everyone out there. Transmission Music kept the party going all night long.
As the night came to a close, guests were able to take a flower bouquet and hop on the shuttle from Renee's Limousines for a safe ride back to the hotel. It was such a seamless and beautiful day celebrating this sweet couple!
Lizzy + Lucas, we hope that married life has been filled with as much love and fun as this day was! We were so honored to be part of your team.
Thank you to Violet Cristina Photography for sharing these lovely photos with us!
Howling Moon Wedding Vendors
Wedding Coordinator: Rustic Elegance - Marissa and Kristen
Venue: Howling Moon
Caterer: Eclectic Culinary Concepts
Dessert: What’s the Scoop
Rentals: Rustic Elegance
Ceremony Music: Charlie Siggelkow (acoustic guitar)
DJ: Transmission Music
Florist: Fleurs de Lee
Photographer: Violet Cristina Photography
Hair/Makeup: Friends (Becca and Maddison)
Bridal Gown: The Wedding Shoppe
Transportation: Renee's Limousines
Creatively written by: Hope Konkol