The Madison Wedding | Ann + Jakob
The Madison wedding venue is perfect for fall weddings. We specialize in coordinating Minnesota barn weddings, so we have lots of experience under our belt! From the outdoor patio surrounded by colorful trees to the warm glow of lights in the historic barn, this venue gives all the cozy fall vibes.
Rustic Elegance Owner, Kellie, did all of the planning with Ann and Jakob. They had 4 meetings prior to the wedding date: one welcome/overview meeting, two 1.5 hour planning meetings, and one week of the wedding recap meeting. These check-ins help our couples feel confident and supported throughout the planning process!
The Morning
At 7am, the ladies were on site getting ready with the amazing Beauty Collective who perfected their hair and makeup. Once Ann finished getting ready, she slipped into her beautiful white gown from Flutter Bridal Co. She looked absolutely stunning!
Photos by Jennifer Jane then set Ann up for a first look with her father outside of the barn. This was such an emotional and heartwarming moment!
Ann’s father then made his way into the barn for a quick handshake and hug with Jakob before sending him off for his first look with Ann. It’s these little behind the scenes moments that make our hearts melt!
Jennifer then set Jakob up outside and gave Ann the signal to come out. When these two locked eyes, they had the biggest smiles on their faces. You could truly see how happy these two lovebirds were to be together!
The couple made their way around the property for portraits with Jennifer. The fall color on the trees added the perfect pop of color!
Ann and Jakob’s wedding party then joined them for a few fun group shots. This was such an awesome crew!
After photos and lunch, the wedding party hopped on the bus from Schmitty & Sons to head to St. Jude of the Lake Church for the ceremony. Kellie hopped in her car to meet everyone at the church while team member Carlie stayed behind to greet vendors and continue setting up. We will be sure to have every component of your wedding covered so you don’t have to worry about a thing!
The Ceremony
Over at St. Jude of the Lake Church, everyone’s excitement was brewing! The couple had 3 ushers who greeted guests and handed out programs. If you’re wondering what tasks your ushers should be handling, be sure to check out our blog about personal attendant and usher duties!
With 9 attendants on each side and 2 flower girls, it was important that the large group had someone to help cue them. Our team has plenty of experience in this area, so Kellie had them covered!
The large processional was led by Father Chad and Father John. Jakob then entered with Grandma Madalen before circling back to walk with both of his parents. Next up was the bride’s mom who was escorted in by the bride’s brother. Then of course all of those bridesmaid and groomsmen pairs made their entrances!
Lastly, the flower girls made their way down the aisle hand in hand before Ann’s grand entrance with her dad, Larry. She was such a beautiful bride!
The couple had a traditional Catholic ceremony with communion. Colleen, the groom’s godmother, did 2 readings. Jakob’s sister-in-law read the petitions. As the ceremony came to a close, the couple sealed every word with a kiss before making their exit as husband and wife!
As they exited the church to get onto the party bus from Schmitty & Sons, guests blew bubbles. This made for such fun photos and was a great touch for their wedding video from Harvest Wedding Films!
Kellie then hopped back into her car with the 2 floral arrangements from the altar to head back to The Madison wedding reception. The arrangements would be repurposed there!
The Reception
As guests arrived at the venue, they were able to enjoy drinks and socializing on the patio. The couple had a saxophone player outside to serenade their guests with live music during this time!
Inside the barn, the RE team and the couple’s vendors were busy putting the finishing touches on the reception space. We placed linen napkins that the couple folded and provided onto the tables. The Cutting Garden added lots of floral touches and provided the table numbers.
Pro tip: If you are having an assigned seating chart, organize it in alphabetical order by last name instead of by table number. This way guests don’t have to look at every table’s list for their name!
Not only did the couple have a large wedding party… They also had a large guest count of 300! The Madison wedding venue is great for large groups, as they have a barn loft that can be used for additional seating during dinner.
As soon as guests were all seated, we cued the wedding party for their grand entrance on the main level of the barn. The couple then entered by making their way down the staircase. The Madison weddings always make for iconic grand entrances!
Then it was time to dig in! Tinucci’s always provides a delicious wedding day buffet. We can’t recommend them enough!
While everyone was enjoying their meal, there were speeches by the mother of the bride, the father of the bride, the maid of honor, and the best man. The bride’s father secretly placed a large photo behind the head table and surprised her by unrolling it during his speech. It was such a sweet moment!
After dinner wrapped up, guests made their way to the soft serve ice cream machines from Dieball Dairy. Everyone was able to customize their treats by adding their own toppings!
The RE team then moved the head table back to make room for dancing. The couple shared a lovely first dance to “Hey Pretty Girl” by Kip Moore. This was followed by the traditional parent dances.
Adagio then got the party started and kept everyone dancing all night long! This lively group kept the dance floor packed for the remainder of the evening.
As the night began to come to a close, guests had the option to take a shuttle from Minnesota Coaches back to their hotel. Meanwhile, The Cutting Garden team returned to pick up their items. Our team also began cleaning up and packing items into the designated cars per our Clean Up Package the couple added on.
Ann and Jakob, you were both so wonderful to work with! We hope married life has been filled with as much love and splendor as this day!
The Madison weddings are nothing short of stunning. Are you planning to get married at The Madison? We’re here to support you! Check out our packages and see if we’re the right fit.
Don’t hesitate to send us a message if you have any questions!
PS - The Madison made our list of top Minnesota barn wedding venues. If you’re still deciding on a venue for your wedding day, be sure to check out the full list!
VENDORS
Minnesota Wedding Coordinator: Rustic Elegance - Kellie and Carlie
Ceremony Venue: St. Jude of the Lake Church
Reception Venue: The Madison
Caterer: Tinicci’s Catering
DJ: Adagio
Florist: The Cutting Garden
Photographer: Photos by Jennifer Jane
Videographer: Harvest Wedding Films
Dessert: Dieball Dairy
Transportation: Minnesota Coaches
Party Bus: Schmitty & Sons
Hair/Makeup: The Beauty Collective
Bridal Gown: Flutter Bridal Co