What do you get when you take two St. Paul kids who stuck around the Cities and add large, loving families and a lifetime of friends from Catholic schools? One BIG wedding. That was the story for Erica Hartmann and Andrew Skinner, who were married at Our Lady of Victory Chapel in St. Paul on February 20, 2009.
Of course, the blessings of a big wedding are many. For the Skinners, a long guest list meant hug upon hug and joy enough to fill St. Paul’s Landmark Center. The challenge, for this spotlight-shy couple, was keeping a 200-plus event personal. Their solution? Incorporate “just for us” touches that lent comfort and meaning.
All photos by Adrienne Page Photography.
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The Updo: “I’m a ‘hair up’ kind of girl. Why change on my wedding day?” says Erica. A custom-made hairpiece from Che Bella in St. Paul helped keep her hair back all day.
The Suit: “Andrew is anti-tux. So, he picked out a dark suit at Nordstrom’s that made him feel great,” says Erica. “And, he can wear it again.” Tip: Grooms, take your father with you on your suit-shopping trip—it will mean the world to him!
The Seating: The couple sat together up front during their ceremony, facing the altar. “Because we weren’t looking at our guests, the ceremony still felt very intimate,” says Erica.
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The Jacket: “My wiz of a seamstress, Amy Stariha, made a satin jacket to match my dress,” says Erica. “Shoulders covered, I was more comfortable at the reception.” Tip: Your dress shop likely can help you special-order matching fabric.
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The Photos: Andrew and Erica made time to shoot ‘just us’ photos. “Our photographer, Adrienne Page, said they’d be our favorites,” Erica says. “She was right.”
The Food: “For dinner, we served an appetizer buffet: beef tenderloin, salmon, seared tuna—all things we love to eat,” says Erica. Mythbuster: Minnesotans will eat sushi. “It was gone before anything else.” For dessert, Chef Ian Pierce of St. Paul’s 128 Café baked 400 chocolate chip cookies using a recipe the couple perfected in their own kitchen. Gooey goodness!
The Details
Ceremony: Our Lady of Victory Chapel, Saint Catherine University
Reception: Landmark Center www.landmarkcenter.org
Caterers: The Deco (Dinner) www.decocatering.com; 128 Café (Dessert) www.128cafe.net
Suit: Nordstrom’s, Bloomington
Dress: Mestads Bridal and Formal Wear, Rochester www.mestads.com
Accessories: Che Bella, Grand Avenue www.chebella.com
Makeup: Maggie Long Slattery; www.makeupbymaggielong.com
Hair: Studio Salon on Grand; www.studiosalonongrand.com
Alterations: Amy Stariha
Invitations: Red E Print, St. Paul
Flowers: Tying the Knot
Music: Spiritu (Ceremony) www.spiritumusic.com; Tom Prin (Reception) www.tomprin.com
Photographer: Adrienne Page, Adrienne Page Photography www.adriennepage.com
Honeymoon: Driving Tour of Ireland’s West Coast, Galway to Cork
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