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REAL WEDDING // KELSEY & CHRIS
October 9th, 2020 couldn’t have ended up more different for Kelsey and Chris to get married, but couldn’t have been more perfect. Due to COVID, their original guestlist of 150 had to be cut down to just 26 guests. And the weather? Not your typical October weather in Minnesota… Nope, for Kelsey and Chris, it was 82 degrees (but they weren’t complaining). Through the craziness of 2020, they managed to keep their original wedding date and have the perfect day loving each other.
Here’s their story, told by the bride herself.
Our story:
Chris and I do not have the typical story, and may be surprising to some. We went to junior high school together and met when we were 13 and 15. We had a mutual friend and would ride on the bus together, and meet up late at night to hang out and chat on the phone. Our mutual friend moved away and we didn’t talk much after, and went our separate ways going into high school and college.
The year that I graduated, I decided to get the bumble app. I didn’t have much luck with it, until January 2018, when I was swiping and came across Chris Randall. I texted my best friend, and bridesmaid, Sydney Olstad, telling her that he had come across my feed and I always thought he was attractive in high school, and she said I should go for it, so obviously I swiped right. The biggest part of our story is that I did not see we were a mutual match, until Chris extended the connection. I am forever grateful for this feature on Bumble!
Chris and I began to talk and it was instantly comfortable and in-depth conversations. We began to reminisce on junior high, I sent him pictures of the yearbook and what we both looked like then. We continued to talk with ease and 3 days later, he asked me on a date.
I think we were both very nervous, but as we talk about now, we discuss how comfortable we felt with one another. We both knew there was something different about each other. After the first date, it seems we couldn’t get enough of one another. We became not only boyfriend and girlfriend, but best friends.
Our engagement:
Chris proposed to me on July 4th, 2019 and I was oblivious all day long. We had a couple friends in town, and hung out with my family and my grandparents. We spent the day out on Prior Lake on our boat and it was an absolutely beautiful day. We ended up back on Prior Lake later that night for fireworks. Chris’s mom lives on Prior Lake, so we were able to see the fireworks front and center, and joined by some of Chris’s family. Before the fireworks started, at sunset, Chris and I sat on the dock for some alone time. We eventually decided to walk back up to the house, and as we both stood up, he told me to turn towards the house and all I could see was everyone holding their phones up – not knowing that my mom had spent hours on a sign that said “Will you marry me?†And I didn’t see it. Only to turn back to him getting down on one knee and proposing. I was in complete shock!! He said sweet things, that to this day we both can’t remember, and I said yes!!!
Although we had already been engagement ring shopping, Chris made a comment that day about us going to check out some more spots to find the ring that I actually want. And throughout the day I talked about marriage, kids and even tried on my sister and girl friend’s engagement rings. The irony was all there!! I even made a comment about my nail polish chipping that day to Chris, and he asked if I was going to fix it. I responded with, “No, it’s not like you’re going to propose to me today.†Many more things happened that day that we look back and laugh at, but we are so happy we were surrounded by so many that mean the most to us for such a special moment in our lives.
Our wedding day:
It truly was something we did not expect having to change. But, through this crazy year of 2020, we still got married on our original wedding date, October 9th 2020, with 26 people, originally supposed to be 150, and it was an absolutely beautiful day. Chris and I always say that it couldn’t have been any better; it was more intimate and laid back, which is more the type of people we are. Although we did not have a lot of our loved ones there, we made the absolute best of it. We ended up with an abnormal weather day for October: 82 degrees and perfect weather for dancing at our reception outside and pictures.
Our morning started at my Parent’s house, where the ladies were getting ready with makeup artists (Jules Annen) and hairstylists (Bri Morin). While others were getting dolled up, I was given a scrapbook to look through, with a page from each woman in my life and a personal letter written from: my bridal party, my mom, mother/step-mother-in-law and my grandmas. Reading through with tears and smiles, it was so special, and something I can look back on in the future.
Most of the day was in Prior Lake, getting dressed at Chris’s mom’s house, then moving to Lakefront Park for group pictures, which is walking distance from her house. Our first looks was on a side path next to her house, and we decided to read letters to each other before our first look. It was such a special and intimate moment that we cherish so much about that day.
After pictures were complete at Lakefront Park, we made our way to the ceremony at Glenhaven Events: by taking a party bus! This was something we wanted to do with our bridal party to celebrate altogether, and it was such a blast!
Our reception was so much fun: full of food, laughter, love, happiness and dancing outdoors in a string-lit gazebo. My matron of honor (my sister), best man (Chris’s brother-in-law), and my dad all gave speeches during the reception. All bringing in touches of love and humor, my dad decided to bring my childhood blanket to display to everyone at the reception! Which is quite embarrassing, since it is ripped to shreds and can barely be recognized as a blanket.
Overall, we loved our day, and are looking forward to celebrating with more loved ones in mid to late 2021!
Vendors:
Designer/style of dress: Justin Alexander, 8961
Ceremony Location: Glenhaven Events in Farmington, MN
Reception Location: Lakefront Park in Prior Lake, MN
Photographer: Kelsey Larson Photography
Videography: Krafft Visuals
Décor: All The Rage Decor
Hair: Bri Morin
Makeup: Jules Annen
Catering: Andiamo Italian Ristorante
Cake/Dessert: Edelweiss Bakery
Bride’s dress/designer/style: Bridal Accents Couture, Justin Alexander, 8961
Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Our Shop Bridal
Groom’s + Groomsmen’s Suits: Bill’s Toggery
Décor: All The Rage Decor
Hair: Bri Morin
Makeup: Jules Annen
Catering: Andiamo Italian Ristorante
Cake/Dessert: Edelweiss Bakery
Bride’s dress/designer/style: Bridal Accents Couture, Justin Alexander, 8961
Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Our Shop Bridal
Groom’s + Groomsmen’s Suits: Bill’s Toggery
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