Small Destination North Shore Wedding + Golf Course Reception • Xsperience Photography

Hailey and Kole couldn’t decide between a small destination wedding on Minnesota’s North Shore or staying close to home and hosting a Golf Course Wedding. So they chose to embrace the best of both!! They brought their family along to witness them exchanging vows on the North Shore, and a week later, celebrated with their friends and extended family members at Eau Claire Golf Course.

Small Destination Wedding on the North Shore of Lake Superior in Minnesota

The north shore of Lake Superior in Minnesota is a beloved destination for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts. There is no other place in Minnesota quite like it. Hailey and Kole wanted their official declaration of husband and wife to be personal, intentional, and meaningful. The North Shore holds a special place in their hearts so it seemed like the perfect destination wedding location for them to reminisce on the past, feel grounded and present in the moment, and prepare for their future as husband and wife.

Why did you choose a micro-wedding vs a big traditional wedding?

We were so excited to be engaged and start married life together, but the idea of planning a full traditional wedding with a big rushed timeline felt very stressful to us, and just not our style. While we still wanted to honor some traditions and celebrate with our amazing friends and family, we also wanted something very sweet and comfortable, filled with love and nature. Hailey’s dad passed seven years ago and it felt important to her to get married someplace special that was shared between him and her. The North Shore was that place. We also both attended college in Duluth so it felt special and significant. We followed Xsperience Photography on Instagram and after seeing photos of north shore elopements and micro weddings, we said, that’s exactly what we want for our special day!

What was your favorite part of the North Shore Wedding Day Experience?

Our favorite part of the wedding day was the exciting moment at the end of the ceremony when we were officially married!! But honestly we loved the whole experience from morning to night. Trisha set up the whole day for us, so we were able to just enjoy it without any stress whatsoever. We woke up to a full morning planned for just us! It was the perfect way to start our wedding day off on the right foot. We had a lovely morning sitting on the beach of Lake Superior, taking in the fresh breeze and quiet lake sounds, writing vows, and skipping rocks. And, the joy we felt when jumping in and swimming in the brisk Lake Superior water was so invigorating. We keep going back to those moments and feel so happy. Those moments set the tone for an incredible and thoughtful day.

Vendor Reviews

Nikki was amazing! She showed up over and over for us, between practicing hair and make up with Hailey and having our mini-shoot on her property, to day of designing our space and pulling together details and an awesome bonfire, as well as making Hailey a truly stunning bride! She provided the *chef’s kiss* finishing touches to so many parts of our wedding day.

Liz was so kind and intentional. She brought our ceremony to life and also helped our niece and puppy stay entertained and full of joy that was anble to be captured in our photos!

Trisha is MAGICAL and a true professional. She is not only a warm, genuine person, but also a successful businesswoman and artist! She put us at ease and captured amazing photos when we felt like we were just being ourselves in a fun location that we love. Trisha and her team orchestrated so many details in a way that made us feel truly taken care of (just to name a few: lodging, construction, timelines, nearby recommendations, breakfast, florals, hair, make up, food, officiating, epic moments, etc.). When we needed some guidance or direction she gave it to us, but also gave us space and time to enjoy the day. We can’t thank or recommend her enough!!

Eau Claire Country Club Wedding Reception

We hosted an awesome party at the Eau Claire Country Club! It is near our home and one of our favorite places. It was a perfect summer evening outside on the lawn. We celebrated with Aperol spritz, old fashioned’s, gorgeous florals, fun loving family and friends, excellent food, a rocking band, and a caricature artist. The night was filled with so much love and joy!

While we would have loved to have Trisha capture the wedding reception, she was personally already booked. But we were grateful to have Trisha’s Associate photographer, Kandace document the memories. This way we can trust our photos will cohesively blend together and remain cherished keepsakes.