Two Day Wedding | North Shore Micro-Wedding + Reception With Guests • Xsperience Photography

Hailey and Kole couldn’t decide between an intimate micro-wedding on Minnesota’s North Shore or hosting a Golf Course Wedding with all their friends and family. So they chose to embrace the best of both!! They brought their pup and immediate family along to witness them exchange vows on the North Shore early August. A week later, they celebrated with their friends and extended family members at Eau Claire Golf Course near their home.

Full Day Micro-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 two different days to celebrate your 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. Plus it’s just not our style. While we still wanted to honor some traditions and celebrate with our amazing friends and family, we very much wanted something very sweet and comfortable. Especially when we wrote and exchanged our vows. It was important to have that special moment filled with love and surrounded by nature.

What made you decide on the North Shore of Lake Superior for your destination micro-wedding?

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 full day North Shore Wedding Experience?

Our favorite part of the whole 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.

Take a peek at this highlight video if you want to see qhat a full day micro-wedding on Minnesota’s North Shore looks and feels like…

Micro Wedding at The Havens A Frame Cabin Overlooking Lake Superior

The Havens A-Frames overlooking Lake Superior make the perfect little micro-wedding venue. Hailey and Kole reserved a tiny cabin for themselves and their pup, Maple. They booked the one on the end to allow for a couple extra vehicles to park, because they would later host a pizza party.

We did everything so they could just focus on one thing…getting married! I created a bouquet with some beautiful summer florals mixed with some good ole local weeds from the north shore ditches. Of course I was the photographer and videographer, with assistance from the officiant who is a good friend of mine plus a professional photographer. My other talented friend came along to do Hailey’s hair and makeup and styled the pizza party while we were off getting married at Black Beach and taking sunset portraits on the cliffs. This made for such a sweet surprise for Hailey, Kole and their guests.

If you are interested in a stress free all-inclusive elopement or micro-wedding check out our ELOPE WEST website!!

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

Hailey and Kole hosted an awesome party at the Eau Claire Country Club a week later! It is near their home and one of their 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.”