There’s a feeling of ethereal magic when celebrating the beginning of a new marriage with an intimate wedding. While big weddings have their own special moments, intimate weddings invite your closest friends and family to take part in the unbridled joy of your wedding day.

Made popular by the pandemic, smaller weddings are on the rise. They’re great for couples who prefer a more intimate setting but still have big dreams for their wedding design. For Erin and Colin, two hard-working professionals who met online during the pandemic, an intimate wedding felt like the perfect fit.

Erin’s a CPA and Colin works in the medical industry, so the couple was short on time but had a beautiful vision for their day. Our team at de Vasco’s Daughters was thrilled with how every detail came together—from the gorgeous floral installation to the lush tablescapes. Here’s a small peek into their uniquely beautiful wedding design and some of the special moments they shared.

Inside the Hewing Hotel in Downtown Minneapolis

In choosing a venue for their intimate wedding in downtown Minneapolis, Erin and Colin wanted to give their guests an opportunity to stay in one central location for the wedding weekend. Since most guests were traveling from out of town, the couple wanted a wedding venue that also offered wonderful hotel accommodations so everyone had a comfortable place to stay and celebrate.

We selected the Hewing Hotel, a historic hotel located in the North Loop neighborhood of downtown Minneapolis. Known for its beautifully distressed brick walls, exposed ceilings, and dark interior, it was the perfect moody and enchanting backdrop for their urban-style wedding.

At de Vasco’s Daughters, we consider any design challenge to be our greatest opportunity for creating a wedding design that’s truly unique. With limited natural light, we were able to stretch our creativity by highlighting the dark moodiness of the space while adding halos of light throughout. 

A reception space straight from a dream 

With an intimate wedding, no detail goes overlooked. The smaller scale means there’s more opportunity to make your wedding exactly what you want without compromising your vision. This is precisely why we’re so proud of the collaborative effort between Ginger Root MPLS and PHOS Events to bring together floristry and lighting installation in one cohesive creation.

Kyle created one of the most stunning floral installations we’ve ever seen. For months, he foraged florals and greenery from his own garden and yard. He completely grasped our vision and the color palette. He also added fruits and gourds, some sliced open to reveal their beautiful texture, creating a visually stunning display.

For the lighting installation, we didn’t want to use typical Edison-style bulbs but rather luxe fairy lights. PHOS Events executed our vision to perfection by incorporating the lights into the larger floral installation hanging from above.

Completing the elevated design

As a finishing touch, we created an unforgettable tablescape that transformed the room into an enchanted urban forest. With a mutual love for the outdoors, Erin and Colin wanted the florals to be the centerpiece of their lush table design.

To add more visual interest, we used lighter chairs, gold metallic chargers courtesy of Linen Effects, and specialty table linens made of luxurious fabrics with raw silk from BBJ La Tavola. 

For more light, we used hundreds of glass votive candles and surrounded them with stunning florals and lush fall foliage. Each glass on the table reflected and amplified the candlelight, allowing the light to glow throughout the reception space. With breathtaking hues of ivory, copper, and deep maroon on full display, the tablescape felt intricate yet inviting.

We also repurposed floral from the ceremony arbor around the base of the cake from The Copper Hen, making it look like an art piece. Jes of Clewell Photography captured every detail of the bride and groom’s wedding day perfectly.

Fashionable details we loved

Erin was a wonderfully fashion-forward bride. As an avid knitter, she deeply values craftsmanship and artistry, which is reflected in her bridal accessories and dresses. 
Annika Bridal in Edina is where she found her ceremony wedding dress designed by Sareh Nouri. The intricately embroidered floor-length veil helped Erin transition seamlessly between the ceremony to her reception wedding dress.

Designed by Ines di Santo, the strapless dress was accented with a tasteful thigh-high slit in the front. The ivory silk fabric is gathered at the waist, creating an hourglass silhouette. For added flair, the backless dress featured a panel of mesh to create the perfect fit. 

Paired with artfully pearled Jimmy Choo heels and a high-fashion pearled clutch, Erin looked effortlessly chic throughout every vignette of her wedding day. Dripping with luxury, her bridal wear naturally elevated the look of the whole day. As the French would say, “Très magnifique!”

With an elegant half-up, half-down curled hairstyle from Ziel Bridal and copper-toned makeup from makeup artist Jesus Arte, Erin felt her best.

Intimate details for an intimate wedding

Like many of our couples, Erin and Colin wanted to add personal details to their wedding celebration. With a mutual love for animals, the couple incorporated their cat Crispies and dog Argus into their custom cocktail items and paper goods by Hunt Wright Design Co. 

The ceremony was officiated by one of their dear friends, and the couple decided to write their own vows for their ceremony, surrounded by a very small wedding party. They used a Red Wing crock to collect their guest cards and gifts, honoring their small-town roots.

One of our favorite personal touches was one of the grandmas created quilt squares as a unique alternative to a guest book. Each guest signed a square and the other grandma sewed them together, creating a beautiful heirloom for the couple.

Closing the night with a dance 

With the head table purposefully placed in the middle, the couple shared their sensual and beautiful first dance surrounded by their loved ones. Thanks to the soothing sounds of the Loring String Quartet, their wedding was a beautiful day to be remembered.