1. Real Weddings

A Glamorous, Modern Wedding at Orchestra Hall in Minneapolis, Minnesota

Holli Wilber (25 and a marketing specialist) and Menzie Henderson (25 and an advertising account executive) met as interns at the University of Minnes

Holli Wilber (25 and a marketing specialist) and Menzie Henderson (25 and an advertising account executive) met as interns at the University of Minnesota athletic department. On their first encounter, Menzie stood up, shook Holli’s hand and introduced himself (an introduction that his friends would later tease him about). The two really got to know each other after being assigned to work together four times a week for a semester. “I think he fell in love with me after I taught him to properly set up a staple-sort on the printer,” Holli says. Eventually they were up for the same promotion. When Holli was offered the job, “he got over the defeat by asking me out,” she says. Since Holli’s family is from South Dakota (where she grew up) and Menzie’s is in Wisconsin (where he grew up), they wanted their out-of-town guests to really experience Minneapolis, Minnesota. They chose Orchestra Hall as their venue—in the heart of the city, overlooking bustling Nicollet Mall—with their hotel across the street. Their style was modern and sophisticated, classy and classic, with a fun, stylish edge to match the elegance of Orchestra Hall. Guests moved from the ceremony space to the cocktail hour in the mezzanine/outdoor balcony, then to the main lobby for dinner and back to the ceremony space for dancing. If there were any glitches, Holli wasn't aware. "At the risk of sounding cliche, the day was perfect. If calamities happened, no one told me," she says. "Brides: Keep it that way if you can. Hire someone to shelter you." One of the best decisions the couple made was to bring in talented professionals and "let them do what they do best," she says. When you enlist others to help, they work hard to figure out the logistics and are invested in carrying out your vision. "The peace of mind you receive is truly invaluable," she says. Another piece of advice? If you want to keep guests dancing, strategically put the bar and photo booth close to the dance floor, and block off other areas of the venue if you can. "It makes me sad to see guests lingering away when they have a dance party to enjoy," Holli says. "We did everything we could to keep our guests on the dance floor, even telling the wait staff to serve dessert where we were holding the dance." In the end, she says, "We had a party! We danced until the venue kicked us out." —Chrissy Sorenson 

Holli's shoes were the first item purchased—beautiful Badgley Mischkas that had just the right amount of detail and the height to bring her into frame with Menzie, who is a foot taller.
Holli's gown featured an illusion necklace with dramatic beading. "I loved that element because it let me get away with minimal jewelry," she says.
Holli fell in love with a gown online before she physically tried on any dresses. “I pretty much knew it was the one,” she says. She went to one bridal shop mostly for the experience of trying on dresses, but says: “I had that Ann Taylor in the back of my mind the whole time.” She went home and ordered the trumpet-style gown featuring pleats over the bodice. When it came in the mail, she waited to try it on until she was with her mom and sister. “It’s crazy how much a dress can make you feel like a bride.”
Menzie chose a classic black tux, suspenders, a black bow tie, an ivory pocket square and black patent leather shoes for a timeless look.
Holli’s bouquet consisted of red, orange, yellow and white ranunculus and white and orange poppies, Holli’s favorite flower. The flower holds sentimental meaning too. Georgia O’Keeffe’s “Oriental Poppies” hangs at the Weisman Art Museum at the University of Minnesota, where the couple got engaged. The artwork showed up a few times: as custom stamps on the wedding invitations and as a framed print, a gift to Holli’s parents.
A blazer was added to the tea-length bridesmaid dresses in silk taffeta for an unexpected element. The women wore their own black shoes.
The ceremony took place in Orchestra Hall’s Target Atrium, with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Nicollet Mall in Minneapolis, Minnesota. To celebrate the view, Holli and Menzie kept the ceremony decor minimal but impactful. Five-foot-tall Mylar letters, hand-crafted by Holli’s family, made a dramatic statement.
The ring bearer waved two flags monogrammed with Holli and Menzie's initials.
Ceremony highlights included Holli’s parents walking her down the aisle, Holli’s sister reading a touching passage from "The Princess Bride" and—as part of the unity candle ceremony—had a flame that was passed from grandparents to other guests, row by row. The last person brought the flame to light the couple’s individual candles, which were used to light the unity candle.
All stationery, including the table numbers, included a customized monogram. The napkins included the hashtag #holliandthehenderson.
Holli and Menzie’s signature drink was a Cuba Libre—a white rum and Coke with a twist of lime. It’s Menzie's family's favorite drink (and was the signature drink at his sister’s wedding too).
The head table featured several mini champagne coupe towers, as well as candlescapes of black and pillar candles, a mix of cut glass, gold mercury glass and hand-dipped gold-gilded votives and floral arrangements of ivory ranunculus with orange and yellow poppies.
A mostly neutral color scheme of black, white, ivory, beige and gold was carried throughout the design elements, from the invitations to the linens and candles. Bold reddish orange and yellow florals served as lively accent colors.
Holli and Menzie’s first dance was to “Songbird” by Fleetwood Mac, performed by Menzie’s sister, with his dad on acoustic guitar. “Every part of the weekend felt so ‘us,’ ” Holli says. “We have such a talented, giving family, and it was so special that this occasion could bring that forward while bringing our families together.”
For the cake cutting, Holli and Menzie chose a red velvet cake with buttercream frosting, topped with orange-red ranunculus and lit sparklers.