1. Real Weddings

A Modern, Elegant Wedding at Calhoun Beach Club in Minneapolis, Minnesota

A true modern romance, Megan Bailey (32 and in marketing) and James O’Grady (36 and a law firm counsel member) met on Match.com and quickly bonded whe

A true modern romance, Megan Bailey (32 and in marketing) and James O’Grady (36 and a law firm counsel member) met on Match.com and quickly bonded when they realized they have as much fun together at a dive bar as at a fancy cocktail den. Prior to the ceremony at St. Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral in Minneapolis, the couple took time to study the words in their traditional vows. “As a result, we felt very connected to the ideas expressed in each vow and were more present in the moment when we declared them to each other,” says Megan. A reception followed at Calhoun Beach Club with a signature view of a Minneapolis lake. “We are both somewhat traditional, so we wanted an elegant feeling for a black tie celebration, but because we have a modern aesthetic, we made some slightly unexpected choices,” says Megan. They started with the color palette—eggplant, radiant orchid, ivory and gold, and tried to make their wedding emanate “modern elegance.” Since Jamie’s online dating profile pictures were all of him doing a silly dance move, the couple included these in their first dance: They learned the first few dance moves to “(I’ve Had) The Time Of My Life,” and brought in crowd-favorite moves such as the “shopping cart” to finish the song!

“I wanted variation in flowers and colors, but within the color palette of the wedding,” says Megan. The bridesmaids’ bouquets consisted of eggplant calla lilies, succulents and white orchids to match the bride’s bouquet and the color palette.
The flower girl wore a long, off-white dress with an eggplant sash to match the bridesmaids, and the ring bearer wore a tuxedo.
Purple Calla Lily and Succulent Boutonniere
Custom Ivory Invitations with Gold Accents
Megan wore a silk radzimir wedding dress by Amsale with an asymmetrical neckline and large, kimono-like bow closure in the back. She wore her hair in a low chignon for simple elegance.
Megan carried a bouquet of cascading white orchids."I do not like traditional flowers such as roses," says the bride, so she chose flowers with textures and colors within the wedding palette.
The bridesmaids wore floor-length eggplant-colored silk chiffon dresses in their own styles. The groomsmen wore classic black tuxedos; as a groomsmen gift, James gave each of the guys a silk pocket square—each selected for its wearer—from a shop in New York.
Megan and James were married at St. Mark’s Episcopal Cathedral, where the bride was confirmed as a teenager, by the chaplain from Megan’s school growing up. “We had a 4:30 p.m. ceremony,” says the bride, because “the Chinese believe that starting a wedding on the half-hour, so that the minute hand is rising toward the heavens, is good luck!”
Megan and James in Vintage Car Exit
The reception took place at the Calhoun Beach Club. “We wanted someplace that showed-off the beauty of Minneapolis and the lakes, so we had the busses that transported guests from the church to the reception take a specific route around the Minneapolis chain of lakes where we often run,” says Megan.
The menus were tucked into the napkins at each place setting and displayed the couple’s custom crest.
Tall Gold Centerpiece with Overflowing White Flowers
Custom Gold Table Numbers with Couple's Crest
Modern Gold Dining Tables at Calhoun Beach Club
Megan and James at Calhoun Beach Club Reception
Megan and James Dancing at Calhoun Beach Club