1. Real Weddings

A Romantic Outdoor Wedding at The Refuge Golf Club in Oak Grove, MN

A prank phone call in 2006 started it all for newlyweds Alyssa and Ryan, who married in an outdoor ceremony at The Refuge Golf Club surrounded by 130

A prank phone call in 2006 started it all for newlyweds Alyssa and Ryan, who married in an outdoor ceremony at The Refuge Golf Club surrounded by 130 guests. I received a call from an unknown phone number claiming he was a semi-pro baseball player named 'Bob', Alyssa explains. It turns out that I happened to know his friends who supplied Ryan with my phone number. Little did they know it would result in us getting married!

Bright orange roses paired with shades of pink and green made for a bouquet that was elegant, yet perfect for their summer wedding. One of the first wedding pins found was my bouquet and it was the only thing I was certain that I wanted to have at the wedding, Alyssa says.
Alyssa gifted both of her parents with simple handkerchiefs stitched with a personalized thank you note.
The bride chose a pair of simple, silver heels to complement her strapless, white gown from Posh Bridal.
DIY hangers added a personalized touch to each of the bridesmaid's wooden hangers.
In order to show off the lace-up detail on the back of the dress, the bride chose a mid-length veil with light edging.
Navy ribbon popped against the single pink rose in Ryan's bright boutonniere.
The fresh and modern outdoor space was a huge draw when choosing the wedding venue. We loved the warm cabin feel and the beautiful wooden beams in the ballroom, Alyssa says. We also loved the fact that we could have our ceremony outside or on the patio if needed.
The bridesmaids wore simple jewelry to compliment their strapless, navy dresses.
After originally choosing a bright coral palette, the bride took a completely different route and chose navy and pink as wedding's main color palette. I really liked how the navy looked elegant and dressy, while the pink added a fun element to the decor, Alyssa says.
Ryan and Alyssa opted out of a traditional wedding cake and served four flavors of cupcakes from the Buttercream Bakery including lemon strawberry, amaretto, cappuccino and Baileys chocolate. Alyssa also made sure Ryan had a custom-made Groom's cake on hand designed to look like a campsite. Camping is one of his favorite hobbies, so he was very surprised! she says.
Cylinder-shaped glass vases filled with orange daisies and white candles added a pop of color to each centerpiece.
Aside from a sit-down dinner, guests were able to enjoy a sweet and salty snack bar throughout the night with treats ranging from pretzels and chocolate to trail mix and Twizzlers.
Colorful roses in clear, glass vases were scattered throughout the reception space.
Festive bells tied with navy, white and bright pink ribbon added a fun touch to the reception decor.
The couple posed for post-ceremony wedding photos on the gold club's scenic boardwalk.