A Winter Wedding at Radisson Blu in Bloomington, Minnesota

While most blind dates end up in disaster, newlyweds Jennifer Jansen (31 and an event planner) and Brad Hansen (31 and in asset protection) knew immediately over dinner that they shared a unique connection. "It was unlike anything either of us had experienced before," Jen says. Six months later, the two moved in together and Brad quickly began ring shopping. "I knew she had January 11th in mind for a date, so I planned a proposal exactly one year out," Brad says. After popping the question in the middle of Rice Park, the to-be-weds immediately began planning the winter wedding of their dreams. "As someone who spends a lot of time in traditional hotel ballrooms, I never wanted to have a wedding in a hotel," Jen says. "But then I visited the Radisson Blu booth at a local wedding fair and fell in love." The downside: The space was still under construction. "The hotel was still being built, but I decided to book the space after taking a literal hard hat tour," the bride laughs. With a traditional look in mind, the couple paired chevon prints with emerald green accents to bring their hotel reception to life. Chevron-print sashes were paired with sleek, black chiavari chairs while hanging accent lights provided the perfect amount of ambience. As a gift to their 250 guests, Jen and Brad passed out hot chocolate favors in addition to a full dessert bar post-dinner. "We wanted to make sure that not only was it a day for us to remember, but that it was a fun experience for guests who braved the weather to witness our love," Jen says.