An Intimate Vintage Wedding at a Private Residence in St. Paul, Minnesota

Anna Harris (28 and a luxury store retail manager) and Declan Desmond (34 and a radio producer) met in San Diego, California—Declan's hometown and where Anna was a student. They eventually moved to Minnesota, where Anna grew up, and got engaged. Fans of "Mad Men," high fashion and historic sites, the couple selected ceremony and reception venues with stand-alone details and historic character, then drew inspiration from the venues. Anna wore a "vintage glam" gown and veil; Declan wore a classic slim-cut navy suit when they got married at Landmark Center in St. Paul, Minnesota, in front of 50 of their closest friends and family members. They didn't have a wedding party, mainly because many of their guests were flying to Minnesota to celebrate with them, “and we didn’t want to impose rules on our friends,” Anna says. During the ceremony, the couple wrote their own lighthearted vows, with heartfelt, humorous and serious anecdotes woven in. They asked friends to share stories and inspirational thoughts and reflections during the ceremony. “It could not have turned out better if I had written it myself,” Anna says. “Each got a moment in the limelight, it took pressure off Declan and me for a little while, and it made the room feel even more intimate.” After the ceremony, the group headed to a private home, Dearing Mansion, rented for the reception. There they celebrated with beer, wine, doughnuts, an excellent selection of cheese served with ginger jam and raw honey, hors d'ouevres catered by Costco (including sausage wrapped in pastry—a big hit with the guests) and a dance party. Decorations were minimal, including six orchids placed in tea tins, because the mansion had so much personality on its own. DIY elements included a Spotify playlist, personalized dessert plates as favors, a Pinterest-inspired card box and Anna's veil. “Neither of us describes ourselves as typical or conventional, so I think we did our best to think outside the box,” Anna says. There were a few hiccups the day before or on their wedding day, but they took it in stride. Says Anna, “We had so much fun, and we have a great story to share with our future children and our grandchildren, and that’s the most important part of all this.” For a peek at all of the sentimental details, check out the photos from Light and Fade/The Wedding Collective below.—Chrissy Sorenson