1. Real Weddings

An Urban Glam Wedding at Aria in Minneapolis, Minnesota

When Tony (31 and a political consultant) proposed to Hayley (27 and an attorney) after three years of dating, the groom-to-be took her completely by

When Tony (31 and a political consultant) proposed to Hayley (27 and an attorney) after three years of dating, the groom-to-be took her completely by surprise. "He cooked me my favorite meal of lamb chops and asparagus, then during a movie, he got down on one knee," she says. "I said 'yes,' of course, but I don't handle surprises very well. Tony rated my answer as a ten but gave my facial expression a four." For their fall nuptials, the couple tied the knot at Aria -- an urban space located in the warehouse district of Minneapolis. "We chose it because it's just down the street from the loft where I lived while we were dating and where we live together now," Hayley says. "It fit our style perfectly and the location was sentimental, so it was love at first sight. In order to decorate the vast, brick space, the couple opted for hundreds of candles and chandeliers in lieu of flowers. "I wanted minimal use of flowers, so we used candles as the primary decor feature instead," the bride says. "Copper accents and uplights brought in even more necessary light into the dark space." During the couple's urban glam reception, guests were treated to a macaron bar and a bagpipe performance that caught Tony off guard. "The bagpiper played during the cocktail hour and it was a bit random, but so fun," the bride says. "It was one of the only things he really wanted in the wedding, so it was fun to surprise him!" As for wedding advice for future brides, Hayley offers some wise words from her brother-in-law: "All of the people you love and care about are all in the same room at the same time just to show their support for you. Enjoy the love, try to take it in as much as possible and enjoy everything, because you'll never have another day like it."

The couple celebrated their special day at Aria at the Jeune Lune in the warehouse district of Minneapolis.
The couple decorated their reception using purple uprights and dozens of candles.
The bride chose a strapless, ruffled, ivory dress by Vera Wang in the "Hayley" style. "The dress was pure fate," Hayley says. "It was named after me (and spelled correctly!) and I fell in love with it instantly upon trying it on."
The bride added some sparkle with these Christian Louboutin heels and a purple and blue brooch bouquet.
Purple and Cream Invitation Suite
Purple Sequin Bridesmaid Dresses
Hayley and Tony First Look
"I despise standard bridesmaid dresses and the stores they're sold in, so I didn't even look there," Hayley says. "These sparkly, purple evening gowns looked great on everyone and they were both fun and elegant."
Couple's Shot with Veil
Purple Orchid Boutonniere
Sequin Purple Bridesmaid Dress with Orchid Bouquet
Blue and Purple Brooch Bouquet
The bride carried a bouquet of orchids wrapped in purple silk.
Aria Reception Venue in Minneapolis
"We chose Aria because it's just down the street from the loft where I lived while we dated," Hayley says of the brick warehouse-turned-theatre-turned-venue. "It fit our style perfectly and the location was sentimental, so it was love at first sight."
The flower girl wore a purple tulle dress that the bride found on Etsy.
"I wanted very minimal use of flowers, so we used candles as the primary decor feature instead," Hayley explains.
Marilyn Monroe prints adorn Aria's brick walls.
"The warehouse style of Aria gave us a great backdrop for our decor," the bride says. "It's very tall, dark, open and filled with brick. The hundreds of candles, chandeliers and copper accents brought in a lot of necessary light into the space."
Dessert Table with White Macarons
"I never saw the dessert table since it disappeared so quickly," Hayley says. "So that was definitely a success!"
Hayley and Tony First Dance
Patriotic Couple's Shot