Blog - Cordelia Haugen MN Wedding Photographer

Grand Marias Engagement Session. Ashley + Cody.

I’ve always wanted to shoot a Grand Marais engagement session. So, I was SO SO stoked when Ashley and Cody asked if I was willing to make the drive up to Grand Marais for their session. Luckily, my family was already planning a camping trip up in Grand Marais! Ashley and Cody agreed to be up there at the same time, so we put it on the calendar.

When I showed up to our Grand Marais engagement session, it was wet and rainy and dreary. So, we met up at their favorite coffee shop in town for some warm drinks before heading out to shoot. By the time we got through the line, the rain had cleared. So, we headed out for a walk around town, warm drinks in hand.

We walked around the bay, and ended up at World’s Best Donuts. Ashley told me how she used to take yearly family vacations up to Grand Marais. Her dad always stopped and brought them donuts at World’s Best. I had never tried them, so of course, we all got donuts. I let Ashley pick mine out, and it was fantastic. It definitely holds up to its name.

After that, we made a quick stop to change, and then we headed up to Artist’s Point. They showed me their favorites spots and where they always take a selfie each time they visit. Of course, we took a photo in the same spot.

Gosh, I had such a great time with these two! They were so open and fun to be around. Toward the end, they even took off their shoes and stood on the rocks getting pummeled by waves. Lake Superior always has VERY cold water. They laughed and grimaced every time a wave hit their toes, but they embraced it anyway! Now they have those memories and gorgeous photos to show for it!

Ashley and Cody, thank you for trusting me, for adventuring with me, and for having a Grand Marais engagement session! I will remember it always!

Locations
Grand Marais, MN
Coffee:: Java Moose
Donuts: World’s Best Donuts

Micro Wedding at Palisade Head. Sarah + Christian.

This mircro wedding at Palisade Head was a super special day for me. My little sister got married and I got to photograph it!

Sarah wasn’t always my little sister. When she was born, I called her my cousin. She is the daughter of my mom’s older brother. But a tragic car accident left Sarah and her sisters without a mom and dad. They came to live with my family, and I gained 3 sisters. But that is another story. THIS story is about my sister and the love of her life, Christian!

The first time I met Chris was when Sarah brought him over to my house for Thanksgiving. I liked him instantly. He was quiet and steady and a good balance to Sarah’s personality. I’ve grown really fond of him and was SO SO happy when Sarah told me they were engaged!!

Sarah and Chris wanted an intimate wedding that focused on just two of them. They didn’t want the stress of planning and hosting a large group of people, and they wanted to incorporate God’s beautiful creation, so a micro wedding at Palisade Head was the perfect fit. It consisted of our immediate family, his immediate family, and two of Chris’s closest friends. The grand total guest list was less than 25 people, and that is including the bride and groom. It was perfect.

Sarah got ready at a cute little airbnb in the Lincoln Park neighborhood in Duluth. It was a super foggy morning, and my sister Abi and I headed over there together to be with Sarah as she got ready. Me to photograph it, and Abi to do her hair and help with makeup. The three of us reminisced and chatted about everything and nothing as Sarah got herself ready to be a bride, complete with her something old (her mom’s wedding ring) and something blue (her dad’s guitar pick).

After Abi had left, and Sarah was ready, Chris came back for their first look. We hid Sarah in the bathroom, and Chris got himself ready. Then they shared the sweetest first look before we headed out and drove up to Palisade for the ceremony.

It was crazy foggy and pretty cold and windy, but SO SO beautiful. The ceremony was so sweet and simple, and I loved getting to witness it. Afterwards, we took some family photos and shared a champagne toast in the parking lot.

Afterwards, I took Sarah and Chris down to black beach for a few photos before they headed out on their own to enjoy a private dinner. It was such a beautiful day. One I will always remember.

Also, if you want a micro wedding at Palisade Head, I’m your girl. 😉

Locations
Getting Ready: Enger Lofts Airbnb
Ceremony: Palisade Head, Tettegouche State Park
Portraits: Black Beach, Silver Bay, MN

north shore Lake Superior micro wedding at palisade head MN elopement photo by Cordelia Haugen

micro wedding at palisade head Cordelia Haugen photographer

micro wedding at palisade head Cordelia Haugen

palisade head elopement photo by Cordelia Haugen

palisade head micro wedding elopement photo by Cordelia Haugen

micro wedding at palisade head elopement photo by Cordelia Haugen

micro wedding at black beach elopement photo by Cordelia Haugen

micro wedding at black beach silver bay elopement photo by Cordelia Haugen

micro wedding at black beach silver bay MN elopement photo by Cordelia Haugen

north shore micro wedding at black beach silver bay MN elopement photo by Cordelia Haugen

north shore Lake Superior micro wedding at black beach silver bay MN elopement photo by Cordelia Haugen

Sunriver Resort Session. Kip + Corinne.

This Sunriver Resort session is a special one to me. My uncle Kip was the groom. He married the lovely Corinne last fall at Sunriver Resort in Sunriver, OR.

This wedding was a long time coming. It was postponed because of COVID…twice. They had a vision, and they stuck it out in order to get it. It was so beautiful when we all finally gathered at Sunriver Resort in Oregon to celebrate these two and the beginning of their marriage.

The weekend was so busy, that this session almost didn’t happen the way it did, but I’m SO SO SO glad that we were able to take an hour away from the craziness that is a destination wedding and grab these pre-wedding shots. The quiet of the river and some deep breaths really brought the best out of these two.

We met at the edge of the resort at the horse barn, and walked along the river. It was chilly, but so refreshing to be outside after traveling all day throughout airports and spending hours in the car.

I loved getting to see the way these two support and love each other. They really opened up and let me in, and that kind of trust always wields the best images.

Here are a few of my favorite shots from my session at Sunriver Resort with Kip and Corinne! Enjoy!

Locations
Sunriver Resort, Sunriver, OR

Gathered Oaks Wedding. Michelle + Justin.

I met Justin after he joined the team as the residential science nerd at my husband’s brewery. He’s so funny and kind, and my daughters adore him. Shortly after getting to know Justin, he got engaged, and I got to meet his beautiful other half, Michelle. She is incredibly selfless and so sweet, and she and Justin make such a good match! When they asked me to shoot their wedding at Gathered Oaks, I was pumped beyond words.

This wedding was so cool, you guys. Gathered Oaks is a gorgeous venue in Alexandria, MN. Michelle and Justin’s day was full of emotion and personalized touches and lots of loved ones coming together to celebrate. They celebrated two cultures coming together, two families being joined. It was pretty magical, and I’m so thankful I got to be a part of it.

Every detail was thought of, and when their planned outdoor ceremony had to be moved inside because of weather, the staff and Gathered Oaks made it happen and it was just as beautiful inside the barn! We decided to use the location where the ceremony would have been held as the spot for their first look, and it was such a special moment. Lots of great memories from this day. I’ll stop talking and let you see the photos now. So, without further ado, please enjoy the beautiful Michelle and Justin and the images from their gorgeous wedding!

Vendors
Venue: Gathered Oaks
Florals: European Floral
Officiant/DJ: Mark Haugen

Cordelia Haugen gathered oaks Alexandria, MN wedding

Kara + Logan. Gooseberry Engagement Session.

So, it’s already March of 2020 and I haven’t shared ANYTHING from my 2019 season. Being a mom of three crazy girls and holding down a photography business is no joke. Blogging has been the least of my priorities, and so, you’ve all missed out on a LOT of work that I have not yet shared. So today, I’m taking the time to share! Here’s a Gooseberry engagement session from the fall! Yay!

Kara is special to me because she taught my oldest two kids to read. That’s right. She’s a kindergarten teacher. My kids’ kindergarten teacher. She’s everything you want in a teacher for your kids and a client for your business. She’s bubbly and fun, and patient and understanding. She’s adorable and adventurous. So, getting to know her over the last couple years has been such a blessing. When I finally got to meet Logan, it just made sense. He is the quiet artist type. He’s more reserved, but not too serious. He’s got a great sense of humor and a passion for craft beer. Actually, Kara does too. She now works part time at the brewery where my husband brews. I love these two together, and I can’t wait for their wedding this summer!

Anyway, I’m so excited that I got to go do a Gooseberry engagement session with them! These guys got engaged up on the North Shore, so it just made sense to do their engagement session there too. You know I’m a huge fan of tall pines and waterfalls, so we took a road trip up to the shore in the fall. Anyway, I’ll stop chatting now and just show you pictures. Here is a glimpse into Kara and Logan’s Gooseberry engagement session!

Locations
One: Amnicon Falls State Park
Two:Gooseberry Falls State Park

gooseberry falls engagement session Cordelia Haugen Photographer

Gooseberry Falls Cordelia Haugen Photographer

St. Croix Falls Engagement. Petra + Drew.

I’m so excited to finally share this St. Croix Falls engagement session with you!

I met Petra and Drew at a wedding reception last June. We hit it off instantly! Petra asked me, as Drew so lovingly put it, “in a flood of excitement” a million questions about wedding venues and planning and photography. They were recently engaged, and I was happy to answer every last question. I was so thrilled when I got an email from Drew a few weeks later inviting me to shoot their wedding this June!

Every time I get to see them, conversation flows so naturally. They are genuinely interested in both telling their own stories and listening to mine. It’s wonderful. I’m thankful to have met them, and I can’t wait to celebrate their wedding coming up in a few short months.

In the meantime, here are some photos from their engagement session back in October. We met up in town for tea and pastries, where of course, we had a wonderful time chatting. Then we went into Interstate Park for their St. Croix Falls engagement session. It was the very first flurries of snow, and now that *hopefully* the snows have ended, I’m finally getting around to sharing these with you!

Location
Interstate State Park, St. Croix Falls, WI

Jillian + Andrew. Winter Engagement Session.

Let’s talk about Jillian and Andrew’s winter engagement session! I’ve known Jillian for awhile now. Her family is good friends with my husband’s family. So I met her shortly after I started dating Ben over 10 years ago. Jillian is great. She’s bubbly and funny and loves Jesus, and her whole family is known to break into song on occasion. I’m so so happy that she has found the man she’s going to spend forever with!

These guys went through a lot to find each other. They met on online after months of getting message upon message from weirdos and meeting up with a few duds. Finally, they met each other and it was about as close tp love at first sight as you can get.

I didn’t meet Andrew until the day of their engagement session. We met up for coffee first, so we could get to know each other a bit before heading out to shoot. I asked him what it was about her that drew him in, and he answered by saying that she is the most positive, energetic person that he’s ever met. He also mentioned they they laugh together and that she’s going to be a wonderful mother to his 5 year old daughter. Jillian said she loves Andrew’s commitment. To his business. His family. His daughter. and now to Her. She told me that Andrew is constantly putting others before himself and that was the most attractive quality about him.

After our coffee date, we headed out to a nearby park for their winter engagement session. The temp was 5 below zero. I think that’s the coldest session I’ve ever done. But we still managed to have a blast. We spent more time in my truck chatting than actually out taking photos, but what we did get was gorgeous!

I’m so happy for these guys. I’m pumped that I get to shoot their wedding this spring! So without further ado, here are the photos!

Location
Montisippi Regional Park

Cordelia Haugen Winter Engagement Session

Cordelia Haugen Winter Engagement Session Montisippi Park

2018. Year in Review.

2018 has been such a great year! I got to meet some really kind, generous, hilarious, and just plain fun couples. I got to photograph my first birth. I also started to play with food and beverage photography, which has been a learning experience. Of course, I also went on a few adventures with my family. So, this is a conglomeration of all of that. Thank you all for supporting my business this year. It means the world to me.

On a personal level, and not included in the photos, my year was full of big changes! We sold our perfectly lovely neighborhood home that we built 3 years ago and bought a 1969 fixer upper on a beautiful little piece of property. It’s been fun starting to renovate it and make it our own, but I do miss having a dishwasher. My oldest daughter started Kindergarten. She goes to a cool little charter school, so I’ve officially been promoted to that mom that drives back and forth to school to drop off or pick up kids in our new (to us) SUV. I promise I won’t get any bumper stickers or window clings. Anyway, that’s enough about me! So, without further ado, here are the photos….

Leona + Mike. Wedding at Maplelag Resort.

Leona and Mike had such a cool wedding at Maplelag Resort in Callaway, MN. It was the perfect place for them. Leona + Mike live on 40 acres of land. They love the outdoors and the quiet lifestyle it lends itself to. BUT they also know how to have fun. Leona grew up in New Jersey, and we all know Jersey likes to party. So it was important that they had a place where all their family and friends could come from all over the US and celebrate with them, and not have to worry about finding lodging. Maplelag Resort delivered everything and then some. A beautifully scenic location, all the lodging you could possibly need, and a great big dance floor. Not to mention delicious food and homemade cookies always out for the taking.

Now, let me tell you about the bride and groom. The first time I met them in person was at their home right around Christmas 2017. They wanted to do their engagement session at their home and around their property. They had a Christmas gift for me! A bottle of red wine from a local winery for me, and a crowler of beer from one of their favorite local breweries for my husband Ben, who happens to be a brewer himself. It was so very thoughtful. And as I’ve spent more time with the two of them, that it the one word that continually comes to mind to describe them. Thoughtful.

Each interaction was intentional and made me feel like I was part of their family. At the wedding, they even gave Ben and I the most darling little caboose to sleep in. When checking in, the Maplelag Resort employee said “Woah. you must be special if they gave you the orange caboose!” Later we found out that the bride and groom were staying in the red caboose right next door. Leona said that most of the lodging had shared spaces. They wanted to make us feel comfortable, and give us a fun little weekend away, so she gave us the nicest, most private lodging. So so sweet!

I’m so grateful to have met these two beautiful people, and so thankful that they chose me to capture their wedding day at Maplelag Resort. Leona and Mike included some unique things into their wedding day. Instead of a unity candle or sand ceremony, they each took a jar of dirt from their childhood homes and poured them together onto a tree that they planned to plant at their home together. They also mixed up the entrance into dinner with a New Orleans-style second-line wedding parade with a live jazz band. SO fun. Take a look at all the beautiful moments in these photos, and please leave a comment to let me know what you think of their gorgeous fall wedding at Maplelag Resort!

Vendors:
Venue: Maplelag Resort
Bridal Gown: Jenny Yoo
Bridal Shoppe: Affairs by Brittany
Florals: Sola Wood Flowers
Band: FM Kicks
DJ: Now, That’s Entertainment

Maplelag Resort Wedding Cordelia Haugen: Photographer

Tori + Greg. Minnehaha Engagement Session.

Tori and Greg live in Arkansas, where its warm ALL year round. Yet, they came the North in the middle of winter for their Minnehaha engagement session. And they were total troopers. Tori told me they went out and bought winter jackets the DAY BEFORE. How great is that?!

Let me tell you a little bit more about this couple, because their story is what made me want to work with them so badly! Tori is from the midwest. Greg is a southern boy. They’re both serving our country in the Army. If you know my family, you know that the Army is near and dear to my heart. My uncle, Sgt. 1st Class John J Tobiason, was KIA in Iraq back in 2007, but that is a story for another time. Back to Tori and Greg. These two met at the Bataan Memorial Death March in New Mexico, which is an event honoring soldiers of WWII. Only a couple days after meeting, they both headed their separate ways, but stayed in touch and started dating long distance.

Eventually Tori moved to Arkansas to be closer to Greg. Fast forward to 2016: He found out he was going to be deployed to Africa, so he planned a little weekend away for the two of them and popped the question. She, of course, said yes!

Shortly after coming back from the 100+ degree heat of his deployment, they drove to the midwest for Christmas, and met up with me to adventure around the Falls in the snow. That’s super impressive. Man, I love adventurous couples!!

They are getting married later this month, and I cannot wait to be a part of it! I really wanted to share these photos with you all (or should I saw y’all?) before their wedding. So without further ado, here are some of my favorite frames from their wintry Minnehaha engagement session!