Whimsy & Vows: Calli and Lee’s Dreamy Garden Wedding
Late September gifted us a magical autumn day for Calli and Lee’s wedding at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, a venue that had been on my photography bucket list for years. Their celebration took place in the Snyder Auditorium, with its walk-out entrance leading to a stunning stone balcony where their outdoor ceremony unfolded.
Surrounded by an autumnal palette of orange and pink blooms draped over a rustic wooden archway, Calli and Lee exchanged emotional vows as golden leaves gently fell around them. Laughter was held at moments of poignant jokes and tears fell with every heartfelt word they spoke to one another. The garden's green and yellow hues created a breathtaking natural backdrop that made every frame a dream to capture, all while holding back tears of my own as I listened to their spoken love.
In the evening, the Snyder Auditorium transformed into a cozy reception space. Its curved ceiling beams and wrought iron chandeliers added a timeless elegance, casting warm, golden light over the lively dance floor. Every image from the night glowed with the joy and warmth of their celebration.
Florist: Bachman's
Caterer: D'Amico's
Cake: D'Amico's
Hair & Makeup: Steph Strode
DJ/Band/Musician: SYM1
Officiant: Kevin
A Personal Connection
This wedding held special meaning for me beyond its enchanting setting. I’ve actually known Lee since we were six years old. We went to elementary school together at Capitol Hill in Saint Paul. Although I moved away at thirteen and we lost touch, Lee reached out while planning the wedding, and we reconnected. Getting to know Calli and seeing Lee again has been such a joy—we even have dinner plans next week!
Experiences like this remind me why I’m passionate about photography. My job revolves around people—their stories, their milestones, their unique journeys. Even when I photograph clients multiple times, each session feels fresh because time moves forward, seasons change, and we all continue to grow.
Fun fact: I also captured Calli and Lee’s engagement photos in the Arboretum’s Japanese Garden—a serene, unforgettable session that felt like a prelude to their stunning wedding day.
Thank you, Calli and Lee, for trusting me with your memories. This has been such a fulfilling wedding season, and I can’t wait to share more highlights from other beautiful celebrations in the coming weeks.
P.S. In college, I wrote a personal manifesto about myself (not the murdery kind of manifesto, I promise!) and one section was what photography means to me. If you’re curious, I’ll share an excerpt below the image gallery.
Thanks for following along, and here’s to capturing more unforgettable moments!
I have always been in love.
That's the most accurate way I can express it.
I am in love with my subject.
Their smile, their worry lines, the peeling of their skin,
the extra long nose hairs, the sleep in their eyes,
the nervous biting of their lip,
the twirling of their hair,
the awkward silence and the magnificent laughter.
I savor it, capture it, all while I learn something about them.
These tics, these traits, these pieces of their human form
disclose their existence in a brilliant reality.
I experience something that I will never have
because it’s original to them.
No two people share sadness the same way.
Tears may fall,
and I might understand my emotion of sadness as I see the tears,
but I do not feel their emotion.
That mystery and that moment when I recognize
a piece of my self in another, but cannot share in it 100%,
that is the greatest gift I can receive.
And it’s the gift I chose to share:
a story, a moment, a feeling, and a memory.
It becomes mine, and I become theirs.
I want nothing more than to be a part of this
entanglement of lives
that grow and change all around me.
It excites me,
it carries me,
and I will hold them in my heart
forever.
©2015 Hannah Lee Kuhn
