Photos: Alexandra Robyn Photo + Design
A photographer and wedding coordinator creates a verdant scene based on current trends.
Photographer Alexandra Robyn got married at her aunt and uncle’s Lakeville property in 2023, and it was so beautiful, she wished she could have photographed it herself. One year later, she created her own photo shoot in the same location to serve as inspiration for couples planning their own wedding.
Her late summer ceremony incorporates several recent wedding trends: garden-style weddings and the color green. According to Zola’s First Look Report, a survey of more than 6,000 couples planning to get married in 2025, garden parties are popular—both as a vibe and a venue—when it comes to weddings. Given the garden theme, it’s hardly surprising that the survey found that green is the most popular color for weddings this year.
Alexandra enlisted newlyweds Zoey and Bobby Martin to pose as the bride and groom and created a lush photo shoot that made the most of Pete and Maria Muelpas’ stunning Lakeville property, featuring a private vineyard and large stands of evergreen shrubs.
Vanilla Strawberry Hydrangeas served as an overarching theme for the wedding shoot, and Alexandra, who grew up in Lakeville, integrated the flowers and the pale pink, white and green color scheme into everything from the invitations to the bridal bouquet. Even the wedding cake was decorated to mimic the texture of a hydrangea.
While Alexandra chose to highlight green because it’s currently a popular color for weddings, she wanted to showcase the hue a little differently by incorporating pale pinks to create a strawberry color palette, reflecting a late summer vibe, for the overall event. “It also has kind of a French feel with the baguettes and handwritten place card scroll for each person,” she says, adding that the baguettes serve as a favor for guests to take home.
The mock ceremony was set on a hilltop surrounded by the evergreen shrubs, and the Muelpas’ private vineyard made a perfect scene for a celebratory dinner.
Alexandra, who has training as a wedding coordinator and planner in addition to photography, wanted to highlight the potential of a private venue, but she stresses it’s not necessarily a budget option. “It’s equally expensive as having a normal venue,” she says, especially considering the components that will need to be rented or purchased, including chairs, linens, place settings, tables, tents and even a dance floor. She worked on the shoot with vendors who are equipped and willing to work with brides and grooms on events at private venues.
Alexandra points out that selecting an untraditional location for a wedding can provide couples with another opportunity to incorporate their personality and interests into their wedding. Alexandra, who has been working as a wedding photographer for six years, always asks couples, “What do you want to feel like on your wedding day?” she says, adding that their answer will tell them where they should focus their time and budget.
Vendors:
- Bridal Attire: Bridal Accents Couture, bridalaccentscouture.com
- Bridal Designer: Yumi Katsura, yumikatsuracouture.com
- Chairs and Tables Rentals: Milestone Event Rental, milestoneeventrental.com
- Dessert: Hey There Cupcake, heytherecupcake-mn.com
- Florals: Malana Sophia Floral, malanasophiafloral.com
- Hair and Makeup: Blush and Blondes, blushandblondesmn.com
- Linens and Decor Rentals: Après Event Dècor and Tent Rental, apresparty.com
- Photography/Photo Shoot Planning and Design: Alexandra Robyn Photo + Design, alexandrarobyn.com
- Stationery: Doolittle Wedding, doolittlewedding.com
- Videography: Tim Thornburg Films, timthornburg.com
