Rockwoods Bridal Show: Bridal Boudoir and Our Favorite Minnesota Wedding Vendors
- Tia Dang
- 14 minutes ago
- 4 min read
A few years ago, we signed up for a table at the Rockwoods Bridal Show in Otsego, MN. Olivia had previously attended some of the large wedding expos in the Minneapolis–St. Paul metro area, but they were so big and busy that it was hard to truly connect with the women who attended. What we loved about the Rockwoods show was that it’s local to our Ramsey studio, which meant we would meet many women from the surrounding area. Because it’s a smaller bridal show, we’re also able to take the time to genuinely connect with everyone who stops by our table.
Rockwoods is not only a great restaurant in the northwest Minneapolis–St. Paul suburbs, but it’s also a beautiful wedding venue offering indoor and outdoor ceremonies, a full-service bar, and a hotel right next door. Every March they host a free Bridal Show featuring giveaways, local vendors, and delicious sample appetizers. The event is much more intimate than the large Twin Cities bridal expos. This year was our third time attending, and we love having the opportunity to chat with brides, their moms, and friends about boudoir photography.
We also love getting to know the other local vendors! Before guests arrive, Olivia and I like to walk around, visit the other tables, and chat with vendors to learn more about the services they offer. Brides often book a boudoir photoshoot as a wedding gift, and it’s always nice to have a few trusted vendor recommendations to share as they plan their big day.
This isn’t a complete list of everyone who attended the Rockwoods Bridal Show, but rather a short list of some of the vendors we had the chance to meet and whose work we really loved.
Kerri Ann beautiful captures the big moments of your wedding day, but also those little details that we know you spend months planning! Bridal clients also get a complimentary engagement photoshoot. This allows you and the photographer to get to know each other BEFORE the big day!
Our table has been next to Kerri’s the last two years and we always look forward to seeing her. Kerri is always so kind and helpful to all the perspective clients that chat with her during the bridal show.
You're going to need countless invites, welcome signs, programs, menus, and thank you cards throughout the entire wedding planning process. JenBloom Studio designs beautiful and cohesive stationary for every part of your day. My personal favorite piece on her table was an invite designed to look like a book! She also recently started offering laser cut details as well like acrylic or wood signs, which make great table numbers or welcome signs for your reception.
We loved chatting with Kacey and looking through her book of invitation samples. From save the dates, invites, thank you cards, place cards...etc., Kacey creates beautiful modern designs that she designs fit your style and wedding theme.
Kacey even has an Etsy shop with so many other pre-designed cards and stickers that range from cute and sassy designs to sleek and modern. So whether you’re looking for wedding stationary or the perfect card for a friend’s birthday, check out Kacey Creations!
Not much elevates a wedding like a violinist! David Trelles has a vast repertoire of of classic, traditional, and popular contemporary songs. He'll be able to find the perfect music to accompany every special moment.
We loved how he played by requests the entire event. Olivia asked him to play the song she walked down the aisle to during her wedding and she was literally moved to tears. He had never played that song before either, David has serious sight reading skills! By the end of the day, Olivia and I agreed if we ever get around to planning vow renewals we definitely want to hire David.
The dresses on display by Bridal Aisle were absolutely stunning! This local boutique carries so many designer dresses, as well as men's suits, formal dresses, and mother of the bride dresses. Their website says they carry over 2,000 designer dresses, so you’ll have plenty options to choose from for your big day. Bridal Aisle is an off the rack bridal boutique, so you get to bring your dress home right away!
They’ll be moving out of their Osseo location later this March, and into a new larger location at the old The Woods building in Maple Grove.
While MacKenzie wasn't at Rockwoods, we think she's the best choice for your wedding MUA! In addition to working as our In-House MUA, she also provides Bridal Make Up services!
MacKenzie has years of experience specializing in Make Up for weddings, special events, and photoshoots. So she has training to not only make sure you look stunning but that you're make up will last all day and that it will photograph beautifully as well!
Bridal Boudoir
We couldn’t share our favorite vendors without also spending a little time talking about bridal boudoir photography! Over the last decade, it has become increasingly popular for brides to schedule a surprise boudoir session for their groom-to-be. Albums or prints make beautiful gifts that both the bride and groom can cherish for many years to come.
For the bride, a boudoir photoshoot is also a chance to take a break and do something just for yourself in the middle of all the wedding planning and preparation. In the wise words of Tom Haverford and Donna Meagle, “Treat yo’ self!” Yes, technically you’re doing the boudoir shoot as a gift for your partner, but trust us when we say most brides end up feeling like the photoshoot was a gift for themselves, too.
You’ll enjoy a day focused on hyping you up and helping you feel confident and beautiful. And in the end, you’ll have a one-of-a-kind gift your partner is sure to love! Albums are the most popular way to gift boudoir photos, but we also offer options like wall art, a pouch for smaller prints (perfect for the boudoir Polaroid trend), fun retro viewers, and even a mobile app for your digital images. No matter how you choose to gift your boudoir photos, you and your partner will love being able to look back and remember who you were during that special time in your lives.
Looking for the perfect wedding gift or just an opportunity to treat yourself? Reach out to the Belle Marie Boudoir team to start planning your boudoir photoshoot at our Rogers, Minnesota studio!
