Hello! My name is Sierra, of Sierra Joy Nutrition, and I’m a certified Nutrition Coach. I’m here to share some nutrition tips that may help you navigate the busy times leading up to your big day and manage the chaos on the wedding day itself.
First and foremost, congratulations on your engagement! And kudos to you for choosing the best Wedding Planner! Wedding planning can be incredibly stressful. Balancing the preparations for such a significant life event with your everyday responsibilities can feel overwhelming. But don’t worry, there are ways to make it a little bit easier!
Before Your Wedding Nutrition
During this hectic time, focusing on good nutrition can be a lifesaver. It helps keep everything balanced and maintains your sanity. With all the celebrations and stress that come with this season of your life, it’s tempting to disregard nutrition and indulge in whatever’s convenient. But let me explain why it’s crucial to prioritize good nutrition during this period.
Helps you sustain your energy
A steady intake of quality nutrients will help you avoid that dreaded crash. You have so much on your plate, no time for crashing!
Helps you with mental clarity
Foods high in omega-3s (salmon, walnuts, chia seeds), antioxidants (blueberries, green tea, dark chocolate), and vitamins like B12 (eggs, yogurt) support cognitive function and reduce stress. And no matter how prepared you are, wedding planning can be stressful!
Helps immune system
A diet abundant in fruits and vegetables, lean proteins (chicken, fish), and whole grains can strengthen your immune system, helping you fight off illnesses that could slow you down. You have no time for sickness when you’re this busy!
Helps with mood stability
Nutrient-rich foods can positively impact your mood, reduce irritability (no bridezilla here!), and promote a sense of well-being.
Helps with better sleep
We all know the importance of sleep! A balanced, nutrient-dense diet can enhance sleep quality, helping you wake up refreshed and ready to tackle the day (and wedding planning!).
With these general nutrition tips in mind, you’ll be well prepared to stay balanced and energized during the busy lead-up to your wedding.
Wedding Day Nutrition
Now… it’s the big day! It’s here! What can you do nutritionally to help make it the best day ever?
Stay hydrated
For every mimosa while getting ready, have a glass of water. Staying hydrated will balance your energy levels and help make your skin GLOW for all those beautiful photos!
Remember to eat
With nerves and excitement, it’s easy to forget to eat before your big moment. But it’s essential! No one needs a fainting bride. Start your day with a balanced breakfast that includes protein, healthy fats, and complex carbohydrates to fuel you for the festivities.
Keep it light
Try your best to avoid heavy, greasy foods that won’t make you feel sluggish or upset your digestion.
Pack snacks
Have some easy-to-grab, nutrient-dense snacks on hand. They will help keep your energy steady and avoid any hunger-induced irritability.
Avoid too much sugar & caffeine
Too much sugar or caffeine can lead to energy crashes and jitters. Aim for moderate intake to stay steady.
Listen to your body
Eat when you’re hungry, stop when you’re full, and try to take a moment to enjoy your meals amidst the excitement. After all, you did pick out the best caterer!
Remember that taking care of your nutritional needs can have such an impact on how you feel during this exciting yet hectic time. By following these tips, you can maintain your energy, clarity, and overall well-being, allowing you to truly enjoy every moment leading up to and on your big day.
Here’s to a joyful, stress-free wedding experience, and a lifetime of health and happiness!
Get In Touch with Sierra Joy Nutrition
Join me over on Instagram (@sierrajoy_fit) to follow along my nutrition journey and join my waitlist for 1:1 Nutrition Coaching!
As wedding planners, we travel to you on your wedding day, wherever that may be. Because we travel, we have worked at many different venues over the years and we want to talk about it. If you’re at the very beginning stages of your wedding planning, congratulations! You’re in the right spot. In this post we’re going to list our favorite wedding venues in Minnesota and why we love them so much!
How do you choose wedding venues in Minnesota?
What a loaded question! How do you choose a wedding venue? Well, the simple answer is, you can either research a bunch, or enlist help from a wedding planner. But that answer doesn’t really give you anything. Let’s get into it.
First things first, consider the season you want to get married. Minnesota has four distinct seasons. So, wedding venues in Minnesota with outdoor options might be out in winter (unless you’re going for winter wonderland – then go for it!). Outdoor options are also going to look different in the fall (are there going to be pretty fall leaves or browned and dead?)
Second, how many guests are you expecting to accommodate? Create at least a ballpark number before you start your venue search. This helps so you can immediately eliminate venue options that are too small, or WAY too big. For example, if you’re going to have about 100 people attend, you wouldn’t want a venue that holds over 400 people. Why? Well, if it’s too big, the cost will be more than needed and the design won’t really work. You want the right size.
Third, location, location, location. Are there hotel accommodations nearby? If you’re having the ceremony and reception in separate places, are they within 15 minutes of each other? What’s the parking situation like? Can you provide a shuttle service? While these questions aren’t always at the top of your mind, they should definitely be considered in your research so you can start to understand how your event is going to flow and what the guest experience will be like. We have a list can can help!
Finally, is the venue available for your date? This should definitely be one of the first things you find out. Nothing is worse than falling in love with a venue just to find out it isn’t available for your wedding date. Do this at the beginning of your search to avoid unnecessary heartbreak.
Now that you know how to choose, let us share our favorites as promised.
Below are some of our favorite places to work! This is not a full list, but these wedding venues in Minnesota have some great attributes and have amazing staff that will work hard to make your wedding day the best day. There is nothing better than having a rockstar team of vendors taking care of you on your special day!
We LOVE Ahavah! The team is absolutely amazing, the space is gorgeous, and the flow of your event will be really enjoyable for your guests. Below, we will highlight some of our favorite things about this venue.
Ceremony Location
This venue has two possible ceremony locations, but our favorite is the outdoor space. A nice paved path leading your guests to their seats, white double doors for a dramatic reveal during the processional, and gorgeous foliage make this space like a dream. The space is so beautiful on its own you don’t need to have a ton of decorations for your ceremony.
Photo by Blue Earth Creative
Bar & Patio
The bar area leading to the patio is a great space for cocktail hour before the reception area is open to your guests. The venue has a bartending service, so you can feel comfortable knowing that your bartenders know the space, and are comfortable handling all your guests. The large garage doors connect the patio and bar area so on good weather days your guests can mingle comfortably. The best part? Have your dance on the patio to enjoy the beautiful weather all night long!
Pinewood is such a unique space that we can’t leave it off our list! Wonderful staff, amazing backdrop for your outdoor ceremony, and beautifully updated getting ready spaces make this venue an amazing option for your wedding day.
Outdoor Ceremony
This location does offer an indoor ceremony space should there be any inclement weather. But the real showstopper is the outdoor ceremony space backdrop of trees. VERY TALL trees. It’s guaranteed to be a topic of conversation with your guests. I mean, just look at it!
These updated spaces are perfect for gathering your bridal party as you prepare for your day. The upstairs suite is spacious to hold a lot of people, and has ample vanity space for all your hair & makeup needs. A balcony overlooks the ceremony area so you can get some great shots of your ceremony from a “bird’s eye view”. The downstairs space includes shuffleboard and lounging furniture so you can relax before the ceremony and photos. Each of these spaces are made for function and for great photographs.
If you’re looking for a blank canvas in downtown Minneapolis, then this is the place for you! The large open concept space, centralized location, and amazing staff make this a great place for those that want to build their vision from a blank canvas.
Downtown Location
This downtown space is a great option. Right off 35W, this venue is easy to get to so your guests won’t have to navigate too far from the interstate. With multiple parking options nearby, and an underground parking ramp available, this venue’s access in a downtown location makes your guest experience great.
This venue has everything you need all in the same place. There are separate rooms for each side of the bridal party with ample space to accommodate a larger group. The kitchen and bar are in the center of the space, so they are easy for your guests and vendors to access throughout your day. The openness of the grand room makes it easy to host a larger wedding without feeling overwhelmed by a small space. They even have a patio area on the first floor so your guests are nowhere near the room flip.
Next Chapter Winery is such a beautiful place and has so much character! You get a location for each event of the day, confirmed rehearsal on-site, and great staff to make your wedding day the best day!
Location versatility
This venue has some great versatility when it comes to where you will host each part of the day. There is a permanent outdoor ceremony space set up, a tent for your meal service, and the barrel room that can do it all. Whether you host all your events in separate locations, or you want the entire event to be in the barrel room, the versatility of this venue is magical!
Rehearsal is usually forgotten about until the last minute (well, not when you have us!). Sometimes your venue will get booked on the day you would normally want to do your ceremony rehearsal. Not at Next Chapter Winery! They have a designated rehearsal spot that has a similar setup to the outdoor ceremony location. We always love rehearsing in the space the ceremony will be in (or a similar space), which makes Next Chapter Winery one of our favorites.
Located in downtown St. Paul, Abrazar Events is one we recommend not only for your wedding day, but also for the other wedding events you’ll have during your engagement. The staff is wonderful, and the versatility of the space is a huge benefit!
Wedding Day Versatility
Are you planning a smaller guest count for your wedding? Then this is the space for you! With an open concept, you’re able to have your ceremony and dinner tables set up at the same time. No room flip? Amazing! The bar is able to move where you need it to, and the prep space in the kitchen is very large so your caterer can be comfortable all throughout the evening. Decorating the space is a dream because of the blank canvas available to you!
When you’re planning your engagement party, or a family member is planning your bridal shower, this venue is great for the events you may not have thought you needed a venue for. The open space works well for having a great flow to your event – mingling space, tables set for a meal, and more. This space is perfect for a rehearsal when you can’t have the rehearsal at your wedding venue. Similar to a smaller wedding, you could have your ceremony space and dinner tables set up at the same time!
We know this blog is about our favorite wedding venues in Minnesota, but we couldn’t post about our favorite venues to work at without including one just over the border in Western Wisconsin. Cady Acres is a such a lovely space and a great barn venue if that’s what you’re looking for. You get a full weekend rental, multiple locations on-site for different events, and the staff is always there for you whenever you need them.
Full Weekend Rental
This venue offers one flat price for the whole weekend. You have access to the venue on Friday afternoon for set-up and rehearsal, Saturday for your wedding festivities, and Sunday morning to pack your things. The convenience of having the space for the entire weekend is one of our favorite features of this space. It really takes away some of the overwhelm of finding multiple locations for rehearsal, rehearsal dinner, and Sunday morning breakfast/brunch because it all happens at the same place. Talk about a relaxed weekend!
Want to have an outdoor ceremony and indoor dinner? What about an indoor ceremony and indoor dinner, but no room flip? Both are options for you at this venue! There is a gorgeous outdoor ceremony space with lots of lush green trees, or an open air ceremony space overlooking the scenic backdrop of fields. The barn serves as the main hub for cocktail hour, dinner and dancing, with enough space for everyone to feel comfortable. With so many options, this space is perfect for small and large groups.
When you’re ready to check out any of these places, let us know here! Our full planning clients have venue visits included in their service package. We can’t wait to show you our favorite wedding venues in Minnesota to be at.
Melander Kreations is a woman-owned small business I started in 2020 for my wedding. When I began selling wax sealing stamps and beads, I was looking online, but was only able to find the same designs everywhere I turned. Any customized product would take weeks or months to get, and sometimes they would not arrive at all – I did not want that. I wanted to provide uniquely designed products, with the best quality, and also be able to get it to people much quicker.
Why are your products necessary for weddings?
My products not only add class, flare, and uniqueness for the couples that choose to incorporate them in their wedding invitations, but they can also be used for place cards, scrapbooks, save the dates, and bridal showers. Whether you’re color-coding seated dinner options, or sending ‘Thank You’ cards, there are many things they can be used for throughout all your wedding events.
How do your services/products transform a wedding?
Elevating Aesthetic Appeal: Wax seals give stationary a vintage, elegant look, evoking a sense of tradition and sophistication. This adds a personal, handcrafted feel that enhances the overall visual appeal of letters or invitations.
Personalization: Custom wax stamps allow users to imprint their initials, logos, or unique designs, turning standard stationary into something highly personalized. This can be especially appealing for wedding invitations, formal events, or branded correspondence.
Creating Memorability: The use of wax seals makes a strong first impression, distinguishing the stationary from ordinary forms of communication. The tactile experience of breaking a wax seal adds a layer of anticipation and interaction for the recipient, making it memorable.
Brand Identity: Businesses can use wax seals to reinforce their brand identity, providing a sense of luxury and attention to detail. The custom designs on stamps can feature company logos, giving high-end products or correspondence an extra level of professionalism.
Combining Tradition with Modern Use: While wax seals originated in older times, their use today transforms modern stationary into something with historical charm. This contrast between past and present adds an element of timelessness to any stationary.
These qualities help wax sealing stamps and beads transform otherwise ordinary stationary into a meaningful and artistic form of communication.
How much do your services/products typically cost?
For a custom stamp, please see my website for information. For a single standard stamp, such as single letters of the alphabet, or pre-made designs, they start at $13.00 (US). I also offer kits, beads, and other options to make your dream wedding exactly what you would like. I do offer bulk pricing for weddings, or businesses, as well as bundle pricing for the purchase of multiple items. For the best pricing on these options, please reach out directly to me through my website, and I will be happy to work with you and answer all of your questions.
If you could let couples know anything about your services, what would it be?
Wax stamps do not only need to be used on invitations, or something going through the mail. They are great additions to your decor to pull your whole wedding vision together. If it is something you want to use, but don’t want to use them on ALL the invitations or place cards, you could us them on immediate family or bridal party only!
We’re so excited Maria could join us for a vendor spotlight blog! For more information on how to work with Ackin Events, fill out our contact form here!
Era of Moments Jewelry Co. is a curated experience for personalized jewelry pieces. From customized traditional clasp pieces, to infinity and clasp-free jewelry, Era of Moments is here! When celebrating your commitment to love, your jewelry should represent your new Era together, and bring adoration for years to come. Inviting Megan, the owner and jeweler behind the name, will surely add memories to your experiences.
Why are your services necessary for the big day?
You can include Era I M jewelry in everything from bachelorette parties and bridal showers, to engagement parties and morning preparations. Even the wedding reception itself for you and your guests! Infinite jewelry offers a memorable opportunity for everyone because it’s tangible, long lasting, and meaningful. Having infinite jewelry for your guests will only enhance all their memories of your special day celebrating your love and commitment.
How do your services transform wedding activities?
Jewelry carries so much intention. So, a few of us take it off every night, and sling it back on in the morning. But for the rest of us, we get out of the house and snap our fingers that we forgot our necklace on the bed stand! The idea of having something on for longer than a day, a week, and even a year, will bring meaning to your pieces, and begin to carry stories. These pieces are lightweight and durable, so you leave the remembering part out of the routine. So, Just enjoy!
How much do your services cost/what should you budget for?
With a range of jewelry pieces, there are many ways to include Era in your entire wedding planning process! Whether it’s a smaller gathering, or as favors for your reception guests, you’ll always receive a special piece as a gift for the important time in your life. Piece prices range from $10-$400 to accommodate all budgets, so we love this idea for all couples!
Are there any misconceptions that couples should know?
Some people hear the words “permanent”, or “infinite”, and think the jewelry is indestructible, but it’s not. Things can happen, breaks can happen. The chain is never ever garbage! Hold onto it, reach out, and we will re-attach or put a clasp on it for you to continue to enjoy!
Anything else you’d like to add?
You can find me on Instagram @eraofmomentsjewelry and online here. You can include Era I M jewelry in everything from bachelorette parties to bridal showers, engagement parties to morning preparations, and even the wedding reception itself for you and your guests. It will be a joy for us to be part of your special day!
We loved having Megan join us for a vendor spotlight blog! For more information on how to work with Ackin Events, fill out our contact form here!
