New photos for site by Laurie Schneider Photography

Question:

Hello there, Rev. Coleman.

As always, it was wonderful working with you. Can you please send your mailing address to me.  I have a disk with some images of you from three weddings where we worked together in 2009.

Hope you’re well.

Best,

Laurie

Website: http://www.lschneider.com
Blog: http://lauriesblog.lschneider.com

Answer:

Good afternoon, Laurie,

Thank you so much for the pictures! I'm at "Rev. Tomkin Coleman, 197 Griggs St N, St Paul, MN 55104.

You are fantastic, Laurie. Your pictures are now up on my site on pages like Steps to Planning a Wedding in Minnesota, and there is credits, plus links to your site - you take amazing photos!

Warmly,

Rev. Tomkin

Minneapolis Sculpture Garden wedding - rain?

Question:

Hello, Pastor Tomkin. We've found your site, with all it's reviews of wedding ceremony and reception locations in Minneapolis, to be extremely helpful with the beginning wedding planning stages. So, we've booked the Minneapolis Sculpture garden (reviewed on the gardens for MN weddings page) for our August 7 wedding (with the Profile Event Center for our reception) and are now starting to get worried about having a rain site. I've called Minneapolis Parks and looked into the Loring Park Arts Center (our wedding is the same weekend as the Loring Park Art fair so that location was out) and also asked about Cowles Conservatory. Both are unavailable. We are trying to keep our rain site on the cheaper side if possible since it might go unused. Do you have any recommendations? We've also called a few churches and they were unwilling to let us use them. I'm starting to get worried!! Ive heard of weddings being held at art galleries in NE Minneapolis. What do you know about this? We have a wedding of around 175. Thanks!!

Art Loving Bride

Answer:

Dear ALB,

While it's always good to have a back-up rain location for your wedding ceremony, having the reception site as a back-up is definitely good enough - you do not need to rent a second ceremony location. The chances of having rain at your particular time, at your particular site (Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, pictured to the right), are so small in the summer that having a backup location of your reception site is definitely good enough. Even if you'd have to seat your guests at their tables, and have your ceremony up front...that's just a backup idea, and most probably wouldn't be used.

I hope this helps!

Rev. Tomkin Coleman
Minnesota Weddings with Rev. Coleman

p.s. I'd like to give another shout-out to my wife's wonderful services of premarital counseling in Minneapolis and St Paul - she's terrific!

Recommended wedding favors?

Question:

(Phone conversation)

Dear Rev. Coleman,

We went to several weddings last year, and I love the idea of wedding favors, but actually, the favors we saw at our friends' weddings were pretty, but not very practical. Any ideas?

2010 Bride

Answer:

Dear 2B (and readers!)

For this question, I defer to my own bride, my wife of almost 2 years now:

Hello, husband!

Sure, no problem! Here are the favors that I find appealing - I got them from a website, Elegant & Unique Wedding Favors, which had a huge selection:

Regal Monogram Mint Tins (Available in a Variety of Colors) Price: As low as $2.10
NOTE: Actually got these at a wedding recently, and I keep them in my purse!

For a couple who loves to travel:
Airplane Luggage Tag in Gift Box with Suitcase Tag  Price: As low as $3.55
OR:
Elegant Chrome Luggage Tag with Engraved Heart  Price: As low as $2.50

For an Asian or Asian-themed wedding:
Double Happiness Keepsake Candle  Price: As low as $1.60

Good Wishes Pearlized Photo Coasters   Price: As low as $1.84
NOTE: I like that these have multiple uses--placeholder, coaster, and picture frame.

Forever Photo Glass Coasters   Price: As low as $1.60
NOTE: These can't be used as placeholders, but they're a nice alternative to the option above if the person would rather not have the writing all over them.

Another photo coaster option:
"Fleur-de-lis" Frosted-Glass Photo Coasters    Price: As low as $1.90

Something Blue Gift Box Candle in Pearlized Box with Satin Printed Ribbon   Price: As low as $1.50
NOTE: A fun takeoff on the iconic Tiffany's box (pictured to the right).

If the bride and/or groom works as a seamstress or carpenter:
"Love Beyond Measure" Measuring Tape Keychain in Sheer Organza Bag    Price: As low as $1.40

If the bride and/or groom is a chef or really loves to cook:
"Love Beyond Measure" Heart Measuring Spoons with Free Personalized Tag   Price: As low as $2.95

If the bride and/or groom is a writer, a big reader, or has a book-related job:
"Love Story" Silver-Finish Heart-Shaped Bookmark with Elegant Silk Tassel  Price: As low as $1.50

An edible gift can be fun. Here's one example:
Love is Sweet Black and White Personalized Hershey Chocolate Bars   Price: $2.55

Some suggestions regarding wedding favors:

• I would suggest not giving anything alcohol-related. 
• Also, it's nice if the gift is something the guest could actually use. If it has the couples' names, monogram, wedding date, etc., it'll probably just get thrown away (which is fine if you're giving chocolates--another favor that's always fun to receive!). 
• Something regional or personal to the couple adds a nice touch.

Let me know if you need anything else, my darling!

Your wife
Julie Coleman
MN Premarital Counseling with Before Your Wedding Day

Professional MN makeup artist will come to bride's room

Question:

 

Dear Rev. Coleman,

I saw your wonderful reviews of the new salon (Posh) for weddings in Minneapolis, MN, and I thought brides might also be interested in the option of having a professional makeup artist come to their hotel or home to make them up for their Minnesota wedding.  It is my pleasure to introduce myself to your business.  My name is Amy Stutzriem and I am a makeup artist in the Twin Cities and surrounding communities.  I am certified and experienced in Film, Commercial, HDTV, Print, Video, Bridal, and Airbrush techniques.  (Photo to the right by Images By Kris and the Wedding News Blog).

 

Having just completed working on a Hollywood feature film, Statue of David, and having worked for Elizabeth Ries of "Twin Cities Live" (pictured to the right), I am available for new projects.  Many brides find that with the advent of high-resolution video and photography, they would really like a professional makeup artist to do their makeup and hair, and they don't necessarily want to go to a salon on the day of their wedding to make sure that they look their best. I usually charge brides $150 for makeup (and hair, if they want), or, what usually happens is that once I'm working on the bride, then bridesmaids or mothers ask if they can use my services, as well, in which case it's $100 for the bride and $75 for bridesmaids, mother of the bride, and such.

Sincerely,

Amy Stutzriem

Answer:

Dear Amy,

What a wonderful idea! Readers can contact Amy at makeupready@gmail.com or at 651.278.5263.

 

Rev. Tomkin Coleman

Minneapolis Weddings

p.s. Here's some more examples of her work:

 

 

 

Phone call - 2010 MN weddings booking up

Question:

Dear Rev. Coleman,

(Taken from a phone call with Steve Rouch, Master Photographer),

We talked about the importance of good wedding photography (Steve Rouch is amazing - he's my favorite wedding photographer in the Twin Cities!), and I mentioned how so many brides on Facebook use their wedding photograph for their profile picture, even years later. Steve said, yes, that's true - if you see obituaries in the newspaper, they often use their wedding picture from 1960, because that's the best picture that's ever been taken of them.

That's amazing!  But it's so immediately true, once I think about it...Steve's studied art and photography formally for years, and now has over 20 years of years shooting brides and grooms and making them look their best, and those photos turn out amazing, like the photographs you see in magazines. When in life do we hire a master craftsman like that to take photos? "The best picture they ever had"...that's right, that's what wedding photos are.

I really believe in pampering the bride, and so does Steve...I mentioned how weddings are one of the few times when things can't be mass-produced, and people have to hire local craftsman, like him, to do things like wedding photography - and he gently reminded me that this isn't exactly true. Since the advent of digital photography, there's been many local photography companies who hire a bunch of photographers with less than a year of experience to go out and shoot weddings...news that is appalling to me. There's SUCH a difference between great photography and well, not-great photography, and a wedding is the ONE time where you want to make sure everything is totally the best. Photography is like painting...painting with light, really, and there's a huge difference between photographs carefully taken with a trained and experienced eye, and photographs that are taken by the thousands, hoping that one or two turn out.

Check out this amazing page, which helps sum up the difference in pictures:

http://www.choicephoto.com/wedccourse.php

"The best picture they ever had"...what a great way to put it. I can see that couple who got married in 1960 in my mind's eye right now...quality craftmanship and an artistic eye took that photo.

Great conversation with a great artist - Steve Rouch, Master Photographer.

p.s.  In our phone call, we talked about how weekends in 2010 are booking up so quickly. I've only got a few booked for next year (about half of 2010 is booked, though), 2011, but he's booked up SO much of 2011, and with his booth at the Twin Cities Bridal Association Fair this Sunday, January 17th, 11 am - 4 pm at the Minneapolis Convention Center, he'll book up many more. 2000 brides and over 200 vendors - check out his booth, and check out the fair, if you are looking for something fun to do Sunday - it's amazing!

Christian and Jewish elements in a wedding in Minneapolis, MN

Question:

Dear Reverend Coleman,

I was reading about how you perform Christian-Jewish wedding ceremonies for interfaith couples in Minnesota. Thank you for providing this valuable service! Here's a more specific question - do you have experience with mixing Catholic and Jewish traditions in a ceremony?

Interfaith Bride

Answer:

Dear IB,

Yes, I've performed many wedding ceremonies in Minnesota that were a mix of Christian and Jewish, and several that were specifically Catholic and Jewish. There are elements of weddings that are the same in both faiths, and that's the part we emphasize, but then we include traditions from each faith, and explain what they mean, and the mix can work really well. We can talk about these options when we meet together to go over which traditions are meaningful to you, and how we can include them!

Warm regards,

Rev. Tomkin Coleman
Interfaith Weddings in Minnesota

University Club in downtown St Paul - review

Question:

Hello, Rev. Coleman,

We have only lived in the Twin Cities, MN area for two years and we are currently planning a wedding for November, 2010.  Our top choice at this point is the University Club downtown St. Paul, Minnesota.  We love the room, but we have never attended a wedding there, nor do we know anyone that has attended a reception there.  Can you offer any insight into the wedding experience at the University Club downtown?  I truly appreciate any help you can offer - we love your wonderful reviews of historic wedding locations in the Twin Cities.

Thank you in advance!

November Bride

Answer:

Good evening, NB,

Congratulations on your upcoming wedding!

Yes, I have performed wedding ceremonies at the University Club, both in their first-floor lobby, and in one of their upper-floor rooms.  The lobby is the really beautiful site (although the room was quite nice).

The University Club's downtown St Paul location is not only gorgeous, but the people there are extremely friendly and helpful. It is one of the few top, premiere wedding ceremony and reception sites in the Twin Cities, MN, and I recommend them wholeheartedly. If it's within your budget, then my recommendation is to snap it up quick before it gets booked (assuming you're looking at a Saturday...they go so very, very fast)...in my opinion, you would be very pleased with them!

Warm regards,

Rev. Tomkin Coleman
Weddings in MN

Photography giveaway in MN

Question:

Reverend Coleman, 

I'd like to introduce myself.  My name is Jacob Mengelkoch, and I am a co-founder and photographer for a Minneapolis, MN based photography and videography company called Imagine Your Wedding.  

Right now I'm working on promoting our business.  In order to do so, we're doing a free wedding photography and video giveaway of our standard package, which is normally $3000.

I've taken a look around your website and decided to email you because you seem like the right kind of person we want our business networking with.  I love your information on great places to take wedding photographs in Minneapolis/St Paul! Would you be interested in perhaps mentioning this giveaway to any Minnesota brides that don't already have a photo/video person set up?  That would be great!  There will be a blog post regarding this sometime between tonight and tomorrow morning.  Please take a look around our website and let us know what you think!  Thanks so much.

Imagine Your Wedding

Jacob Mengelkoch

Photographer and Co-Founder

Phone-763.732.9352

jacob@imagineyourwedding.com

Twitter-@IYWedding

Answer:

Dear Jacob,

Pleased to meet you! Such a great idea - good luck with your giveaway!

Warm regards,

Rev. Tomkin Coleman

Minneapolis Weddings

Minneapolis wedding location question

Question:

 

Hello Reverend Tomkin,

I'm planning to have an August wedding in Minnesota and we were looking for outdoor locations for weddings and stumbled across this picture of you and a couple:

 

I was wondering if you could perhaps remember this particular wedding and it's location because it looks absolutely beautiful! :)

Thanks so much!!

I look forward to hearing back from you! :)

 

August Bride

Answer:

Dear AB,

 

Congratulations on your upcoming wedding!

Unfortunately, that picture is from a wedding I performed at the Four Seasons Resort in Maui, Hawaii (sorry!) They flew me out there and put me up in a hotel room...if that works for you, of course, that's great, but otherwise, the closest wedding site we have to that in Minnesota would be the Sunken Garden at the Como Conservatory, pictured below. A review of this wedding location is here.

Warm regards,

 

Rev. Tomkin Coleman

Weddings in Minneapolis

New links to weddings at Mill City Museum

Question:

Dear Rev. Coleman,

Thank you for your wonderful review of the the Mill City Museum. Our web site has undergone a major redesign breaking many linking. You may wish to update any links you have to the site. Thank you for support and linking to us a resource.

Joe Hoover
Web Designer
Minnesota Historical Society

Answer:

Good morning, Joe,

Thank you so much for your email!  Thanks for telling me about the broken links on my site.

Your review of weddings at the Mill City Museum has now been updated with the correct links. I love performing wedding ceremonies at the Mill City Museum, and I love that I can recommend your site so wholeheartedly!

Warm regards,

Rev. Tomkin Coleman
http://www.mnweddingminister.com

Northfield, MN wedding venue

Question:

Hello Reverend Tomkin,

I recently discovered your Minnesota Wedding Blog, and you have such great information on Minneapolis/St. Paul wedding venues. I'm wondering if you have any information on venues in Northfield, MN, or if you know of anyone who might be able to give us that information. My fiancee is from Northfield, and that is where we would, ideally, like to have our wedding ceremony/reception, but we don't really know where to start looking.

Thanks,

Fiance is from Northfield

Answer:

Good evening, FIFN,

Congratulations on your upcoming wedding!

YES, there is a wonderful, classy site in Northfield, MN - the Grand Event Center, a former old-style movie theater, now converted into a gorgeous venue.

It's beautiful, private, and the people there are very friendly - I think you'd love it!

Warm regards,

Rev. Tomkin Coleman
Wedding Ceremonies in Minnesota