Idee + Jake | Moody Wedding in Fall

The Douglas’ love story is truly one of fate. Jake, a Process Development Engineer, grew up in the same town as her sister’s husband and even went to college with them. Jake and Idee would become acquaintances within the friend group and officially hit it off at her sister and now brother-in-law’s engagement party towards the end of 2019. 

Things moved quickly for the couple and Jake planned a romantic and family-filled proposal the evening prior to Idee’s sister’s bachelorette party. “The night before we left, my sister and I went to get our nails done for the weekend and while we were gone, Jake had some of our family hide in the house and decorated the basement in balloons and candles,” describes the bride of her engagement. “When I got home he called me downstairs and I was shocked and speechless when I saw the setup and him down on one knee. Then we walked upstairs and I was surprised again to find our family there. It was overwhelmingly sweet.”

The couple, who currently resides in South Minneapolis, had a busy couple of years getting engaged, purchasing a home, and planning a moody autumn wedding in Central Minnesota. Idee, a Strategist at Zeus Jones and Wedding Planner at yes& planning, planned her own 140-person wedding at Gathered Oaks in Alexandria, Minnesota. “It was the first venue tour we did and we fell in love immediately. We loved the outdoor ceremony site so we just had our fingers crossed that the weather on November 6th would cooperate — and luckily it did!”

Idee designed her moody autumn wedding to be cozy and intimate while creating a “simple, warm, and cozy” aesthetic. “We leaned into simplicity! Candles, greenery, runners, and little jars dressed the tables,” Idee describes. “Florals were mainly for the bouquets and head tables but they were large with moody fall colors accompanied by greenery.” Her lush bouquet was filled with seeded eucalyptus, red dahlias, white roses, and black leafy accents. 

For the bridal look, Idee knew she was looking for something elegant and romantic, but not overly fussy. “I landed on an A-line dress with a satin bodice, plunging v-neck, and organza skirt,” she says of the gown that felt like “her”. “I tried on several dresses that made me feel special or beautiful in different ways, but the look I landed on was just such a natural ‘yes’ from the start.” The bride accessorized with a gold double-pearl cuff bracelet and pearl earrings. Jake donned a classic black tux and black bowtie and the couple rocked matching high-top shoes that had “I Do” and “11.6.21” inscribed on them. 

The bridesmaids wore sleek long black gowns with an open back and a statement bow, and the groomsmen looked stylish in burgundy suit coats, white dress shirts, and black dress pants. “I always knew I wanted my bridesmaids to wear black, but we wanted the guys to be in a pop of color — so we landed on burgundy, which fit our romantic, moody autumn wedding vibe,” Idee says of the wedding party looks. 

Before the ceremony, the couple shared an intimate first look where they could just enjoy each other’s company before the busy day. The groom describes this as his favorite moment, “The anticipation of seeing Idee for the first time on our wedding day made the moment extra special and exciting.”

Following the ceremony, the couple took a moment to share an intimate champagne toast with the wedding party before heading into cocktail hour. Before entering the reception, the newly-married bride and groom shared laughs and took time to relish in the moment. Idee says this was her favorite moment of the day. 

Guests entered the rustic ceremony venue to romantic string lights and moody autumn wedding colors including plum, lush greenery, oranges, terracotta, mustard yellow, and blush pink. Their close family and friends indulged in a comfort-food-filled BBQ buffet. “It included pulled pork, shredded BBQ chicken, macaroni, baked beans, mashed potatoes — all the best foods!” says the bride. Dessert included decadent donuts and a few gluten-free delights as the bride developed a gluten intolerance in recent times. 

Being a wedding planner, the bride has personal and professional advice for those currently planning, “Trust yourself! It’s really easy to overthink and compare your ideas to the weddings you attend or see on social media but the true beauty of a wedding is how ‘you’ it is. So be sure to lean into that!” The groom agreed saying, “Take the opportunity to be a little selfish. While this is an opportunity to get all of your friends and family together, this is ultimately a day to celebrate your love. Make it the way that you two want it regardless of any outside pressure you may receive.”

The couple took off on a minimoon following the wedding to Scottsdale, Arizona, where the couple got matching “I Do” tattoos with Idee getting a “j” and Jake getting an “I”. A few months later, they jetted off to Puerto Vallarta for a full honeymoon. “My favorite part of our honeymoon was the sunset cruise which included some Puerto Vallarta site-seeing, whale watching, and watching the sunset from the ocean,” says the groom of their romantic getaway. “It was a great time that we were able to spend together.”

Vendors Cont.  — Stationery: Zola (Save the Dates) Minted (Invites) Stephanie Holtz Design (Head Table Place Cards) | Bridesmaid Dresses: Show Me Your Mumu |  Bridal Accessories: Anthropologie |  Beauty: Bride’s Sister-In-Law, Kait Udo and JAK Beauty |  Transportation:  Mobile Shenanigans |  Rings: LJS Designs |  Late Night Food:  Zorbaz

All images by Tarah Elise Photography