A Fall Morning on Family Land in Scandia

When I think of Sydney and Joe, I think of two people who are passionately in love. I had already gotten a glimpse of their relationship during their engagement session in Duluth, where we explored Park Point and Skyline Social & Games together. If you’d like to read more about that adventure, you can check out their engagement session here.

Their wedding day felt like a continuation of everything I had already learned about them—fun, intentional, unique, and completely centered around enjoying life together.

The day began at Sydney’s parents’ property in Scandia, Minnesota, where both the ceremony and much of the portrait time would take place. Calling it a property almost feels like an understatement. The land was so large that golf carts were needed to transport guests back and forth to the ceremony site.

With the beautiful October colors, cabernet, cream, and gold details, and crisp fall air, the setting couldn’t have been more perfect. Sydney spent the morning getting ready with her bridesmaids at her parents’ home while Joe and his groomsmen prepared at The Scandia Creamery. Both groups brought incredible energy to the day. There was laughter around every corner, plenty of jokes being made, and a whole lot of excitement to celebrate two of their favorite people.

One thing that immediately stood out was Joe’s wedding attire. Rather than opting for a traditional suit and tie, he fully embraced the wedding colors with a cabernet trench coat paired with a cream turtleneck. As a barber who regularly changes his hair color, he even dyed his hair to match the coat for the occasion. Honestly, it fit him perfectly.

After getting ready, the couple headed straight into their first look. The excitement on both of their faces was impossible to miss. They took time to admire each other’s outfits, soak in the moment, and enjoy finally seeing one another before the day really took off.

The property offered so many beautiful portrait locations. We began in an open area surrounded by trees before hopping on a golf cart and heading deeper into the property. At the ceremony site, a Victorian-style loveseat had been set up, giving us the perfect opportunity for some editorial-inspired portraits that felt elegant while still fitting the relaxed atmosphere of the day.

Afterward, we gathered the wedding party for photos. Every member brought incredible energy and enthusiasm, including Sydney’s bridesman, who fit right in with the rest of the crew. It was obvious why these people had been chosen to stand beside them.

A Ceremony Among the Trees in Scandia

Nestled in the back of the property was a beautiful ceremony space surrounded by towering trees and open skies. The ceremony itself was intentionally small and intimate, allowing Sydney and Joe to be surrounded by their closest family and friends before welcoming additional guests later at the reception. One of my favorite details was how the trees surrounding the ceremony site were decorated with photographs documenting their relationship over the years. Even some of the images from their engagement session found a place among the display.

Before the ceremony even officially began, there were already signs that this wedding was going to be unlike any other. Joe’s best man also happened to be the flower boy. And he absolutely crushed it. At one point he even blew flower petals directly into Joe’s face while making his way down the aisle.

As Sydney walked toward Joe, emotions immediately took over. Both of them were visibly emotional, and it was clear just how much this moment meant.

Then came one of the most unique ceremony moments I’ve ever witnessed.

Months before the wedding, Joe had casually mentioned that he thought it would be funny if people roasted him during the ceremony. What he didn’t realize was that Sydney actually remembered. As a surprise, portions of the ceremony were dedicated entirely to roasting Joe. Members of the wedding party stepped forward one by one to share stories, jokes, and playful jabs. Some of the stories were so outrageous that I honestly can’t repeat them here. Let’s just say there were nunchucks involved at some point in Joe’s life, and one of his groomsmen even gifted him a pair during the wedding.

I’ve photographed a lot of ceremonies, but this was easily one of the most unique.

After the laughter settled, the ceremony transitioned into heartfelt vows before they were officially pronounced husband and wife. Their walk back down the aisle felt like a victory lap.

Immediately afterward, they sat together on the Victorian loveseat and invited each of their ceremony guests to join them for photos. Rather than rushing off to cocktail hour, they intentionally spent time documenting the people who had played important roles in their lives. It was one of my favorite parts of the day.

Reception at The Scandia Creamery

After some time relaxing with family and friends, everyone made their way to The Scandia Creamery for cocktail hour and the reception. If you think the ceremony was unique, the reception somehow managed to take things even further. The wedding party kicked off the evening with a grand entrance that perfectly reflected Sydney and Joe’s personalities. As a group, they entered, dropped to a knee, and chugged Baja Blast Mountain Dew. Shoutout to one of the groomsmen and his dad for making sure my second shooter Emma and I got one too!

Following dinner, we snuck away for golden hour portraits, and they ended up being some of my favorite images of the entire day. The property featured a small pond, a beautiful meadow surrounded by trees, and the most incredible golden light filtering through the landscape. Everything aligned perfectly.

As the sun disappeared, we returned to The Scandia Creamery for speeches and dancing. The speeches struck the perfect balance between heartfelt and hilarious. Stories of friendship, family, and love were shared, along with plenty of laughs and even a confetti popper.

One particularly sweet moment happened during the dances when Sydney surprised her sister. Not only was it her wedding anniversary, but it was also her birthday. Sydney had already surprised her earlier with a birthday sash, but during the reception she invited her and her husband onto the dance floor to share a dance together. It was such a beautiful reflection of how much she loves her family.

Sydney also chose to split her parent dance between both her mother and father while her bridesman performed their song live.

And then the dance floor officially opened. DJ Swag absolutely delivered. The dance floor stayed packed, the energy never slowed down, and at one point Joe even grabbed the microphone for a little karaoke performance.

To finish the night, they skipped the traditional bouquet and garter toss entirely. Because, let’s be honest, Sydney and Joe have never been interested in doing things the traditional way. Instead, they launched custom T-shirts into the crowd that read: “I Got Baja-Blasted at the Stokes Wedding”.

Honestly, I can’t think of a more fitting ending to their day.

From golf carts and flower boys to Baja Blast and karaoke, every part of this wedding reflected exactly who Sydney and Joe are. Fun. Authentic. Deeply in love. Completely themselves.

And that’s what made it unforgettable.