Some weddings you leave feeling like you did your job. And then there are weddings like Kiersten and Brad’s… the kind where you leave feeling like you witnessed something genuinely special, and you’re just grateful you got to be there. May 29th in Duluth was one of those days.
These two are the real deal. Kind, warm, full of life, the kind of people who light up every room they walk into without even trying. They’ve been through a lot together, and you can feel it in the way they look at each other. There’s a depth there. A history. And on this day, it was all on full display.
Getting ready was everything a photographer hopes for: relaxed, joyful, no stress in sight. The guys cracked open some Busch Lattes (obviously) and eased into the morning, while Kiersten and her crew got ready with that perfect calm before the beautiful storm energy. When it came time for Kiersten’s first look with her dad, her mom and best friend helped set her up. He saw her, and the words just didn’t come right away, and they didn’t need to.
Her first look with Brad was something else entirely. Emotional doesn’t quite cover it. By the time they got to their vows right after, there were tears from Brad, tears from Kiersten, and honestly… tears from me too. I’m not even a little embarrassed about it. It was that beautiful.
Then came the first look with the wedding party, and just like that, the vibe completely flipped. Kiersten and Brad iced the entire crew with Smirnoff Ices, and the energy went from tender to absolute chaos in the best way. They were pumped. The party had officially started.
The ceremony was held at Enger Tower, and it was stunning! Lush green trees, sweeping views, and a crowd full of people who love these two deeply. Kiersten’s brother officiated, which made it feel incredibly personal. And there was a quiet moment of grief woven into the joy as her grandpa had passed just a few months before, and his absence was felt. It made the ceremony even more meaningful.
After family and wedding party photos (in the heat, and I mean, it was HOT, nobody complained once), we loaded back onto the party bus. At some point, the bus overheated. A new, bigger bus showed up. Not a single person was upset. In fact, they thought it was hilarious. That tells you everything you need to know about this group.
They bar hopped outside of Duluth, soaked in the newly married glow, and made their way back to Blackwoods Event Center for the reception. The grand entrance? Absolutely unforgettable. They came in dancing and singing to Mr. Brightside with their handheld bubble machine going, signs waving, lights flashing. Pure joy. Pure them.
Brad and Kiersten went straight into their first dance, and then it was dinner, and that’s where my time with them wrapped up. But I left completely full. Full of happiness for them, full of gratitude for getting to do this work, and just really, really excited for these two.
Kiersten and Brad, thank you for letting me be a part of your day. Wishing you a lifetime of the same love, laughter, and chaos that made May 29th so incredibly perfect!
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Hey, I'm Brenna - a Northern Minnesota photographer with deep roots along the North Shore, a background in nursing, and a steady, grounded approach to documenting meaningful moments.
I’m here to make the process feel easy, to keep things moving without stress, and to notice the small details and emotions you might not even realize are happening — so you can remember how it all felt, not just how it looked.
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