{Wedding} Dinning with Austin, Dickens, and Dostoevsky, Happy Gnome, St. Paul, MN

Carol and James handmade and designed every element of their wedding. Each table was themed by classic literary authors. Instead of traditional floral table arrangements they cut out sections of old books and planted succulents inside the books. Their attention to detail was comparable to a paid wedding planner down to the terrariums and a card catalog seating guide. Carol even stitched their wedding date onto their matching chucks.

Both are working hard at their PhD’s in West Virginia and are extremely motivated by giving back to their community through the sciences and literacy. For their wedding they donated money to FirstBook, a nonprofit organization, which helps connects children and families to books and education. Their connection to St. Paul, MN, I believe, is St. Kate’s. Carol and I both realized we shared St. Kate’s in common during our first meeting. At the reception she sat me with all St. Kate’s Alumni and I was reminded of why I adore that little all girls college, aside from the school being a feminist social justice oasis, it attracts really strong and intelligent women. The girls I sat with were hilarious, joking about gender roles and our lack of sports teams/enthusiasm.

Carol and James found me through OffBeat Bride, which is a great resource for the thoughtful and unique wedding couple, I have worked with so many cool people through that website. This wedding was dope!