Kaitlyn & Joe’s cupcakes and courthouse jail tour wedding

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 | Photography by Photosynthetique

This bride owns one of our most favorite dress design companies, KMKDesigns, so you won't be too surprised to see that her own dress is nothing less than magnificent. Read on for more about the dress and the rest of the shindig!

Joe and Kaitlyn Wedding 2013

The Offbeat Bride: Kaitlyn, Clothing Designer

Her offbeat partner: Joe, Configuration specialist

Date and location of wedding: Stillwater Historic Courthouse, Stillwater, MN — September 20, 2013

Our offbeat wedding at a glance: We didn't necessarily have a theme, but we were able to incorporate all of the mismatched things we think makes us who we are. We included a pianist who played some video game music, a rocking blue wedding gown, a jail tour, and a ridiculous amount of cupcakes and sweets. We also opted out of using vendors for several things, including my dress and the dresses and outfits of several members of the bridal party, and we had no flowers. We also created a playlist instead of hiring a DJ and created our own decorations.

Joe and Kaitlyn Wedding 2013

Joe and Kaitlyn Wedding 2013

Joe and Kaitlyn Wedding 2013

Joe and Kaitlyn Wedding 2013

We made each bridesmaid dress different, because each of them was so different it didn't make any sense to me to put them in all the same dress. My favorite part was when my maid of honor saw the dresses she said, “They are all so each of us!” While we didn't have time to make suits, we made ties for the groomsmen and a matching blue vest for the groom. It was originally the plan to make the groom a smashing tux, but nearer and nearer to the date Joe looked at me and let me know he'd still feel awesome in a rented or purchased tux. This made me more than grateful, although a little sad since I did really want to create his tux.

Joe and Kaitlyn Wedding 2013

Joe and Kaitlyn Wedding 2013

Joe and Kaitlyn Wedding 2013

Joe and Kaitlyn Wedding 2013

While I designed my dress, I asked my mom a year in advance if she would be okay creating my gown. We run the business together and she has a lot more knowledge than me, but also I knew if I spent that many hours on the dress of my dreams, probably by the end I would be totally sick of it. She said it had been her dream since I was a little girl to make my wedding gown, so she created me something we'll love forever. It was fully corseted down the back with steel boning, pleated silk, an 11-yard train, and hand-stitched lace and beaded details.

Joe and Kaitlyn Wedding 2013

Joe and Kaitlyn Wedding 2013

Joe and Kaitlyn Wedding 2013Tell us about the ceremony:
Nether of us wanted a really traditional ceremony, but we wanted it to still be personal and meaningful, and to really connect us to our family there, regardless of everyone's beliefs. We asked my grandmother, Dr. Lois Bristow, to be our officiant. She is a magician with words and has published several books in the past, so we knew she could create something lovely. Joe was a bit nervous about writing his own vows, so we we worked with my grandmother a few months before the wedding to create something we both felt represented the feeling we felt for each other.

In the end this was what we all came up with. I may have broken down a bit while saying them, something I was not expecting myself to do!

I, Joe, pledge to you, Kaitlyn,
my love and my respect,
my caring, my trust,
and my faithfulness.
Together we will weather the storms
and walk the rocky roads.
We will share and celebrate, too,
our togetherness and our happiness.

Joe and Kaitlyn Wedding 2013

Joe and Kaitlyn Wedding 2013

Joe and Kaitlyn Wedding 2013

Our biggest challenge:
Even though our families were both more than supportive throughout the process, it was hard to not feel like we were letting some people down with certain choices that we made, or that we somehow were doing things wrong. It ended up all being fine and everyone had a great time, but while planning it's hard not to get caught up in the constant advice and concerns everyone brings up.

Joe and Kaitlyn Wedding 2013

My favorite moment:
The speeches both meant a lot to both of us — we laughed and shed a few tears. It was wonderful to hear the stories and connect with our family and friends. Our first dance was also super meaningful and a little funny. Neither of us really know how to dance, so it felt a little “middle school prom date.” And my train had come undone from its bustle, so I had to kick it every time we turned! We were both laughing and dancing and it just emphasized all of the goofy ridiculousness that connects us as a couple.

Joe and Kaitlyn Wedding 2013

Joe and Kaitlyn Wedding 2013

What was the most important lesson you learned from your wedding?
The most important lesson we learned was just to roll with it the day-of. The day of our wedding ended up being perfect, but not because it was super perfect. For example, there was a huge amount of traffic and some of our vendors and wedding party ended up being late, but we didn't let anything get to us. At this point we both agreed, no matter what, we are getting married today and dang it, no matter what, we are having a great time today! And that is what happened.

Joe and Kaitlyn Wedding 2013

Care to share a few vendor/shopping links?

Enough talk — show me the wedding inspo!


dresses: KMKDesigns

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Comments on Kaitlyn & Joe’s cupcakes and courthouse jail tour wedding

  1. Love the whole thing, and one of my favorite pictures is the one in jail! Cute and funny, and it looks like there’s a whole backstory there!

      • Actually, you can buy a dress like this in your size at their website (link up just above the “wedding porn”). Been ogling the site many hours…

  2. As a MN bride (and a lover of Stillwater, BFF of Angel Food/HK owners) I’m so happy to see this! Your wedding looked amazing.

  3. I covet that shade of blue. Is it wrong to covet a color? I don’t care! That’s simply stunning!!

  4. That picture of your bridesmaids in their gorgeous and wildly different outfits brought tears to my eyes. What a wonderful display of personality!

  5. Loveeee this wedding! Her dress is spectacular the bridesmaids outfits are incredible it’s all amazing. One of my favorites on this site defiantly.

  6. I love your perspective on the ‘perfect’ wedding day, that no matter what you were going to get married and have a great day. Everyone needs to remember this!

  7. The dress is outstanding! The silhouette is perfect. Honest (if silly) question though: How do you pee in a corset that laces that low?

    • The lower part of the corset didnt cinch too much beyond my upper hip so We actually put 2 zipper up the side back seams as well as a lower side zipper and extra hooks so I could pee, though I didn’t end up needing it suprisingly ! Lol I probably would have also required attendance in the bathroom.

  8. Ohmygoodness ohmygoodness yours is the most incredibly gorgeous dress I have ever ever seen! And so precious that your mom made it for you <3 And I am absolutely ga-ga over your bridesmaid's attire, too. Such a stylish wedding!

  9. I really love this dress, looks quite close to what I have been envisioning for myself. Just wondering if it was easy to walk, dance and sit in this style? 🙂 Any tips/warnings?

    All the best to the lovely couple!

    • Dancing was more a full body movement whenever I swayed my hips lol, sitting was fine, since we did several sit tests with this dress and walking was totally fine but going up stairs was the most difficult, I think it was because there wasn’t any way to raise my knees very high:) I think when wearing a dress like this its a good idea to do things like a walk,dance and sit test before you commit to style like this;)

  10. I saw your dress on tumblr (and the making of) a while ago, and have visited the kmkdesigns site before, but I had no idea you were based in Minnesota like me! That’s exciting! Beautiful wedding all around.

  11. That dress is so amazing (and amazing on YOU!). Wowza.

    Also was wondering where you got those dreamy shoes? Best wishes!!

  12. I don’t know how any of the family members could have possibly been disappointed in some of your choices for wedding details,etc. Was it the blue and black dress, the cupcakes instead of a cake, the mismatched bridesmaids dresses or your non traditional vows, or it not being in a church?? !!
    Whatever THEIR reasons or opinions, you and your husband made it YOUR wedding.
    P.s. you and your mother’s designs are cool and fantastic!!
    Best wishes on your new life together!! Debbie

Comments are closed.