Minneapolis/St. Paul Wedding Planning Guide: Part 2
your guide to planning a TWIN CITIES WEDDING
wedding design & decor
photo by: Kellie Rae
As award-winning Minnesota wedding planners and designers with decades of expertise under our belt, here at Style-Architects Weddings we know everything there is to planning a Twin Cities wedding. This region offers countless options for couples to create their dream celebration, hosting a vibrant wedding industry filled with a diverse selection of skilled vendors and venues. In Part 2 of our Ultimate Minneapolis/St. Paul Wedding Planning Guide, we’ll focus on the vendor service categories that are essential to bringing your design dreams to life.
We’ll provide insight with our picks for the top wedding professionals in the Minneapolis/St. Paul metro, and give key planning advice within each category. No matter your vision, this resource will help you navigate the wedding planning process and provide trusted vendor recommendations to bring your dream wedding to life. We regularly work with the best of the best, so you can trust our advice!
photos by: Shane Long, Shane Long, Russell Heeter, Sarah Heath, Kellie Rae
minnesota wedding decor & rental services
Decor and rentals play a huge role in your wedding design, so it’s important to consider all your options to find the best fit. This category is broad, encompassing every decor option imaginable: reception linens, ceremony staging, wall draping, lighting, installations, lounges, rugs, etc. The list goes on! With so many choices to peruse, it can seem daunting at first, but remember - with so many options, it’s practically impossible not to find your dream decor! Additionally, if you’re working with a wedding planner like us, we can expertly guide you to the best vendors to bring your wedding day vision to life.
When it comes to decor and rental services, there’s often a large overlap in what each business offers. Some will offer everything you need - linens, tables, seating, tents, etc. - while some may have a more concentrated focus on linen options or lighting. To provide guidance, we’ve included brief vendor descriptions outlining what you can expect from them, but these are not comprehensive. We recommend clicking the links to each website and fully exploring each one individually. Remember: you don’t need to stick with just one! If you’ve fallen in love with a linen pattern from one provider but also want a lounge grouping from another, it’s totally fine to mix and match your decor vendors. We’ve divided our favorite vendors into specialty categories, but check out their websites to see the full scope of what they offer!
photos by: Robert Evans, Kellie Rae, Cadence & Eli, Kellie Rae, Amanda Nippoldt
minnesota wedding tabletop decor & furniture
Tabletop decor and seating options are where the small details make a big impact; when your choices can transform a reception space from simple to stunning. Minnesota offers a wide variety of rental vendors who specialize in tabletop essentials, including tablecloths, runners, chargers, glassware, flatware, and centerpiece hard goods as well as seating options ranging from classic chiavari chairs to chic lounge furniture. Some businesses offer curated packages that pair sofas, chairs, rugs, and tables into collections, making it easier to create a cohesive look without the guesswork. And if you’re working with a planner, they can help you coordinate the details so that each element enhances the overall design of your wedding day.
Just like with larger decor elements, mixing and matching is encouraged. Maybe you love the glassware and chargers from one vendor but prefer the napkins and chairs from another. Luckily for you, Minnesota’s tabletop rental scene makes it easy to combine pieces and achieve the exact aesthetic you’re dreaming of. Be sure to explore vendor websites fully to see their full range of offerings, and don’t be afraid to get creative with your tablescapes. After all, the little details often leave the biggest impression! As an extra tip - be cautious about delivery and pick-up fees. If delivery is required from two decor vendors, ask the vendor with the larger order to subrent from the other to consolidate fees.
APRÈS EVENT DÉCOR AND TENT RENTAL
Specializing in a broad array of décor and rentals, Après offers every category of decor need for an event in a wide array of styles.
With classic styles, Linen Effects brings timeless elegance to wedding linens, tabletop décor, dining chairs, and furniture.
BBJ LA TAVOLA / HAVEN & GATHER
BBJ LaTavola, represented locally by Haven & Gather, offers high-end, luxe linens, gorgeous chargers, and placemats bursting with style and sophistication.
Kahani excels in multicultural Indian weddings, offering gorgeous mandap rentals, furniture, and cultural decor options.
Known for whimsical, boho, and contemporary aesthetics, Collected & Co. brings a playful touch to furniture, tabletop rentals, and decor.
With a focus on vintage style, Rudy’s provides distinctive farm tables, dining chairs, furniture, tabletop rentals, and décor that create warm, memorable, and timeless weddings.
Bringing classic vintage flair to event lounges and decor, Style Society’s options create charming, memorable, and stylish spaces.
Offering a variety of dining chairs, The Seatery provides stylish options at reasonable prices.
photos by: Paper Antler, Shane Long, Robert Evans, Russell Heeter, Cadence & Eli
minnesota wedding installations
If you desire a wedding design that feels truly immersive and unforgettable, creating a focal point with installation decor is where the magic happens. Think beyond centerpieces; this category includes custom ceiling treatments, stylish pendants, intricate backdrops, flowing drapery, statement arches, and bespoke art pieces that truly make a statement at your wedding. These design elements can completely transform your space and create that high-impact look you’ve been saving to your Pinterest boards.
Because installations often require structural support, custom builds, or floral mechanics, they’re typically a collaboration between your planner, florist, rental teams, and sometimes even production or fabrication specialists. This makes it especially important to work with vendors who are experienced in executing large-scale decor and understand the logistics involved.
photos by: Cadence & Eli, Andrew Vick, Marit Williams, Madison Delaney, Kellie Rae
minnesota wedding lighting
When it comes to setting the mood, lighting is everything. It’s often the most overlooked design element, and yet, it has the power to completely transform your space from simple to stunning. From warm or colorful uplighting and dramatic wall washes to twinkle-lit ceilings and custom neon signage, lighting elevates your celebration from a well-designed event to an unforgettable experience.
Lighting design goes far beyond just making sure your space is “bright enough.” It’s about curating ambiance, highlighting key decor moments, and shaping how your guests emotionally experience the environment. Want your ceremony to feel intimate and ethereal? Soft washes and subtle pin spots will do the trick. Looking to turn your reception into a full-on party? Color washes, projections, and intelligent lighting can create that high-energy vibe.
FUTURE PROJECTIONS DIGITAL DECOR
An expert in lighting, Future Projections heightens your design with beautiful imagery that can change and morph over time, transforming your venue into an entirely new space.
Mass Group has your custom neon and 3D lettering covered. Because they are custom, they can work with any size, font, or color imaginable.
PHOS is our top choice for wedding and event lighting services. With chandeliers, pendants, string light canopies, cafe and fairy lights, and more, PHOS has your specialty lighting covered.
photos by: Robert Evans, Shane Long, Summit Hill Studios, Kellie Rae, Cadence & Eli
minnesota wedding tent rentals
A tented wedding offers the best of both worlds: outdoor romance with the comfort and control of a curated space. When transforming a private estate, lakeside property, or open field, tents allow you to build a bespoke venue from scratch, tailored entirely to your vision. To spark your imagination: dramatic sailcloth ceilings, chandeliers hanging above custom flooring, and open-air lounges that feel like they belong in a magazine spread.
That said, tented weddings come with a layer of complexity, which is where the right rental partner becomes essential. Tent styles range from classic frame tents to romantic sailcloth tents, to clearspan tents, each with its own aesthetic and logistical considerations. Add-ons like flooring, climate control, lighting, draping, and even restroom trailers often come into play, and they all need to work together seamlessly.
photos by: Matt Lien, Paper Antler, Photogen Inc., Amanda Nippoldt, Paper Antler
minnesota wedding florals
Floral design is one of the most powerful tools in bringing your wedding vision to life. Not only are blooms endlessly versatile, they’re also deeply expressive, able to convey mood, style, and story in the most beautiful, intentional way.
There are the traditional, timeless floral moments: bridal bouquets, ceremony arrangements, elegant centerpieces. But today’s floral design has evolved beyond tradition. We’ve witnessed couples get bolder and far more creative with their choices: bursting blooms suspended above your dance floor, or an entry moment so lush and immersive it feels like walking into a secret garden. These are the kinds of floral-forward experiences we’ve helped our couples create, and they’re often the showstopping moments guests can’t stop talking about!
When choosing your floral designer, look for someone whose portfolio reflects both a strong design perspective and a willingness to collaborate. Your florist should feel like a creative partner - someone who understands your aesthetic, works seamlessly with your planner, and can scale beauty in a way that makes sense for your venue, season, and budget. To help you get started, we’re linking to several florists we’ve worked with time and again, and consider the best in the business.
Also important to consider: Does your floral designer offer rentals (like arches, stands, or vessels)? Do they have experience with large-scale installations? Are they comfortable repurposing ceremony florals for reception spaces without compromising the design? These are all details that can impact both cost and cohesion.
photos by: Russell Heeter, Russell Heeter, Shane Long, Matt Lien, Russell Heeter
minnesota wedding stationery & signage
Our final category in Part Two of the Ultimate Minneapolis/St. Paul Wedding Planning Guide focuses on the paper of it all - your invitations, welcome and wedding day signage, and all other stationery are very important to the overall brand of your wedding day design. From the very first touchpoint (your save-the-date) to the final farewell (a custom thank-you note or send-off sign), paper goods set the tone, tell your story, and signal to guests what kind of experience awaits.
Beyond the essentials, invitations, menus, escort displays, and ceremony signage, this category is one of the most creative playgrounds for personal expression. Fonts, textures, materials, and hand-lettered details can all be tailored to reflect your style. Are you envisioning modern minimalism with structured typography? Or perhaps a romantic flourish of calligraphy paired with deckled-edge cotton paper? One of our favorite examples from last summer was a couple with a floral-focused garden party-themed wedding. In their invitations, it included patterns and calligraphy that reflected the theme, but the best detail was the compostable seed-embedded paper they chose. It left guests with a lasting memory, and a wildflower garden of their own! A poetic and eco-conscious detail that beautifully echoed the couple’s values.
When choosing your stationery designer, consider both their technical skill and their understanding of event flow. Great signage isn’t just beautiful; it’s functional, guiding guests through the day with clarity and style. You get bonus points if your designer can work across mediums (such as acrylic, linen, wood, or mirror) and can collaborate with your planner to ensure cohesion from start to finish.
photos by: Russell Heeter, Cadence & Eli, Kellie Rae, Marit Williams, Robert Evans
want more help?… we’re on it!
Planning a wedding involves countless decisions, and selecting your vendors is just the beginning. At Style-Architects Weddings, we are expert, award-winning wedding planners and designers with decades of experience crafting stunning, seamless events in the Twin Cities. From intimate celebrations to grand affairs, we’ve built strong relationships with these vendors to ensure your wedding planning is effortless and stress-free.
Our experience means we know exactly how to match you with the perfect venue and vendors to bring your vision to life. Whether you need guidance on selecting a caterer, a floral designer, or a photographer, we can connect you with trusted professionals who align with your style and budget. And if you need inspiration, take a look: we’ve got numerous galleries listed on our website, and every photo featured in this article showcases one of our beautifully designed weddings! Just click on the image to see even more!
This guide is just the beginning! Check out the Ultimate Minneapolis/St. Paul Wedding Planning Guide: Part 1, and stay tuned for Part 3 and Part 4, where we’ll continue to share expert advice and inspiration to make your wedding day unforgettable. If you’re ready to start planning, fill out our contact form linked below. We’d love to bring your dream wedding to life!
As Minnesota wedding planners and designers, we provide award-winning, high-end services tailored to discerning couples across the region. With a focus on meticulous design, seamless execution, and personalized experiences, we bring each couple’s unique vision to life while managing every detail with professionalism and care. Our expert teamwork combines creativity and precision to ensure a flawless celebration, reflecting sophistication and elegance at every step.
mother-daughter
dream team
Hey there! We’re Rachelle and Anna—mother and daughter…by law, but we like to think of it as family by design. Rachelle’s been in the wedding and events world for over two decades, and for half of that time, she’s had Anna by her side. Our love for details and logistics pairs perfectly with our skill for style and design, making us the ultimate left-brain/right-brain dream team. That’s why we’re called Style-Architects Weddings! We’re obsessed with what we do, and with over 20 awards under our belt, we’re confident we can turn your dream day into a reality.
Rachelle, owner of Style-Architects Weddings, brings a distinctive blend of business expertise and creative vision to every celebration. With an MBA and a background in corporate event planning, she excels at organization, budgeting, and project management while pairing those skills with a refined design sensibility. Her passion lies in creating weddings that feel effortless, meaningful, and beautifully curated; events that reflect each couple’s unique story. Under her leadership, Style-Architects Weddings has been recognized with awards from the International Association of Live Events, The Knot, and Minnesota Bride, and is regularly featured in leading industry publications.
Anna is a seasoned wedding planner with deep experience in event design and logistics, known for her calm approach and meticulous attention to detail. Since 2013, she has been dedicated to crafting personalized celebrations that are both thoughtfully designed and flawlessly executed. Anna’s focus is on ensuring couples feel supported throughout the process, allowing them to enjoy a stress-free planning experience and a wedding day that feels as effortless as it is beautiful. Her work with Style-Architects Weddings has earned industry recognition and consistent features in publications such as Minnesota Bride, a testament to her commitment to excellence.