A French-inspired Vow Renewal at The Whim, featured in Junebug Weddings!
HappiLily Events worked alongside an incredible team of vendors to produce the Big Fake Wedding — Minneapolis. The event, which was sponsored by Lake Bride Magazine, welcomed over 200 guests and was hosted at The Whim, a modern industrial venue in Northeast Minneapolis.
This wedding expo alternative brought together local Minneapolis/Saint Paul wedding vendors to celebrate a vow renewal for a sweet couple, Ben and Gabbie! We were lucky to be a part of the expo as the event coordinator and an event designer. Our efforts, and the work of other local vendors, were featured on the Junebug Weddings blog!
Ben and Gabbie at the Whim Events in Northeast Minneapolis // Alyssa Rados Photo
What is the Big Fake Wedding?
The Big Fake Wedding is a unique wedding fair alternative that allows engaged couples to see the best local vendors in action. This isn’t some stuffy bridal expo with hundreds of vendor booths, pamphlets, and business cards; this is an immersive experience where brides- and grooms-to-be are welcomed as “wedding guests” to witness a real couple’s vow renewal.
For anyone planning a wedding, the event serves as a source of inspiration, a resource for finding trusted wedding vendors, and an emotional reminder to plan for what comes after the wedding: a marriage!
How did HappiLily Events participate?
The Big Fake Wedding partners with select vendors each year, and HappiLily Events was honored to be asked to serve as the day of coordinator for the Minneapolis event!
HappiLily Events managed the timeline to keep the couple, their wedding party, and vendors in sync, just as we do for our couples on a full wedding day. This included directing a ceremony rehearsal, cueing the ceremony musicians (Loring String Quartet — highly recommend!), prepping everyone for dances, and orchestrating a sparkler send-off for the happy couple!
Guest tablescape design by HappiLily Events // Alyssa Rados Photo
Along with serving as the day of coordinator, we designed two guest tables and the couple’s sweetheart table. We saw this as the perfect opportunity to collaborate with one of our favorite rental vendors, Style Society!
For the couple’s table, we chose a wooden hairpin leg table and a modern gray loveseat. Vintage glass votives and ice blue bud vases were placed along a white chiffon table runner, and white charger plates were set on a bed of babysbreath for a soft and romantic touch!
Alyssa Rados Photo
What was the event design / theme?
Each city of the Big Fake Wedding tour embraces a different theme for the event. The theme for the Minneapolis event was called French Provision, being inspired by French architecture and stoneware.
The elegant color palette included delicate whites, shades of grey, and soft taupe paired with natural greens and gold accents. With multiple event designers/rental companies participating, the event is a fun opportunity to see how the same color palette and theme can be creatively brought to life in very different ways!
The venue, The Whim in Northeast Minneapolis, was the perfect backdrop for this theme to come to life. The Whim is a venue as romantic as the name implies; inspired by European art and industrial beauty, the venue boasts airy white walls, soaring timber ceilings, and walls of large windows and white-painted brick.
A cozy lounge designed by Style Society, at the Whim // Alexandra Robyn Photo
Alyssa Rados Photo
What was the event like?
As a “fake wedding” but a real vow renewal, chosen vendors perform their services just as they would if we were working a client’s wedding, doing all we can to create a picture-perfect event that runs smoothly. “Guests” (expo attendees) get to enjoy the full experience of a ceremony, cocktail reception, and dance party, along with getting a behind-the-scenes look at local vendors in action.
The event is an amazing way for couples to visualize what their own wedding day will be like, and getting to witness a vow renewal in real-time is an emotional reminder of the vows and commitments they will soon be making to each other!
After the ceremony, guests enjoyed lots of yummy hors d'oeuvres from Braise Catering, desserts from Amy’s Cupcake Shoppe and Love You Cookie, a North Mallow S’mores Bar, and drinks from Minne Bar Go (one of our favorite mobile bar trailers!).
During the reception, attendees also had the opportunity to chat with the vendor production team about their own wedding goals! HappiLily Events had the pleasure of chatting with so many couples about their wedding plans, and excitingly, we’ll be working with quite a few of these couples to celebrate their weddings in 2023 and 2024!
Sweets & treats // Alyssa Rados Photo
Congratulations (again!) to Ben and Gabbie!
Thank you for letting us design the perfect vow renewal for you.
Below are some photos from the event showcasing our designs, along with some other favorites featuring the amazing vendor team we worked with! All of our vendor partners are tagged at the end.
Alyssa Rados Photo
Images below by Alexandra Robyn Photography
PARTICIPATING VENDORS:
Photography – Alexandra Robyn Photo, Alyssa Rados Photography, Exist Weddings
Venue & Bar – The Whim
DOC & Event Design: Table 7 & 8 + Head Table – HappiLily Events
Floral & Event Design: Bouquets & Boutonnieres & Styled Rentals – Style Society
DJ – Complete Weddings + Events
Ceremony Entertainment – Loring String Quartet
Catering – Braise Catering
Cake, Cupcakes, & Macaroons – Amy’s Cupcake Shop
Cookie Bar – Love You Cookie
Mini Desserts – Nothing Bundt Cake
S’mores Bar – North Mallow
Makeup Artist – Jesus Arte
Hair Styling – The Perch Hair Studio
Wedding Dress – Grace + Ivory
Bridesmaids’ Apparel – Vow’d Weddings
Groom’s Apparel – Suitshop
Signage – Cold Press Creative (now Emmy Shanley Creative)
Invitation Design – Merimoi Press
Event Design: Table 1 & 2 + Registration – A.L. Events
Event Design: Tables 5 + 6 – It’s the Little Things Events
Event Design: Ceremony Backdrop – Golden Harvest Events
Balloon Installation – Dot & Daisy
Champagne Wall & Event Installations – Wedding Wood Rentals
Lighting – Phos Events
Mobile Bar – Minne Bar Go
Photobooth – SPN Booth
Kids Entertainment – The Kids Table
Other sponsors: This Manifested Life, Pressed
Hotel – Hotel Emery
Travel – 100 Palms Travel & Events
Valet – Uptown Valet
