Warren did not want to turn around. Nope. Wasn’t going to happen. He was going to just stand there and stare at the back brick wall of Hibbing’s Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church.Turning around would have made it reality that his little girl, his eldest daughter, his baby, would be getting married. When he did turn around to see Samantha, the biggest smile broke across his face, and, despite his state of happy sadness, it was clear that he was relishing in this moment.

 

So much so, he even gave Jason, the groom, a hug.

 

This whole period of happy sadness all began in 2014. Despite having attended the same high school, Samantha and Jason never crossed paths–a true testament to how the small world of northern Minnesota is quite big until the time is right. Their time became perfect during one simple stop at a local gas station; their shoulders brushed and that was all it took, as, in Sam’s words, they “never stopped talking since that day.”

 

A mere three years later, Samantha’s luck would continue. Not only did she win a free photo session at her sister Sarah’s charity event, but that session would become a little extra as Jason used it as the perfect opportunity to ask Samantha to join him in forever. She, of course, said yes.

 

It was that yes that brought everyone together the first Saturday in June for a wedding day in full bloom. Samantha with her mother, Julie, and her bride tribe primped and pampered at Grand Rapids’s Timberlake Hotel before shuttling to Blessed Sacrament, the church in which Samantha’s grandparents were wed. After the energetic, emotional, and sentimental ceremony led by Father Gabriel, everyone made their way back to the Timberlake for dinner and dancing. So thankful for both her parents, Samantha incorporated one surprise into the evening: A Mother-Daughter dance, a way for her to thank her loving mother for everything.

 

In the days following their wedding, the newly minted couple have headed off on their mini-moon, a three-day cabin getaway; this will be followed by a full-fledged honeymoon to Jamaica in the month’s ahead, no doubt seeing all the vibrant, tropical flowers that are as in full bloom as their love.

 

Congratulations, Samatha + Jason!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

C E R E M O N Y // Blessed Sacrament

C E R E M O N Y // Blessed Sacrament

 

R E C E P T I O N  + C A T E R I N G // Timberlake Hotel + Event Center

R E C E P T I O N  + C A T E R I N G // Timberlake Hotel + Event Center

 

G O W N // Posh Bridal

G O W N // Posh Bridal

 

B R I D E S M A I D  D R E S S E S // Christian Lane Bridal

B R I D E S M A I D  D R E S S E S // Christian Lane Bridal

 

T U X  + S U I T S // First Choice Tuxedo

T U X  + S U I T S // First Choice Tuxedo

T U X  + S U I T S // First Choice Tuxedo

 

R I N G S // Zales

 

H A I R // Samanatha Bruns

H A I R // Samanatha Bruns

 

M A K E  U P // Crystalina Snell

M A K E  U P // Crystalina Snell

M A K E  U P // Crystalina Snell

 

C A K E  // The Wonderful Aunt Mary

 

F L O W E R S // The Amazing Uncles, Michael + Mike

 

I N V I T A T I O N S // Zazzle