The Wexford at Emerald Greens wedding venue could not have been a more perfect spot for Jessie and Alex’s big day. Located slightly away from the hustle and bustle of the Twin Cities in Hastings, Minnesota, this venue offers stunning panoramic views, a bright and modern reception building, and a magnificent waterfall as a ceremony backdrop. The venue can also hold up to 400 guests, making it the ideal spot for couples with a large guest list. 

The Wexford at Emerald Greens wedding reception venue in a gorgeous building filled with natural light.
A romantic wedding portrait with a couple embracing on a sunny lawn in front of a white building.
A modern wedding venue interior with vaulted ceilings and large windows overlooking scenic views.

On a hot September Sunday, I knew this would be a wedding to remember as all members of the bridesmaids meandered about, sipping mimosas, applying makeup, and dancing to music in the bridal suite. Before we knew it, it was time to slip on wedding dresses and tuxedos to head outside for the sweetest first looks. First up was Jessie’s father, followed by the moment she had been anxiously awaiting since she said yes, her first look and private vow reading with Alex. I could tell how pure and true their love was for each other as the happiest tears were shed and they held tight, ready to celebrate the rest of the day and commit to each other eternally.

Wedding invitation with floral watercolor design and three engagement rings artfully arranged.
A classic lace wedding dress hanging from an ornate wall sconce with candles.
A groomsman helps adjust another's tie while getting ready for the wedding ceremony.
A bride in a lace gown looking at her reflection while getting ready.
A bride adjusts her earring while looking in the mirror before the ceremony.
Wedding accessories including jewelry, shoes and photographs arranged on dark wood surface.
A heartwarming moment between a bride in white dress and elderly escort walking along a garden path.
A touching first look wedding moment near a decorative stone water feature.
An emotional embrace between newlyweds during their outdoor wedding celebration.
A couple exchanges vows while standing on a rustic stone wall under blue skies.
A tender wedding moment captured in front of a towering evergreen tree.
Close-up shot of wedding attire details as couple walks on grass path.

The Wexford at Emerald Greens Wedding Ceremony with a Breathtaking Waterfall Backdrop


Jessie and Alex said I do in front of The Wexford's gorgeous waterfall ceremony location as the bridesmaids donned the prettiest sky-blue dresses and held bouquets of white and blue. With the sun shining as bright as could be, and a blue sky filled with fluffy clouds that looked like they were painted on just for them, the whole color palette of the day was brought to life. The ceremony wrapped up with a special exit using two bubble machines before we headed off to take some portraits.




Wedding ceremony setup with floral arch and wedding party in formal attire.
A bride walks down outdoor aisle with wedding party lined up in pastel blue dresses.
Black and white portrait of a radiant bride holding a luxurious bouquet.
Wedding party lined up during outdoor ceremony with blue and black formal attire.
A romantic wedding ceremony moment under a white floral arch adorned with cascading blooms and greenery.
A joyful wedding couple walking together outdoors, with the bride in white lace and groom in white jacket.
A dramatic wedding kiss captured during an outdoor ceremony with guests watching in the background.
An elegant outdoor wedding ceremony with bridesmaids in blue and groomsmen in black suits.

One thing I love about this venue is the endless location opportunities for taking photos. The ceremony space is a large rock platform in front of a rock wall with a waterfall. To reach the platform, all wedding party members use a small wooden bridge to cross a stream, making this ceremony location very unique to any other location in the Twin Cities area. The Wexford at Emerald Greens wedding venue also sits on a golf course which allows for a gorgeous green backdrop filled with trees and ponds. During golden hour, the venue coordinators even gave us the option to go out on the golf course to capture some stunning portraits.

Groomsmen in black suits share a lighthearted moment with the groom in white.
A formal wedding party portrait with groomsmen in black suits and groom in white jacket.
wedding party taking photos at the Wexford at Emerald Greens in front of the waterfall ceremony location
A wedding party poses together outdoors with bridesmaids in powder blue dresses.
Wedding party gathered for photos with bridesmaids in light blue gowns holding bouquets.
Bridesmaids in flowing powder blue dresses pose with bride under a floral arch.
Back view of bride and bridesmaids holding hands in light blue off-shoulder dresses.
A bridal party in light blue dresses holds white and blue hydrangea bouquets while sharing a candid moment outdoors.
A bride in a lace wedding dress poses with her white and blue hydrangea bouquet on her wedding day.
A romantic moment captured between newlyweds with a blue and white bouquet visible in the foreground.
A black and white portrait of newlyweds standing together on a golf course.
A groom in white jacket carries his bride across a scenic golf course during sunset.
A joyful wedding couple walks together on a scenic golf course path.
A groom in a classic white tuxedo smiles while adjusting his jacket outdoors.
A sunset wedding portrait on a golf course with warm golden light.

The Wexford at Emerald Greens Wedding Reception in a Window-Filled, Modern Room with Stunning Natural Light


One of my favorite things about The Wexford is the quality of natural light in the reception space. As a wedding photographer, it’s not often that I have the opportunity to shoot weddings where I don’t need to use flash until it’s dark outside. When I saw the back wall was completely made out of windows, I was instantly in love.



Elegant wedding reception table setting with light blue napkins and hydrangea centerpieces.
Close-up of wedding table decor with white rose, menu card and blue accent pieces.

As the warm sun streamed through the windows, Jessie and Alex had a beautifully choreographed first dance filled with twirls and dips. Surprise after surprise kept coming as the night went on with Jessie having planned the most special moments for her loved ones. The first of these was a bouquet dedicated to her mom which brought tears to the eyes of everyone in the room, including me. What can I say? I’m a softie and I get watery eyes pretty much whenever anyone else around me cries, so it’s safe to say I rarely have ever made it through a wedding day without shedding some tears. When it was time to cut the cake, Jessie revealed a second surprise to her new hubby Alex with a custom-made cake topper that was made to look like them on their big day.

Elegant white wedding cake topped with a traditional bride and groom figurine.
Newlyweds share a tender moment with a baby under floral wedding decorations.
Couple shares their first dance in a rustic reception venue with wooden beams.
Close-up of white wedding cake with sugar roses being cut on ornate silver stand.
Wedding reception scene showing guests giving toasts during dinner.
A couple admires their elegant white wedding cake topped with a traditional bride and groom figurine.
Elegant wedding table setting with lit candles, blue hydrangeas, and romantic evening ambiance.
Maid of honor toast at a wedding reception setup with floral arch and guests dining in a sunlit venue with large windows.
Romantic table setting with floating candles in stemware and eucalyptus leaves for a wedding.

We ended this perfect day by breaking it down on the dancefloor swinging glow sticks around before finally heading outside for a grand sparkler exit to send Alex and Jessie off in their getaway car. 

Wedding celebration with LED light sticks creating colorful light trails on the dance floor.
Wedding party dancing with colorful LED glow sticks creating a festive atmosphere.
Guests celebrate with glowing LED sticks on a dimly lit dance floor at a wedding reception.
Couple exits their wedding venue through a crowd holding bright sparklers at night.
Newlyweds depart in a blue sports car while guests hold sparklers in the evening.
Sparkler exit at a wedding at the Wexford at Emerald Greens in Hastings, MN.

Vendors


This day couldn't have been possible without the work of these amazing vendors: