On a crisp and chilly January morning, Bryna and Christopher prepared to exchange their vows for a second time in their small wedding in St. Peter, Minnesota at The Capitol Room.
Despite their plans changing multiple times and having an intimate ceremony back in California, they still wanted to share this special moment with their closes family and friends back in Minnesota. Walking into their getting ready spaces, I felt the warmth and love that was literally surrounding this couple. But this couple’s love story started way before this special day.
They actually met the first time when they were 10 years old in Okinawa, Japan – over ten years ago. Both of their fathers were active in the Marine Corps, and they lived across the street from each other. They met playing outside as kids and were on the same soccer team. During the reception, their parents and loved ones shared so, so many memories of these two when they were kids and how they continued to cross paths through their childhood. They shared with me that they became “fast friends” in middle school through the love of sports, “and the rest is history”, as they say!
The proposal happened in Santa Barbara, California.
Christopher rented a Yurt in the hills outside the city and had a friend of theirs, Claire, to come alone with them. They had plans to go to eat by the beach, but before they left, they climbed the hill near where they were staying to look at the view of the city. Christopher had a ring staged in a tree branch – talk about all the heart eyes! As Bryna tells it “the next thing I know, he was down on one knee, both a nervous wreck, and we were engaged!”.
Fast forward to their wedding day in St. Peter at The Capitol Room, a venue that perfectly marries industrial charm and classic elegance.
They included Christmas trees in their ceremony and braved the cold for some gorgeous sunset portraits. The day was filled with laughter, so many hugs, inside jokes, and carefree moments – exactly what they wanted for their day.
It’s not often that people are lucky enough to find their soulmates so young in life, and these two started their love story so many years before, early in their childhood, only grow into the relationship and the now marriage they have today. Bryna and Christopher are two of the most kind and genuine souls I have ever known, and their futures are filled with so much love, adventure, and all their quirky goofiness.
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