Morgan and Cole brought a whole wedding party out into the January snow at Breezy Point Resort. Burgundy dresses, blue suits, plaid wraps, and Morgan’s white tulle train filled the courtyard. Later, out on Pelican Lake, the low sun caught their breath as they kissed. I love those portraits, but there is just as much to look at in the photographs from indoors: a gown spread across a pool table, her parents’ reactions, and the two of them laughing under the reception lights.
Plaid Shirts and a Gown on the Pool Table
Morgan’s wedding dress came out of its bag on a pool table beneath a Budweiser lamp. She was still in her red plaid shirt, smiling across the table while the fabric was unpacked. Her bridesmaids wore their own mix of plaids for a toast beside the staircase. On the couch, Morgan opened a small gift box, looked down at it, and then tipped her head back laughing.
Once she was in the dress, her mother and bridesmaids gathered around to help with the gown and skirt. Her mom’s eyes were wet in one frame; in another, she was settling a white wrap around Morgan’s shoulders. Her dad reached for her hands when he saw her dressed. I like keeping these photographs together because the little gestures say so much: a hand at the back of a gown, a shoulder covered before heading outside, a parent taking a closer look.
A First Look in the Snow
Cole waited with his back turned as Morgan crossed the courtyard toward him, lifting her train above the snow. Bare red branches framed her approach. The wedding party joined them outdoors for portraits, with plaid wraps over several of the burgundy dresses. When Morgan and Cole kissed in the middle of the group, the people on either side of them broke into cheers.
Indoors, an orange stage curtain gave us a place for couple and group portraits. The bridesmaids held their bouquets together across the front of one photograph, making a row of white flowers and greenery. The young attendants joined the larger group too. I enjoy seeing those arranged portraits alongside the looser ones from outside, where everyone was walking, laughing, and looking at each other.
Winter Light on Pelican Lake
We made portraits in a snowy garden and on the outdoor stairs before the lake photographs. Morgan kept her white wrap around her shoulders, and Cole held her close on the steps. The green railings and bare branches gave those frames a different setting from the open snow beyond.
Out on Pelican Lake, their breath showed in the low sunlight. Cole dipped Morgan for a kiss; then they walked hand in hand, smiling at each other. The light picked up the edges of her wrap and the layers of tulle against the snow. It was a bitterly cold January day, and that visible breath is part of what makes these photographs feel like winter.
An Indoor Ceremony After Dark
Two young attendants carried a wooden sign down the aisle announcing that Cole’s bride was coming. Morgan followed on her father’s arm, both of them smiling. Her long veil trailed behind her toward the front of the room. By the ceremony, the windows reflected the indoor lights against the darkness outside.
Morgan and Cole bowed their heads while the officiant read, then kissed beside the tall candelabras. Morgan’s smile on the walk back down the aisle nearly filled the frame. A little later, she threw her head back laughing again while a bridesmaid signed at a small table beside them.
Candlelight, Toasts, and Dancing
The reception tables carried red roses, white flowers, greenery, gold chargers, and floating candles. Fabric and string lights stretched across the ceiling. Morgan raised an arm as she and Cole entered to applause, and later they leaned together for a kiss at their table.
A bridesmaid laughed into the microphone during her toast. On the dance floor, Morgan looked up at Cole with a broad smile, and her father closed his eyes as he held her during their dance. Those are the photographs I want at the end of this gallery: the people who helped her get ready, walked with her, and were still holding her close that evening.
Planning Your Breezy Point Wedding
For a winter wedding, I like to leave time for short outdoor portrait sessions and places to warm up between them. Morgan and Cole’s day shows how much variety you can get from the resort grounds, indoor portraits, and a little low winter light. My Breezy Point Resort wedding guide has more about photographing here, and Lauren and Adam’s fall wedding offers another look at the same venue.
If you’re comparing locations, you can also browse my Brainerd Lakes wedding venue guide. When you’re ready to talk through your date and photographs, get in touch.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Morgan and Cole’s January wedding included a first look and portraits in the snow, followed by an indoor ceremony and reception at Breezy Point Resort. For a winter date, I plan the outdoor photographs around the available daylight and leave room to warm up indoors.
Their photographs include the resort’s snowy courtyard and outdoor stairs, indoor portraits against an orange stage curtain, and low winter sunlight on snow-covered Pelican Lake. That mix gave their gallery several different settings before the ceremony.
I recommend short outdoor portrait sessions, warm layers between photographs, and an indoor option for the wedding party and family groups. Morgan wore a white wrap for many of her outdoor portraits. We can plan the locations and timing around the weather and daylight for your date.
Breezy Point Resort is on Pelican Lake in Breezy Point, Minnesota, in the Brainerd Lakes area. The resort offers hotel rooms, suites, condos, and cabins, so guests can look into staying on site for the wedding.
