Grand Forks Wedding Photographer - Beautiful Winter Wedding at The Gorecki Alumni Center with Alexa and Cody

Grand Forks Wedding Photographer - Beautiful Winter Wedding at The Gorecki Alumni Center with Alexa and Cody

Alexa & Cody planned their wedding for December 22 and though we were having a very warm winter with no snow, they were both crossing their fingers for a beautiful snow-filled wedding day. With a bit of luck, we DID get some snow about a week before their wedding day AND the temperatures were actually in the high 20s ABOVE zero (which is odd for us in late December).

We also had some dense morning fog which actually helped give our pre-ceremony photos more of a “winter wonderland” type of feel! Oh…did I mention that Alexa & Cody wanted most of their photos outside in the snow??!! They were such a fun & laid-back couple and we alternated shooting some photos and then warming up in our warm running vehicles.

The ceremony was set for mid-day and was a brief, but beautiful, exchange of vows filled with precious moments in front of the couple’s family and friends. Alexa & Cody shared their first kiss as husband and wife and walked back down the aisle to begin their new lives together!

The reception was amazing filled with the best food from Ground Round and treats by Hugo’s Bakery! Everyone celebrated with a fantastic meal, shared speeches, toasts, and fun stories and then sent the couple off early as they were set to fly out that evening for their short “mini-moon”.

I couldn’t have asked for a better way to end my 2023 wedding season and to usher in Christmas and the New Year!

I had so much fun with Alexa, Cody, and their closest family and friends and I was so honored to be the one trusted to capture their wedding day memories!

Venue: The Gorecki Alumni Center

Officiant: Shayne Daku

Catering: Ground Round

Cake: Hugo’s Bakery

Photography: Shawn Morrissey Photography

If you’d like more information on the Gorecki Alumni Center, please check out my GORECKI ALUMNI CENTER PAGE!

If you are recently engaged and looking for an experienced professional photographer to capture the emotions and memories of your big day…just reach out and say HI and let’s chat!!

Now Booking 2024 & 2025 Weddings!

Grand Forks | East Grand Forks | Fargo Wedding Photographer - Summer Wedding On The University Of North Dakota Campus

Grand Forks | East Grand Forks | Fargo Wedding Photographer - Summer Wedding at On The University Of North Dakota’s Campus With Tyler & Jordan

I met Tyler & Jordan close to a year ago at a wedding show and was instantly connected to their story! I had a blast with them during their engagement session as we took some awesome winter photos which included key elements of their love story: Their home, the restaurant where they got engaged, sipping on some scotch and whiskey, their dogs, and the love of the outdoors! The only bad thing about it was that we had to wait so long for the wedding so we could have some more fun working together!

Their wedding day Finally arrived on August 24 and took place on the UND campus at the Hopper Danley and Gorecki Alumni Center. Little did we know that we would be faced with a couple huge obstacles as the day began. It just so happened to be UND Student Move-In Day! Exciting….RIGHT?? Oh…I forgot to mention that there was also major construction on University Avenue! This all created the perfect storm of things to make you stress out on your wedding day! It was almost impossible to get to the Gorecki as traffic was backed up all the way down University Ave all day! It was Crazy!

Despite all of the craziness, everyone arrived and the day began as Tyler and Jordan’s families all worked together to get the day’s events back on track! Weather-wise, it was a beautiful day out and the wedding party was so much fun to work with as we trekked all over the campus and found some stunning areas for portraits!

The rest of the day went off without a hitch and as the students and traffic gradually died down, Tyler and Jordan exchanged vows, had their first kiss, and walked back down the isle as husband and wife! It was a beautiful intimate ceremony with my first ever “scotch-whiskey unity ceremony” I’ve ever photographed!

Then it was back to the Gorecki for the celebration where there was more laughter, some tears of joy, fine food, and crazy dancing!

I’m so happy that I crossed paths with this amazing couple a year ago and I was able to tell their wedding day story! Congrats…and thanks to Tyler, Jordan, and their families for letting me into their lives over the last year so I could preserve these precious memories for you all!

Venues: Hopper Danley Spiritual Center The Gorecki Alumni Center

Dress: Allen Evan’s (Moorhead)

Florist: Hugo’s Family Marketplace

Cake: Paola’s Pastries

D.J.: Harmon Entertainment

Make-up: Kennedy Olson

Hair: Hair By CK

Event Design: An Elegant Affair

Photographer: Shawn Morrissey Photography

Watch Tyler & Jordan’s Wedding Day Highlight Film:

If you’d like to discuss working with me for your wedding day…just click the button below to reach out and say HI!

Grand Forks | East Grand Forks | Fargo Wedding Photographer - Summer Wedding In East Grand Forks

Grand Forks | East Grand Forks | Fargo Wedding Photographer - Summer Wedding In East Grand Forks

My 2019 wedding season kicked off with a BANG in early June with Michelle and Jon’s big day! The day started off at about 90 degrees and 600% humidity but that didn’t stop us from venturing outdoors and making some awesome wedding day memories!

Everyone was so amazing to work with and there was still one important shot I was hoping to get with the entire group out on the street with Grand Forks’ City Hall in the background. The only problem was that it was about a 5 minute walk and by the looks of the sky, we were looking to have some severe thunderstorms hit us any minute! I just reassured Michelle and Jon that it was good luck to get struck by lightning on your wedding day…and we started walking! We got over there, lined everyone up (including Children and 1 GroomsDog) and got our shots. We got back to the church with no time to spare as it literally dumped rain the second we got inside!

Rewind to about 2 minutes before we got inside as we were walking back to the church, the bride’s Father drove by us in his pick-up and saw his daughter walking down the street in her wedding dress and must’ve stared a bit too long because he hit a curb and jumped the truck over the curb and kept going! Everyone got a good laugh at that, but it stood out to me as one of those extremely rare moments that I get to see during someone’s wedding day that not everyone gets to be a part of.

The rest of the day was filled with special moments as 350 of Michelle and Jon’s family and friends sat together and watched the two exchange vows, rings, a kiss, and their walk back down the isle as husband and wife!

As the celebration moved to The Ramada, it was still pouring rain out and it was chilly! I remember wishing I had a jacket which was crazy considering that hours earlier, I thought I was having heat stroke! I guess that’s how Summer Wedding Days go in ND/MN!

Everything all said and done…it was a beautiful, action-packed day with an incredible bride and groom who I was so honored to have trust me with capturing all of these memories for them!

Congrats Michelle & Jon!

Venues: Sacred Heart Church Ramada | Grand Forks

Dress: Kristen’s Bridal

Florist: Wy’s Floral

Cake: O’ For Heaven’s Cakes N’ More

D.J.: Backspin Productions

Make-up: Jody Lopez Premier Aesthetics

Hair: Fringe (Jadie Schuh)

Photographer: Shawn Morrissey Photography

Watch Michelle & Jon’s Wedding Day Highlight Video!

Grand Forks Wedding Photographer: North Dakota Wedding Show In Hatton, ND - 2019 Bliss In The Barn

Grand Forks Wedding Photographer: North Dakota Wedding Show In Hatton, ND- 2019 Bliss In The Barn

Late last Fall, I was having a talk with JoAnn who is one of the owners of Naastad Acres in Hatton, ND and we had an idea of putting on our very own wedding/bridal show right at Naastad Acres. It didn’t take long to decide that we wanted to bring that idea to life and so…Bliss In The Barn was created!

Over the next few months, we got together with some of the area’s leading wedding professionals and, together, we all started planning Bliss In The Barn. We wanted to do something unique where brides-to-be could not only talk to wedding vendors about products and services, but could also see those products and services “in action” during Bliss In The Barn’s 4 different styled mock weddings!

After months of hard work, April 14th finally came and we were so pleased with how everything turned out! We learned a lot throughout this process and we are already figuring out improvements for next year’s event because, after all, our goal was to create something that will be around for years to come!

We had 26 top notch wedding vendors, 48 V.I.P. brides, a V.I.P. Experience, 4 styled mock weddings, and even a Grand Prize that was valued in the thousands of dollars! And we can’t wait to do it again next year….and even bigger AND better!

All of our event’s wedding vendor’s were so amazing and you can see some of their incredible work in the photos below! Our vendors included:

Naastad Acres wedding venue and HOST

Shawn Morrissey Photography Wedding & Engagement Photographer/video

Sadie’s Couture Floral & Event Styling Wedding Planning, Floral, Event Design

Brooke’s Floral/Events/Styling Floral & Event Styling/Design

Tip Top Tux Formal Wear Rental

Kristen’s Bridal Wedding Dresses & Formal Wear

Katie Aasen Photography Wedding & Engagement Photographer

Paola’s Pastries Wedding Cakes/Desserts/Bakery

Ground Round Food/Catering

The Pedal Health/Fitness/Wellness

Rodan & Fields Skin Care/Eyelashes

Generations Salon Hair/Spa

Signature Jewelers Jewelry

Jadie Shue Hair/Make up

Point Paradise Stables Horse & Carriage Rental/Stables

Dance Man Dan DJ/M.C./Reception Entertainment

Hud Sun Wellness Health & Wellness

Abbergail Graphic Design/Stationary/Invitations/Save-The-Dates

Oh For Heaven’s Cakes n’ More Bakery/Wedding Cakes

An Elegant Affair   (Decor and rentals

Harmon Entertainment   (DJ and Music)

Bon Voyage Travel   (Travel Agency)

Herbie The Photobooth Camper owned by Gathered - Boutique Rentals & Events     Moorhead, MN

Deitrich Bus Service Bus Rental

Heart & Soul (Live Musicians/Band)

And a very special THANK YOU to my models before the event Klaudia & Nick Holkup who are a past wedding couple of mine and I enjoy working with again and again!

If you were one of our Bliss In The Barn Brides and are in need of a photographer/videographer for your wedding…I would love to sit down with you and hear all about it! Let’s go grab some coffee or drinks and chat!!

Grand Forks Wedding Photographer: North Dakota Wedding Show At Naastad Acres

Grand Forks Wedding Photographer: North Dakota Wedding Show At Naastad Acres

2019 Bliss In The Barn Bridal Expo

Naastad Acres, Hatton, ND

April 14th, 2019 12pm-3pm

April 14th is less than a month away and we are working hard on making sure everything will be ready for our 2019/2020 brides who will attend the area’s newest, most unique, bridal/wedding show.

Bliss In The Barn will take place in Hatton, ND at Naastad Acres on Sunday April 14th from 12pm-3pm. If you are beginning (or in the midst of) your wedding planning journey, then this event is being brought to life JUST FOR YOU!

Come out to Naastad Acres on April 14th and from noon until 2pm, you can visit with nearly 30 specialized wedding vendors who have come together to help you find the perfect pieces to fit your wedding planning journey! Then from 2-3pm, you will become a guest at the venue for 4 different stylized weddings where you will actually get to witness some of our amazing vendors in action so you can see how certain aspects of your wedding could be handled!

There will be booth drawings unique to each vendor and a very special Grand Prize Giveaway at the end of the event that you won’t want to miss! Below is a list of participating vendors:

Naastad Acres wedding venue and HOST

Shawn Morrissey Photography Wedding & Engagement Photographer/video

Sadie’s Couture Floral & Event Styling Wedding Planning, Floral, Event Design

Brooke’s Floral/Events/Styling Floral & Event Styling/Design

Tip Top Tux Formal Wear Rental

Kristen’s Bridal Wedding Dresses & Formal Wear

Katie Aasen Photography Wedding & Engagement Photographer

Paola’s Pastries Wedding Cakes/Desserts/Bakery

Ground Round Food/Catering

The Pedal Health/Fitness/Wellness

Rodan & Fields Skin Care/Eyelashes

Generations Salon Hair/Spa

Signature Jewelers Jewelry

Jadie Shue Hair/Make up

Point Paradise Stables Horse & Carriage Rental/Stables

Dance Man Dan DJ/M.C./Reception Entertainment

Hud Sun Wellness Health & Wellness

Abbergail Graphic Design/Stationary/Invitations/Save-The-Dates

Ramada Inn Grand Forks Evens/Receptions

An Elegant Affair   (Decor and rentals

Harmon Entertainment   (DJ and Music)

Bon Voyage Travel   (Travel Agency)

Herbie The Photobooth Camper owned by Gathered - Boutique Rentals & Events     Moorhead, MN

Deitrich Bus Service Bus Rental

Heart & Soul (Live Musicians/Band)

Don’t Miss Out On Our Awesome V.I.P. Experience!

We will be offering a unique VIP experience for the first 48 brides who register to attend Bliss In the Barn (Yes…there are still some spots available)! As a Bliss In The Barn VIP, you will get to come out to Naastad Acres an hour early (11am) get a swag bag and sip on champagne while getting a Private group tour of the beautiful Naastad Acres venue and property. Then you can meet with me (Photographer Shawn Morrissey) and get some fun photos with you and your entourage that you can share on social media and then see a small bridal photoshoot where I’ll demonstrate (and educate) how I work with real brides and you can see the final photos later in the show!

This extra experience is only for the first 48 brides how register to attend…so if you want to be one of our 1st VIP’s ever…DON’T WAIT! Sign up below NOW!

Don’t forget to like/follow our Facebook Page so you can get updates:

Bliss In the Barn Facebook Page

We hope to see you April 14th at 12pm for the very first Bliss In The Barn! Please share this post with anyone who is engaged! Thanks and we’ll see you soon!