Mariah and Tom Arko saw stormy skies melt into a golden sunset on their wedding day. Photos: Type & Timber
A bridal couple gets their wedding wish.
“It was a dark and stormy morning.”
It isn’t a great start to a story, much less a wedding day, but it was the reality Mariah (née Capocasa) Arko woke up to at 6 a.m. on August 16. “I was all frantic,” Mariah says. “I really wanted those nice sunset photos and just a nice outlook.”
Nevertheless, Mariah and her soon-to-be husband, Tom Arko, prepared for their wedding ceremony at St. Mary of the Lake in their hometown of White Bear Lake. Mariah donned her strapless A-line wedding gown from Bella Bridal Boutique, finishing the refined and classic look with gauzy sleeves, dotted with pearls. Meanwhile, Tom straightened his black bowtie and pulled on his black suit jacket from The Black Tux.
“The vibe I was going for is a mix between fall and summer,” Mariah says. Her florals of choice were baby’s breath, greenery, roses and white peonies. The warm terracotta of the bridesmaid’s dresses struck an autumnal tone that bridged the gap between seasons.
After a Catholic wedding Mass, the wedding party and 180 guests made their way to the reception. And, as they were en route to Maple Grove’s Rush Creek Golf Club, the clouds began to part. “It got sunny when we got to Rush Creek,” Mariah says. “Everyone was just raving over the sunset. It just looked so nice and pretty, so I was really thankful for that.”
The rave reviews continued to accumulate when guests sat down to a catered dinner buffet from Rush Creek Golf Club. In addition to Charred Raspberry Chicken, Asparagus Risotto and Vegetable pasta, the sliced-to-order Prime Rib stands out in Tom’s mind. “It was just perfect,” he says.
Looking back on the day, the couple is grateful for a sage piece of sisterly advice. “Tom’s sister told us to actually take a moment alone,” Mariah says. The couple took a brief reprieve from the festivities to tour the grounds while the sun dipped over the golf course greens, and photographer Rachel Gronskei of Type & Timber and videographer Brennan Checkalski followed their lead. “It just all comes at you quick,” Tom says. “It was nice to just stop and be like, ‘OK, we’re here. We did it. We’re excited.’”
Behind the Lens
With 10 years of wedding photography under her belt, Type & Timber’s Rachel Gronskei shares some of her most salient pieces of advice gleaned from her years behind the lens.
Connection with your photographer is key. “If you have a connection with your wedding photographer—whether they make you laugh or just have a good time around—I feel like you are able to relax, and then your true personalities come out.”
Surprises are nice but not for your photographer. “If there’s anything I should know about, if they want to surprise each other or a
parent, let your photographer know those things.”
Plan your plan B for inclement weather. “I had two weddings this year [where] it rained quite literally the whole day. But it didn’t matter because their venue was stunning, and they didn’t need to go outside to get photos. Make sure that when you’re planning your wedding, find out what plan B would be and if you’re OK with that plan.”
Vendors
- Catering: Rush Creek Golf Club, rushcreek.com
- Desserts: Dorothy Ann Bakery & Cafe, dorothyannbakery.com
- Florals: Hazel & Goose, hazelandgoose.com
- Hair: Hair by Shaleen, Instagram: @hairbyshaleen
- Makeup: Midwest Makeup, Instagram: @midwest.makeup.amk
- Music: Instant Request, instantrequest.com
- Photography: Type & Timber, typeandtimber.com
- Printing: Zola, zola.com
- Venues: Rush Creek Golf Club, rushcreek.com; St. Mary of the Lake, stmarys-wbl.org
- Videography: Brennan Checkalski, checkalskibrennan.wixsite.com
- Wedding Wear: Bella Bridal Boutique, bellabridalboutique.com; The Black Tux, theblacktux.com
