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Photo by Joe & Jen Photography
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It didn’t take long for Edana Hoehn and Ian Haines to know they’d found the proverbial “one.” They met through a mutual friend during their last semester at the University of Cincinnati, and after graduation, when Edana accepted a job offer from Target, Ian made the move with her to Minnesota. Though they’d only been dating a couple months, they already knew they wanted to be together. “There was an instant best friend, where we just got along…we hit it off right away,” Edana explains. “It was instant, and we just knew.”
Three and a half years after relocating to Minneapolis, Edana expected Ian to propose at any moment, and was convinced she would see it coming. After all, a year earlier Ian had come home one day flaunting a JB Hudson ring bag (in good fun). But when the moment arrived, Edana was nevertheless caught off guard.
On July 19, 2014, Ian planned to propose during their weekly trip to the Mill City Farmers Market. He carried the ring in his backpack with their money and food, though Edana didn’t notice how protective he was of it each time she tried to get in the bag. Ian ultimately decided he didn’t want the attention of a public proposal, and so he waited until they were back at their apartment before presenting the ring. With Edana’s back turned, he set it on the counter with their groceries, and when she finally saw it, she was in shock. And, of course, she said yes.
Edana and Ian are laid-back people, and they didn’t want to make their wedding an over-the-top, stressful affair. “It was either eloping or doing something really small,” Edana laughs. The couple realized it was important to include their families in the celebration, so they opted for an intimate gathering. Duluth seemed the perfect locale to bring everyone together. “We thought it’d be a great place that represents Minnesota,” Edana explains. Since most of their family lives elsewhere, they thought their relatives would enjoy a city that captures the quintessential charm of the state. Duluth also has special meaning for Ian and Edana, as they traveled there for their first getaway trip together.
Their relaxed attitude guided their planning process as well. “We were very untraditional, all the way around,” Edana says. “We just went with the flow and made it easy.” When she wasn’t happy with the dresses she tried on in bridal boutiques and vintage shops—they were all too traditional or not worth the cost—she ordered her dress online. When it arrived at her office, Edana tried it on in a closet with a co-worker, loved it, and that was that.
While they also didn’t stress over other details like the food and flowers (they didn’t even try the entrees before the actual dinner), the couple exercised great care and creativity when it came to the personal touches. They made geometric terrariums using glassware from vintage shops, and they crafted Pinterest-worthy cardholders out of spray-painted animal figurines. Edana is a designer by trade, so she devised the wedding invitations herself, incorporating both their moms’ handwriting into the design. These were a hit with the guests (and their moms were touched), and she’s since started a side business designing invitations for other couples.
Ian and Edana’s flexibility and relaxed approach to the wedding took much of the anxiety out of the preparation and event. Their music backed out three days before the ceremony, so they found something else—the Duluth-based duo Heartstrings. Edana’s only regret is not hiring a day-of coordinator for a wedding, someone who could finalize last minute details and field guests’ questions.
Their family and friends had a terrific time, and they greatly appreciated how personal and intimate the wedding was. “We just wanted to make sure that they had a fun time when they came,” says Edana. “We made it what we wanted it to be and didn’t overstress on the stuff that doesn’t matter.”
Wedding Date: October 4, 2015
Ceremony/Reception: Tycoon's Alehouse, Duluth, MN
Bride’s Dress: Needle & Thread
Bridal Accessories: Anna Marguerite Couture/BHLDN
Groom’s Attire: Jos. A. Bank/The Tie Bar/Cole Haan
Rings: Bride: JB Hudson; Groom: vintage family ring
Photographer: Joe & Jen Photography
Officiant: Allison Nassif
Flowers: Angela's Bella Flora
Invitations/Seating Charts/Table Numbers, etc: Mustardstripe
Dessert: The Exchange
Hair & Makeup: Bride
DJ/Music: Heartstrings
Videography: Mason Lehto Videography
Catering: Tycoon's Alehouse, Duluth, MN
Bar Service: Tycoon's Alehouse, Duluth, MN
