This past summer, I learned a pretty valuable piece of information. And that is that summer heat and pregnancy don’t mesh well together. But I would do it time and time again if it meant getting to relive Olivia and Riley’s Fargo modern rustic wedding at The Pines Wedding and Events venue. Despite the near 100° day and being 22 weeks pregnant at the time, it was the most beautiful day. And photographing these North Dakota nuptials was extra special, because Riley is my cousin! From the stunning details curated by Olivia, to the hype bridal party, it was a such an honor to capture every moment. 

Rural Fargo, North Dakota Wedding at The Pines

Olivia and Riley’s modern rustic wedding day began with getting ready at The Pines Black. While Olivia’s hair and makeup team were making their finishing touches, I got to work photographing the wedding details. Flat lays are one of my favorite things to photograph on a wedding day, and Olivia’s wedding details were no exception. Their wedding color palette was kept simple and chic— gold, white, and black. Unsurprisingly, The Pines Black helped create the perfect atmosphere with its modern industrial touches. The bridal suite was bathed in natural light from the black framed windows, which is key to those “chef’s kiss” getting ready photos. 

The bride was surrounded by the sweetest group of gals, all thrilled to celebrate her. It was the very essence of “girlhood” as everyone buzzed around, gushing over how beautiful Olivia looked. Before heading to her first look with her dad, Olivia shared a quiet, intimate moment with her mom as she helped her into her dress. These are the moments I truly love to witness—those that aren’t necessarily scheduled on the timeline, but are often the most authentic and emotional of a bride’s wedding day. And the emotions didn’t stop during the father-daughter first look. The way Olivia’s dad marveled at his little girl was simply beautiful.

Modern Rustic Wedding Inspiration

After a quick makeup touch due to the happy tears flowing, Olivia made her way down a trail to meet her groom for their first look. Beneath the lush, towering trees overhead, Olivia and Riley exchanged private vows. Between little sniffles and dabbing tears away, their smiles shined brightly as they read from their vow books. We then spent time strolling through the venue’s grounds, stopping along the way for bridal portraits (in the shade, of course). Despite the warm summer sun beaming down, we found solace beneath the silos for bridal party portraits. Olivia and Riley had a huge bridal party, which just spoke to how loved they really are. The bridesmaids wore glam champagne and gold mismatched dresses, standing out effortlessly against the moody black silos. The groomsmen’s classic black suits were the cherry on top to complete the modern rustic wedding color palette.

Once we wrapped up bridal party photos, we finished up at The Pines Black with family portraits before heading to the ceremony. Olivia and Riley’s ceremony took place at the Holy Cross Catholic Church in West Fargo. It was a traditional ceremony with a receiving line at the end to allow the newlyweds the chance to greet and hug each guest before heading back to The Pines. Receiving lines are having a resurgence with church wedding ceremonies, and I have to admit: I am here for it. While every couple certainly hopes to greet every guest at the reception, receiving lines help ensure that it actually happens. After the last hug was given at the church, the wedding party piled into a party bus to transport them back to The Pines— where the real party got started.

Fargo Wedding Photographer | Alyssa Ashley Photography

Back at The Pines Black, guests played yard games and enjoyed cocktail hour before shuffling into the reception space for dinner. You could feel the love in the room as heartfelt (and hilarious) speeches were shared after the delicious dinner catered by Chef’s Table. We then moved into the cake cutting and first dances before sneaking away for golden hour newlywed photos. As Olivia and Riley made their way through the woods, hand-in-hand, the space opened up to a black dirt field bathed in golden sunshine. Call me crazy, but the dirt was such a deep shade of black that I almost felt like I was photographing a Black Beach elopement along the North Shore! 

Once we made our way back into the reception space, Olivia snuck away to change into her second dress. Again, the gals soaked in some quick moments of girlhood before Riley saw Olivia in her second dress. Her cocktail dress was the perfect mix of sexy and chic; the boho puff sleeves with a sheer bodice flowed into a satin rushed mini skirt. After Riley gave his WIFE a twirl, we snuck into the lounge space for some fun flash photos with cocktails and the pool table. It was the perfect way to end my time photographing Olivia and Riley’s Fargo modern rustic wedding at The Pines. 

Fargo Wedding Vendors

Are you in the midst of wedding planning and searching for some incredible Fargo wedding vendors? Check out the vendor team that made this wedding day possible:

Photography: Alyssa Ashley Photography
Venue: The Pines Wedding and Events
Florist: Love Always Floral
Caterer: Chef’s Table
Cake + Desserts: Sonder Bakehouse
Dress Designer: Made with Love Bridal and Special Event Bridal
Hair: Salon Duo Fargo
Makeup: Faces by Lizzie
DJ: Vinyl Vortex

And as always, don’t forget to follow along with me on Instagram for sneak peeks, wedding planning tips, and more from my life as a Minnesota wedding and lifestyle photographer. Until next time!