What a joy it is to share this heritage-filled Summit Manor wedding! Annie and Jacob wove Norwegian tradition, family heirlooms, and handmade sentiment to celebrate their love. With a palette of slate blue, gold, pale pink, and soft greens, the historic wood of the manor brimmed with life. This was a celebration built entirely on meaning — and it carried straight through to an all-out dance floor by night’s end.

A Ceremony Rooted in History and Heart

Annie and Jacob said their vows under the boughs of the great oak: their loved ones gathered on Summit Manor’s open lawn, with nothing but green space and the estate’s storied architecture as a backdrop. That simplicity let the history of the manor itself do the talking — a St. Paul landmark with decades of stories held in its walls, now holding one more. The sun filtered through the green canopy as they exchanged rings.

The heirlooms carried through the day were the real showstoppers. Annie wore her grandmother’s pearl necklace, kept from a marriage now more than 70 years strong, alongside bouquet details borrowed from her Jacob’s mother’s own wedding. The best man pulled double duty as officiant, with Annie’s father walking her down the aisle and her brother escorting her mother. In beginning the ceremony, the message of the speech shared Annie & Jacob’s awareness of their presence in the cannon of history.

A High-Energy Reception

After the ceremony, the reception invited guests into the wooden walls of Summit Manor for dinner at private tables. The desserts held another heritage moment in the Kransekake — a traditional Norwegian tower of ring-shaped almond cakes, provided by Annie’s grandmother that accompanied their traditional wedding cake. It stood as a beautiful nod to heritage passed down through generations, echoed again in the pearled cake knife the couple used to cut their first piece of cake as husband and wife, an heirloom carried through weddings in Jacob’s family for years.

Annie and Jacob’s own handiwork showed up too: the two of them hand-folded golden paper cranes ahead of the wedding, a quiet symbol of hope and good fortune scattered throughout the reception decor. Once formalities gave way to celebration, Guthrie of Day One DJ brought an entirely different kind of energy — the dance floor stayed packed and high-octane from the first song to the last, with almost all the guests dancing well into the night.

Annie & Jacob,

I love how intentionally you brought your family histories into your celebration. From the pearls around Annie’s neck to the golden paper cranes, you rooted your day in love for the people who came before you. It’s rare to see a couple hold tradition and joy in the same hand so effortlessly — honoring three generations of family in the quiet moments, then tearing up the dance floor the second the party started. I loved getting to witness that balance in you both. Here’s to a marriage built on the same heart, humor, and heritage you brought to your wedding day.

With Love,

Jennifer

Summit Manor Vendors

Ceremony & Reception Venue: Summit Manor
Coordinator: David McLaughlin, Summit Manor
Photography: Jennifer Sanders Photography
Florals: Florals by Claire
Bridal Gown: The Wedding Shoppe — Selby Rae
Bridesmaid Dresses: Azazie
Groom & Groomsmen Attire: Bill’s Toggery
Hair (Bridal): Selena Meschke
Hair (Bridesmaids & Moms): Lauren Speegle
Makeup: First Looks LLC
Cake: Buttercream
Kransekake: Taste of Scandinavia
Catering: Summit Manor (in-house)
Bartending: Liquid Motion
DJ: Day One DJ
Invitations: Minted
Save the Dates: The Knot

Summit Manor sits at 275 Summit Avenue in St. Paul, a historic estate with the kind of architectural character that makes every corner feel like it’s been waiting for a celebration. Its wooden details and storied past give weddings here an instant sense of warmth and gravity, while the open lawn offers a simple, elegant canvas for a ceremony that needs nothing more than itself. It’s the kind of venue that lets a couple’s own story take center stage — exactly what made it the perfect setting for Annie and Jacob’s day. 

September Summit Manor Wedding | St. Paul Wedding Venue | Norwegian Heritage Wedding | Historic Minnesota Wedding Venue