Question:

Dear Rev. Tomkin,

I’d like use Unity Candle ceremony in our outdoor wedding, if possible. I saw your blog post on Unity Candles at outdoor wedding ceremonies. I’m wondering what you recommend for a whole set, though, that we could get and what you have seen that works the best in outdoor ceremonies. Do you have any suggestions for a unity candle ceremony outdoors, where we could buy the whole set?

Thanks!

Outdoor Bride

Answer:

Good evening, OB,

Sure! Here’s a great set for an outdoor Unity Candle wedding ceremony. It’s always a little tricky with candles outside, but this set is the best.

I hope this helps!

Warmly,

Rev. Tomkin

Rev. Tomkin Coleman
Voted 2007′s “Best Wedding Planner” by CitySearch
Voted 2010′s and 2011′s “Best Wedding Officiant” by Minnesota Bride Magazine

Live streaming for wedding ceremonies

Question (from phone conversation):

Reverend Coleman,

Nice talking to you, Reverend Coleman! As we talked about, Your Host Streaming provides Live Streaming services for churches, and with so many elderly and out-of-state wedding guests, Live Streaming can be a great way of having guests watch the wedding ceremony real-time, blessing them with their presence. Thank you very much for your referrals to some local churches, and I hope that you’ll be performing some wedding ceremonies where our live streaming will help guests witness your couples’ wedding vows!

Sincerely,

Eric Kirkhuff / Technical Sales
YourHost.com / YourStreamingHost.com
Eric@YourHost.com
714 842-8511 x/ 115
Cell – 714-329-4860
SKYPE – YourHost1
Skype number 714 594-7482
Yahoo – EricInTheOffice

Answer:

Good afternoon, Eric,

Glad I could help! I wish you the very best with your wonderful service you offer!

Best regards,

Rev. Tomkin

Rev. Tomkin Coleman
Voted 2007′s “Best Wedding Planner” by CitySearch
Voted 2010′s and 2011′s “Best Wedding Officiant” by Minnesota Bride Magazine

Wedding violinist in Minnesota, Alexandra Early

I wrote to you a while ago thanking you for maintaining this wonderful resource for MN brides, including your wonderful list of wedding musicians in the Minneapolis, MN area. As it turns out, thanks to your review of Twin Cities wedding venues, I am definitely getting married at the Summit Ave University Club this July! Yay!

I wanted to touch base with you about my violin services for wedding ceremonies in MN. My fiance and I are both professional musicians (I’m a violinist, he’s a bass trombonist). We are moving to the Twin Cities this June when we complete our three-year fellowships with the New World Symphony in Miami, FL. I am a St. Paul, MN native and am very excited about the prospect of moving back to the Cities! In preparation for the big move, I’m reaching out to experienced wedding/event professionals like you in the hopes of building professional relationships.

I have studied the violin for 20 years (I have both a bachelors and masters degree in violin performance) and have many years of experience in the wedding industry. I’ve been playing in weddings and events since 2001 and also owned and managed a wedding/event string quartet LLC from 2007-2009 during my time at the Cleveland Institute of music.

Again, thank you for providing such a wonderful resource for MN brides.

Thank you for your time!

Alex Early
AlexandraEarly.com

Answer:

Good morning, Alexandra,

Wow, so good to hear from you! That’s wonderful that you are getting married at the University Club (you’ll love it). And congratulations!

And yes, I’d LOVE to promote you! I’m a huge supporter of the arts, and it would be wonderful to promote such a talented and experienced violinist.

Best wishes on your careers, and I hope to be working with you both soon!

Warmly,

Rev. Tomkin

Rev. Tomkin Coleman
Voted 2007′s “Best Wedding Planner” by CitySearch
Voted 2010′s and 2011′s “Best Wedding Officiant” by Minnesota Bride Magazine

Skyrock Farm in Medina, MN, available for wedding ceremonies and receptions

The ballroom at Skyrock Farm, home of the Skyrock Carousel

Skyrock Carousel

Plus - absolutely gorgeous horses!

Dear Rev. Coleman

Hi, my name is Stacy. Bill Nunn and I own Skyrock Farm in Medina, MN. We offer a very unique and private wedding venue at our farm and carousel.

Our wedding rental and reception fee is $1200.00. We do not do the catering ourselves and we are open to any caterer the guest would like to use. Note that little ones can ride the carousel and pet the horses if they would like.

We can accommodate up to 200 people – and we have a full kitchen that is open to the caterer of choice.

On another note – I really enjoyed reading your “about me” page. It is so refreshing to hear about your view on respecting all spirituality! Thank you for that.

Thank you for your help! Hope to hear from you,
Stacy Olsen
Skyrock Farm
763-742-8055

Answer:

Dear Stacy,

Wow, what a fantastic wedding venue! A gorgeous farm, a historic carousel – such a charming and beautiful place you have! Yes, I’d love to tell readers about your amazing wedding farm and venue in Medina, Minnesota – it sounds amazing!

Warm regards,

Rev. Tomkin

Rev. Tomkin Coleman
Voted 2007′s “Best Wedding Planner” by CitySearch
Voted 2010′s and 2011′s “Best Wedding Officiant” by Minnesota Bride Magazine

Question:

Hello Rev. Coleman,

I recently finished a website for a friend showing a new wedding barn location in Belle Plaine, Minnesota called “Rubies and Rust“, and if a couple rents the wedding venue for all day, it’s only $1,000, which is a great price. Since you already list some great farms for weddings in MN, I thought your readers might be interested in this gorgeous site for wedding ceremonies and receptions!

Thank you very much.

George Bilak
carvingart.com

Answer:

Good morning, George,

Wow, thank you for this resource! Rubies and Rust sounds like an amazing wedding barn, only 45 miles southwest Minneapolis, just past Chaska (kind of), on one’s way to St. Peter or Mankato.

I wish you and Rubies & Rust Wedding Barn the very best!

Warm regards,

Rev. Tomkin

Rev. Tomkin Coleman
Voted 2007′s “Best Wedding Planner” by CitySearch
Voted 2010′s and 2011′s “Best Wedding Officiant” by Minnesota Bride Magazine

Bravura Dining on KARE-11

Chef Leonard Anderson of Bravura Dining, catering wedding rehearsal dinners and other events in the Minneapolis, Minnesota area. Highly recommended!

One of my personal all-time favorite dishes...the famous savory cones.

Hello, Rev. Tomkin,

My name is Leonard Anderson, I am the Chef / Owner of a high end catering – private chef company located in the Twin Cities called Bravura. I saw your wonderful article on wedding rehearsal dinner sites in Minneapolis, MN, and thought I’d drop you a line about another option – having your rehearsal dinner catered at your home.

At Bravura Dining, we specialize in bachelorette parties, intimate wedding dinners, rehearsal dinners, bachelor parties, tasting menus, cooking classes, grooms dinners, casual and fine dining catered events, elegant private dining, cooking demonstrations, etc. I have an extensive background in fine dining service and believe that our company provides topnotch food and service. I am emailing you to see if we can work together on providing a great service to your clients. Please take the time to check out Bravura Dining, and please feel free to contact us anytime.

Thank You,
Chef Leonard Anderson
e: questions@bravuradining.com
p: 651-357-8908

Answer:

Dear Chef Anderson,

Wow, I would love to tell readers about you! Bravura Dining is amazing!

Best wishes,

Rev. Tomkin

Rev. Tomkin Coleman
Voted 2007′s “Best Wedding Planner” by CitySearch
Voted 2010′s and 2011′s “Best Wedding Officiant” by Minnesota Bride Magazine

McNamara Alumni Center in Minneapolis, MN

McNamara Wedding Showcase 2012

From the video

Question:

Hello, Rev. Tomkn:

We loved having you at McNamara Center’s Wedding Showcase this year – and thank you for sending all those couples, too! Not sure if you knew there was even a videographer shooting the wedding showcase (Capture Studios) but here is the finished product.

I hope you like it! We’ll have it up on our website throughout the year so, as the last slide suggests, viewers can plan to attend the McNamara Wedding Showcase in Minneapolis, MN in January 2013!

Happy Spring!
Amy

Amy Leyden | Director of Sales & Marketing
McNamara Alumni Center
200 Oak St. SE, Suite 100 | Minneapolis, MN 55455
Phone: 612.625.8876
Facebook: MAC | Twitter: @McNamaraEvents

Winner of Best Meeting Facility (Non-Hotel) 2007-2010
Minnesota Meetings and Events magazine

Answer:

Hi, Amy,

Wow, that’s amazing! Such great work!

Loved the showcase, loved the Alumni Center (as always), and looking forward to working with you again!

Warmly,

Rev. Tomkin

Rev. Tomkin Coleman
Voted 2007′s “Best Wedding Planner” by CitySearch
Voted 2010′s and 2011′s “Best Wedding Officiant” by Minnesota Bride Magazine

Wedding at the University Club on Summit Ave. in St. Paul

Question:

Dear Rev Tomkin,

I wanted to take a moment to thank you for providing such a great resource for the Minneapolis wedding community. My boyfriend and I have yet to become officially engaged but we’re toying with the idea of a Dec 2012 wedding in the Minneapolis, MN area. I feel that the least I can do is let you know how much I appreciate all the information on your website. Based on your reviews, I’m hoping to book a room at the Summit Ave University Club (once we get things more finalized) and I assure you that I will make them aware of how much your website pointed me in their direction.

Your site has been an invaluable reference for Minnesota brides and I want you to know how much I appreciate all the effort and time you’ve invested in it.

Thank you!

Sincerely,
Minneapolis Bride

Answer:

Good afternoon, Alex,

Wow, your email just made my day! Thank you! It’s funny, everyone goes through the same steps, with planning and figuring everything out, and yet there isn’t really much out there that’s helpful, so I try to make everything as easy as possible.

Congratulations on your engagement, and on your upcoming wedding, too! The University Club on Summit is a gorgeous site, isn’t it?

If you ever have questions, whether about sites, or anything else, I’m always here for you!

Warmly,

Rev. Tomkin

Rev. Tomkin Coleman
Voted 2007′s “Best Wedding Planner” by CitySearch
Voted 2010′s and 2011′s “Best Wedding Officiant” by Minnesota Bride Magazine

Harrington Mansion in Minnepolis, MN - no longer hosting wedding ceremonies

Question:

Dear Rev. Tomkin Coleman,

I just wanted to let you know that the Harrington Mansion in Minneapolis, MN, will no longer be hosting wedding ceremonies.

Saint Mary’s University acquired the Harrington Mansion and Zuhrah Shrine Center in June 2011 and is in the process of developing the them. The development includes renovating parts of the buildings, engaging a corporate caterer, and creating the operational infrastructure to produce future conferences and events. We anticipate that the development will be complete, at the earliest, by August 2012, and perhaps later.

While the Events Center will eventually be open for wedding receptions, the Mansion will be utilized only for University events and offices (and not available for wedding ceremonies or receptions).

Thank you in advance for your assistance with my request. If you have any questions, please contact me.

Cordially,
Ben

Ben Murray
Assoc. VP of Finance and Facilities
Schools of Graduate and Professional Programs
Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota
2500 Park Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 55404
612.238.4526 – Office

Answer:

Dear Ben,

Thank you so much for your email! If you ever start hosting wedding ceremonies at the Harrington Mansion again, just let me know and I’ll put the info back up right away.

Good luck with your renovation!

Best regards,

Rev. Tomkin Coleman

Rev. Tomkin Coleman
Voted 2007′s “Best Wedding Planner” by CitySearch
Voted 2010′s and 2011′s “Best Wedding Officiant” by Minnesota Bride Magazine

Question:

Dear Rev. Coleman,

Even though I’m not using your services, I was just wondering if you knew of anybody that wanted to get married on Friday, June 15th, 2012 because I have to change my date due to family circumstances and was seeing if you knew anyone that would want to fill it. It is at Edinburgh USA in Brooklyn Park, MN, in the room upstairs with the big balcony. Thanks!

-Sarah
Sarah.Johnson@cuw.edu

Answer:

Good afternoon, Sarah,

Ooh, so sorry you have to switch your date! I don’t know of anyone offhand (sorry). Would you like me to post your email on my blog?

Warmly,
Rev. Tomkin

Answer:

Sure, Rev. Coleman, that would be great! I really appreciate it!

-Sarah