Spotlight Vendor {Kris Kandel Photography}

Today's spotlight vendor is the lovely Kris Kandel {Owner of Kris Kandel Photography}!

I recently had the opportunity to sit down with Kris and learn some more about the lady behind the lens.  We met downtown for coffee...and I have to say, if my car hadn't been parked in 90 minute parking, I could have sat and chatted with Kris all day!  

When I walked into Moxie, I was greeted by Kris and her kind, welcoming smile!  (I thought to myself, I like her already!)  While sipping on coffee, we talked and talked!  The coolest part, we talked mostly about ourselves - as people - and we saved "business talk" for last.  I felt like I really got to know "Kris" first - and I totally loved her - so that made me want to know more about her business, photography, and art!  

A few really lovely things I learned: Kris loves to travel (and loves the people, the food, the different cultures, and the new perspectives that are experienced while traveling), she loves her family, loves coffee (and frequenting coffee shops), and loves LOVE!  Kris only shoots weddings and engagements; how cool is that?!  She has done a variety of photography for many years... but made weddings her specialty/focus/and priority! 

For any Rustic Oaks couples who have not booked their photographer - I would totally recommend setting up a coffee date with Kris!  (But be prepared to want to sit and chat and admire her work for hours; make sure to find a parking spot without a time restriction!)

*A little about me...

Hi I'm Kris Kandel, I love looking at the magical beauty and creativity surrounding us! Everything from traveling the world and listening to different languages, to throwing a ball for my dog on a hot summer day. Life is full of interesting details, and that's why I love being a photographer! It allows me to get to know couples and interact with unique moments in people's lives! How cool is that?!

*A little about my business...

I specialize 100% in weddings because I love working with couples, the way you look at each other is simply the best thing ever! I've been photographing weddings for 12 years, 9 as my own business, and 5 in the Fargo area.

*My typical clientele...

I tend to attract couples who are confident and relaxed. People who are excited about their wedding day, but not stressed out about it. Brides who love DIY details, and wear cute colorful or sparkly shoes! The type of person who shops at Trader Joes, mixes Forever 21 with thrift store treasures, and loves to dream.

*What sets me apart from my competition...

My main goal is to help serve you on your wedding day - to help things run smoothly, to make sure you have a relaxed and fun time, and to feel like you are spending the day with a friend (me)! You will spend more time with your photographer than anyone else on your wedding day, so be sure to find someone YOU connect well with!   

*A current wedding trend that I'm loving...

The #1 thing I notice about brides is they are often uncomfortable in their dresses after a few hours; the new trends look much more comfortable and (dare I say it) more romantic. Cute floor length dresses with lace collars or flowing over the shoulder sleeves. Etsy and Anthropologie's BHLDN collections are great places to find trendy, flowing, vintage inspired gowns!

 *My experience(s) working at Rustic Oaks...

Rustic Oaks has been such a great place to work with! The staff and people on site are always helpful, making sure everyone is comfortable and have what they need (plus everything is kept so neat and clean - definitely not something I see at a lot of venues!). The land and property are so beautiful to work with as well! I mean, seriously, you can't go wrong with the prairies, rustic barn, and scenery on every side.

*The best way to see more of my work/learn more about my business /contact me...

I keep my website updated with my latest work and fun galleries - www.kriskandel.com so check it out and contact me to see if your wedding date is still available!  You can also email me: Kris@kriskandel.com for more info!

happy valentine's day from the staff at rustic oaks! we hope all of our brides & grooms have an extra special day filled with lots of love! 

 

and happy valentine's day to our families, friends, and 1,100 FANS!! check out some photos from today...! 

 

we are so excited to share this journey with you!

 

 

Lush Lola's

{Today on the blog: Shannon Malzahn - owner of Lush Lola's!}  

Now licensed at Square One Kitchen Rental & Event Center, Lush Lola's is a catering business specializing in whole hog roasts and beer-braised meats!  Their motto: "Food Done Fun!"  They have a line of beer-braised meat recipes with fun names like the Drunken Pig, Tipsy Cow, and Wobbly Chicken; they also offer fun and interactive menu items like whole hog roasts (complete with fruit garnish and a carving station), shrimp boils, pitchfork fondue, and more!  And because they almost always cook with alcoholic beverages, it really is BBQ with a twist!

I recently had the opportunity to meet Shannon, chat about Lush Lola's, AND sample their yummy-yummy food.  Overall, I am impressed!  The food: delicious and fun; Shannon: a fabulous woman - with a passion for catering and a strong drive for success!  I have no doubt that Lush Lola's will be a great fit out at Rustic Oaks and I look forward to having Shannon cater at our site!  Welcome to FM, Lush Lola's!  We are happy to have you serving our community your "Food Done Fun!"  

{Pictured Below: Shannon & Fam!  ...How awesome is this photo!?}

*A little about me...

Hi!  I'm Shannon Malzahn, owner and Event Coordinator for Lush Lola’s- I have been serving food to large crowds at festive gatherings since I was a teenager.  My mom has a concession business that started out at little festivals and county fairs all over Minnesota; it's now in its 18^th year at the Minnesota State Fair!  I have been managing her stand since the beginning.  

A few years ago, myself and my husband Jim opened our own food business, with recipes I created, at select events.  Once we put the “Drunken Pig Sandwich” (a beer-braised pulled pork topped with their own Captain Morgan BBQ sauce) on the menu, the whole business blossomed!  Now we not only go to public events like WE Fest and the Little Falls Craft Fair, but cater private events throughout the Lakes Area and Fargo/Moorhead as well. 

*A little about my business...

Lush Lola’s has a whole line of fun beer-braised meat options, including the Drunken Pig, Tipsy Cow and Wobbly Chicken.  We love to cook with alcohol because of the extra flavor and festivity it adds to our “spirited cuisine”! We’ve been known to try bourbon and rum in almost any dish that sounds like it could use a little something “extra”!  We recently added whole hog roasts (complete with fruit garnish and carving station), shrimp boils (in beer!), and pitchfork fondue because not only are they delicious, but are a good complement to the sauces and seasonings we have created as well as our sense of fun.  We are perfect for clients that are looking for a unique and fun catering option for their event.  Our custom menu and fun attitude really sets us apart from other caterers.  We are also family-owned and run, so myself and/or my husband is at every event with our primary goals to make an event fun, affordable, stress-free, and memorable for our clients as well as their guests.   We are incredibly flexible and customer-focused so we love to work with adventurous clients who have fun, creative ideas for their event as well as those that may need a little extra guidance or reassurance.

*A current wedding trend that I'm loving...

Although we don’t do a lot of desserts, one of our favorite wedding trends right now is offering a “dessert buffet” instead of or in addition to a traditional wedding cake.  It is fun to offer guests all sorts of sweet goodies to munch on throughout the reception!

*Why my business is a great fit for Rustic Oaks...

Because of our menu and what we do, we love the setting and style of Rustic Oaks!  Who wouldn’t think that a traditional hog roast or pitchfork fondue at a historic barn is a great idea?!  And while we can be kitschy for those that like the idea of a full western theme (we’ll even dress up in “costumes” if you want!), we can also provide elegant menu and serving options.  

*The best way to learn more and/or contact me...

You can check out our website at www.lushlolas.com or join us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/lushlolas for more information.  We are also always happy to talk to potential clients by email or phone.  Our email address is lushlolas@gmail.com or you can talk to Shannon, Owner/Event Coordinator at (218) 234-2712.

check out this awesome trifecta: the barn, the barn addition, and the dromsted inn...ALL getting some TLC on this beautiful, sunny day!

from left to right:
*new barn insulation and shingles in the works!
*the roof on the barn addition is almost complete!
*the floor heat in the dromsted inn has already been installed; next step: pour the floor!

and there's more! throughout the venue, these neat little steaming gadgets (see below) have been installed. once they've warmed the ground - the electricians and plumbers will start to work their magic! lots of exciting progress is in the works!

{Today's Fun Facts}

**we have already booked FIFTY (yes, 5-0) weddings between May and Oct. of 2013!

**that means we will average over 8 weddings/month all season!

**the best part? we still have some openings AND we are now open year-round!

STILL AVAILABLE in 2013:

May 5, 12 {Full Sunday, Sunday Afternoon}
June 16, 30 {Sunday Afternoons}
July 7, 21 {Sunday Afternoons}
August 2 {Fri}, 25 {Sunday Afternoon}
September 15 {Sunday Afternoon}
October 13, 20 {Full Sundays} & 25-27 {Fri-Sun}

November-March {INTRODUCTORY Winter Wedding Rates are now available!}

Rustic Oaks on {ANW Blog}

One of the Rustic Oaks styled shoots for Get Hitched {shot by the talented Katie Lewis Photography} was published on A Northwoods Wedding today! Check it out HERE!

From ANW Blog: 

"this styled shoot we received from Katie Lewis Photography from Fargo, ND is going to knock your warm, fuzzy socks off. luscious and vibrant colors, that perfect North Dakota sky, and tons of details just waiting to give you so many ideas for your big day. we’re going to let Katie tell you more about the inspiration for the shoot..."

To see what Katie had to say about the shoot...and to check out the gorgeous-gorgeous photos - visit the ANW Blog!

{Sodexo Catering}

Today on the blog...the wonderful Judith with Sodexo Catering (MSUM Dining)!  

We absolutely love working with Judith and the whole Sodexo Crew!  The staff is knowledgeable, professional, and personable; the food presentation is top-notch and it definitely tastes great!  Judith will go above and beyond to make your wedding or event successful; we have nothing but positive things to say about Sodexo!  When our clients are looking for a solid catering choice - I can always confidently refer them to Judith! 

{MSUM Dining: Meet Judith Perritt}

A little about me....
I am originally from Louisiana and am an avid Saints fan. My two teenage boys keep me busy with their sports activities. When I am not working I enjoy gardening, cooking and exercising. I have a black belt in taekwondo and enjoy training when I can.


A little about my business....
MSUM Catering provides full service catering for a wide variety of customers. We are known for our high quality food, excellent customer service and attention to detail. We pride ourselves on our versatility and flexibility to cover the needs of our customers. MSUM Catering is able to offer competitive pricing without sacrificing our quality or variety. No event is too big or too small.


Typical clientele....
We have a wide variety of clientele from student organizations to presidential events to weddings. Our ability to cater on site and off site gives us the opportunity to service multiple events smoothly and efficiently.


What sets us apart from our competition....
We have professional culinary experts and a diligent production staff that assures all of our events meet the highest of standards and exceeds the expectations of our customers. We focus on food quality and presentation to give every event that “wow factor.” Our customer service and capable student based catering staff in unparalleled.


A current wedding trend that I’m loving....
I love the “fun factor” that is trending in the wedding industry right now. More and more couples are looking for ways to incorporate unique themes that set their wedding apart from others’. Adding a fun factor gives me the ability to be creative with the food.


My experience working at Rustic Oaks....
Rustic Oaks is one of my favorite event venues. Anne, Dave and Emily exude professionalism while making everyone feel at home and welcome at their site. The venue is beautiful and well maintained and they are always looking for ways to improve service. They have a solid understanding of customer service and go out of their way to ensure a successful event. I feel we are a good team.


The best way to see more of my work or see more of my business....
Is to schedule an appointment with me to discuss your event in further detail. I can then show you pictures of our past events and work with you to make yours memorable. You can visit our website to view our menus – www.msumdining.com. We are in the process of updating our website and adding a special catering section. I can be reached at catering@mnstate.edu or by phone at 218-477-2852.