Special Edition at Abella Weddings & Events

A bridal couple keeps their guests front and center.

It was a quintessential May weekend. The sun was shining, the lilacs were blooming, and Hutchinson’s Annika (née Ellefson) and Plymouth’s Gage Thalmann celebrated their love alongside 150 guests at a timeless French country-inspired estate. “It was the most perfect day,” Annika says.

When selecting a venue, Abella Weddings & Events in Chisago City was the first and only place the couple toured a week after getting engaged. It quickly checked all the boxes, and its aesthetic complemented the vision Annika had of soft pastels against a white backdrop; a perfect setting to experience spring blossoming into summer.

Annika’s form-fitting strapless gown from Kalon Bridal Studio in Des Moines, Iowa, further matched the romantic ambiance of the day. When discussing how she selected the dress, Annika shared a tradition that started in her family. “My grandpa Bob [Ehrig] attended the dress shopping experience with my mom and aunt,” Annika says. “He was a fashionista himself … there’s a photo of my aunt holding an ‘I said yes to the dress’ sign, and my grandpa looked so happy.”

Although her grandfather died in 2021, his spirit and the tradition he inspired were with Annika when she found her dress. Her grandmother, Sandy Ehrig, who attended in grandpa Bob’s stead, surprised her by paying for the gown. “It was special to honor him and that tradition,” she says. “I know he would have loved Gage.”

Flowers have always been important for the couple (Gage is known for making sure there was never an empty vase on the dining room table.), and this proved no different on their wedding day. “When it came to wedding planning, we wanted big, beautiful, picturesque flowers,” Annika says, noting Malana Sophia Floral exceeded her expectations with the look of spring wildflowers. “I even got my bouquet preserved,” she says.

Another special memento from the day is a newspaper the couple created in lieu of a program. The Newlywed Post: Love Is in the Air included engagement photos, facts about the couple, the dinner menu, the timeline for the day and a word find. “We wanted to provide all the details for the day,” Gage says. “It helped our guests look forward to what was to come. We wanted our guests to be informed and give them a way to enjoy themselves.”

The couple says making sure their wedding day was just as much about their guests as it was about them was important. “Gage and I wanted our guests to be a priority and have a wonderful experience,” Annika says. Gage agrees. “We always try to think about the saying, ‘How to put our neighbor above us,’” he says. “We wanted to make our wedding the best it could be for us and everyone celebrating with us. This will be a goal as we do life next to each other.”

Vendors

• Catering and Desserts: Hy-Vee, hy-vee.com
• Day-of Coordinator and Venue: Abella Weddings & Events, abellaweddingsandevents.com
• Floral Preservation: Hudson Stems, hudsonstems.com
• Florals: Malana Sophia Floral, malanasophiafloral.com
• Hair and Makeup: LHNBEAUTY, lhnbeauty.com
• Jewelry: Shane Co., shaneco.com
• Photography: Ceri McCaffrey Photography, cerimccaffrey.com
• Videography: Clover & Hive Weddings, cloverandhiveweddings.co
• Wedding Wear: Kalon Bridal Studio, kalonbridalstudio.com