Real Minnesota Island Wedding: Khue & Jayme

From the photographer, Pamela Sutton of Leaves of Grass Photography: I met Jayme and Khue for the first time last fall at a local coffee shop when they came up to the northland of Minnesota from their home in Rochester, MN to visit family, and make wedding plans. They expressed a desire for a comfortable, “down to earth” wedding with family, and a few close friends. And I loved that they were planning their wedding to be on a family-owned island in Northern Minnesota called Norway Island on Rainy Lake.

Jayme and Khue aren’t the first ones in their family to marry on a Minnesota island. The groom’s mother and father were also married on another island on Rainy Lake. Family and friends were boated from mainland, about an 8 minute ride, to get to the wedding. Upon arrival, I immediately fell in love with the location Jayme and Khue has chosen. The island had a main cabin and a few smaller rustic cabins, all built generations ago by family. All are connected with paths covered rusty colored pine needles, and surrounded with lush green pine trees. They brought all their flowers, food, attire, tables, etc. to the island with several boat trips. The bridesmaids (all sisters) and close friends of the bride stayed up late into the night before the wedding putting together the flower bouquets.

The island has a rich family history. Many generations have helped build the cabins on the island. Jayme was close to his grandfather, Don Johnson (a local author and legend), who passed away just weeks before their wedding. He left behind a wooden, hand-carved wedding gift for Jayme and Khue but died before he was able to give it to them on their wedding day.