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Minnesota Bride's Best of 2026 Awards at The Depot

An inside look at the iconic night of celebration in Minneapolis

July 22, 2026

Inspired by the theme "Unlocking Endless Possibilities," Minnesota Bride's Best of 2026 celebration transformed Renaissance Minneapolis Hotel, The Depot into a glamorous speakeasy filled with dramatic design, immersive entertainment and unforgettable experiences. Planned by Lasting Impressions Weddings, the evening welcomed Minnesota's wedding professionals into an atmosphere where vintage glamour, hidden surprises and luxurious details set the stage for honoring the region's best.

Guests arrived with the convenience of valet service from Metropolis before stepping into a richly layered event environment. Lasting Impressions Weddings adeptly led the overall design vision for the evening, and PHOS Events created gorgeous draping throughout the venue. Elegant rentals and décor from Event Lab, Milestone Event Rental, Noor's Decor and Events, Hana April Inc. and Epic Event Rental filled the venue, while glowing installations from LED Marquee and dramatic ceiling treatments by Rojas Ceiling Draping Decor LLC heightened the sophisticated speakeasy aesthetic.

Linen Effects provided far more than its name might suggest, creating furniture groupings throughout the pre-function space, a halo bar in the Conservatory, furniture groupings and bars in Great Northern, chairs in the Pavilion, stage facades, and the table linens and gold Chiavari chairs used in the awards room. Custom stationery and signage by Brooke Thies Design carried the evening's theme throughout each space. Lush floral installations by Sadie's Couture Floral, Malana Sophia Floral, Petal Floral Boutique and Bloom Bar, Green Goddess Floral, Lilia Flower Boutique and 651 Studio & Floral Design added color, texture and drama across the venue, from the stage to the tables.

Throughout cocktail hour and the pre-awards festivities, guests enjoyed cuisine from D'Amico Hospitality, which also catered the VIP tables. Wines from Carlos Creek Winery were served alongside sophisticated nonalcoholic selections from DryWit. Interactive experiences encouraged guests to explore every corner of the event, from live caricature illustrations by Caricatures by Casey and games with Echo Casino to custom temporary tattoos by Minne Mark Ink and additional immersive entertainment from Enticing Entertainment.

As attendees entered the awards ceremony, Adagio DJ Entertainment guided the evening as emcee while RhodeyStark Events elevated the celebration with live music. Front Row FX created a striking backdrop for the band, enhancing the performance and the room's visual impact. Tim Thornburg Films opened the awards presentation with a cinematic tribute to Minnesota's wedding community before winners took the stage to receive their honors. Minnesota Bride's team looked celebration-ready thanks to Lady & Vamp Artistry, with sparkling jewelry provided by Continental Diamonds to accessorize their on-stage looks.

Throughout the evening, AV For You, Event Life TV, Instant Request and Front Row FX collaborated to deliver seamless audiovisual production, lighting and visual effects that brought every moment of the celebration to life. Clewell Photography documented the evening through stunning imagery while Cal's Wedding Videography captured every memorable moment on film. Behind the scenes, The Wedding Edit by Grace Myler Media preserved the excitement through real-time content creation, ensuring the celebration lived on long after the final award was presented.

Guests also visited interactive photo experiences from Time Into Pixels, Traveling Photo Booth and Shutter Photobooth Co. to capture keepsakes with friends and colleagues throughout the evening.

As the awards concluded, the celebration continued with music, dancing and after-party bites from Renaissance Minneapolis Hotel, The Depot. Guests sampled sweet creations from Lily & Sparrow Bakery and hey there, cupcake before cooling off with handcrafted treats from Jupiter Moon Ice Cream.

From immersive entertainment and dramatic design to exceptional cuisine and unforgettable experiences, Minnesota Bride's Best of 2026 embodied the spirit of "Unlocking Endless Possibilities." The evening celebrated this year's outstanding winners while showcasing the artistry, innovation and collaboration that continue to define Minnesota's thriving wedding industry.

View more images captured by Clewell Photography here!

Find your photo booth photos from Time Into Pixels here! | Password: MNBride

Find your photo booth photos from Traveling Photo Booth here!

Find your photo booth photos from Shutter Photobooth Co. here!

See the evening unfold with a video from Cal's Wedding Videography here!

Watch the Minnesota Bride opening video by Tim Thornburg Films here!