September 12, 2020
After meeting online, Samantha Arnhalt and Justin Mikel solidified their relationship on a Valentine’s Day weekend trip to Duluth in 2020. During a walk in Enger Park, the couple stopped to take in the splendid view of the city and Lake Superior when Justin asked Samantha to marry him—and a hidden photographer captured both the view and their special moment. The couple wanted a bohemian/Viking vibe for their wedding day, so Samantha set about gathering vintage rugs, velvet couches and rustic wooden tables. Samantha’s father built the wooden ceremony backdrop, and with the help of her floral-savvy master-gardener mother, they festooned it with wildflowers and grasses. Another rustic addition: Samantha hung an old ladder over the head table and decorated it with dangling Edison bulbs and greenery. The couple incorporated their faith in the ceremony with prayers and a foot-washing ceremony in reference to Jesus washing the feet of his disciples. In a nod to their shared German heritage, they provided a pretzel bar, with homemade pretzels and sauces. The couple soaked in every moment together, and, “at times, it felt as though we were the only ones in the venue,” says Samantha.
