Heather & John

Eight years after meeting as freshmen at the University of St. Thomas, Heather Gold and her beau John Brinkhaus finally tied the knot. But instead of opting for an informal look, as is common in many weddings these days, the couple wanted to shake things up by celebrating with a decidedly more formal feel. After a classic ceremony heralded by the traditional notes of an organ and piano, the couple led their guests to the James J. Hill Library. Here, amid shelves of books, rich wood furnishings and candlelight, the reception took on the look of an “old boys” club. Like a romantic 19th-century novel, the space brimmed with charming details: Silvers, blacks and slate-gray colors mingled with creamy-white lace and a two-tier, black-velvet wedding cake, complete with gray icing and white polka dots. The most touching part of the evening came when all the married couples were invited onto the dance floor as living proof of inspiring relationships that have stood the test of time. A “count-up” of how many years each couple had been together left Heather’s grandparents as the top-longevity pair—married 67 years, a testament to true love.