Last Updated: March 2024

Whether you and your person want to elope or have a small wedding, Bluefin Bay in Cook County, Minnesota offers a beautiful location right along the shoreline of Lake Superior. With unforgettable lakeside views and a venue that offers an intimate experience and overnight stay options, the day you say “I do” is sure to be packed with all of your dreamiest dreams (and more). 

I had the honor of capturing a North Shore elopement at Bluefin Bay, so I created this guide with some expert insights to help you plan your ideal day at this location too!

1. Plan Your Bluefin Bay Elopement or Small Wedding

Contact Bluefin Bay to schedule a tour or inquire about your date. For your ceremony space, you will have the option of the Tofte Cove which is right on the shoreline, or the Beach Patio. I highly recommend using the Cove for the best views of Lake Superior! Keep in mind that each ceremony space has different capacity limits. Tofte Cove has a maximum capacity of 30 people, while the Beach Patio can fit 80 people. 

Bluefin Bay also has indoor spaces, subject to availability, at no cost if it ends up raining on your ceremony. 

Pro Tip 1

You’ll save a lot of money if you book your elopement or wedding day from Sunday through Thursday! This elopement happened on a Thursday, and it was quiet and laid back–perfect if you want a more intimate feel!

Pro Tip 2

Be prepared to book your venue 12 to 16 months in advance if you already have an exact date in mind. This is especially important if your ideal date is during peak season (June to October). Since this is a popular wedding and elopement venue along the North Shore, availability can get booked quickly!

2. Start Envisioning Your Dream Day

Start dreaming of your day. Who do you truly want there? What do you want your day to feel like? Take a few minutes to answer the following:

1. Who is most important in our lives?
2. What do I see when I close my eyes and envision what the day looks like?
3. Do I want this to be classic and simple or do I want there to be a specific look and vibe?
4. How do I want to spend my time that day? Do I want to do anything else besides just a ceremony and dinner?

It’s a good idea to align your values and create a list of priorities together to ensure you get to create a day that means the most to you.

3. Book Your Vendors ASAP

Once you have your vision planned out, book all of your vendors ASAP! I recommend prioritizing booking your photographer, venue, and caterer first. Booking your photographer (like me) at the beginning of your elopement planning process is essential because we can actually help you with some of the logistics and offer practical advice along the way.

Once you have the priority vendors sorted out, here are a few of my top recommendations for other vendors. Keep in mind that Bluefin also has a list of preferred vendors they’ll send you if you book with them.

• Desserts: Snazzy Cakes, Something Sweet
• Hair and Makeup: Design Affair Salon Studio, Northern Bridal Artistry,
• Attire: Christian Lane Bridal—the provider of both outfits you see shown in this blog. They do wedding gowns, tuxedos, wedding party attire, and alterations!
• Stationary: Artistic Linguistics has done custom calligraphy invites for me before and they are always so gorgeous!
• Band/DJ: The Little Wedding Co. Please note that Bluefin may have specific requirements around DJs, so make sure you inquire about this before you book.

4. Book Your Stay

One of the best things about Bluefin Bay is that you can stay overnight to complete your elopement experience. I recommend booking your stay as soon as possible because the resort books fast. If you’re inviting guests, ensure their accommodations are also sorted as soon as possible to avoid any last-minute scrambling.

5. Get Your Marriage License and Officiant

In my guide to eloping in Minnesota, I break down everything you need to know about obtaining a marriage license and officiant. Here’s what you need to know:

• Marriage license applications cost around $115. You can reduce the cost to $40 if you do 12 hours of premarital counseling.
• Once you receive your marriage license, it’s only valid for 6 months, so plan this application process accordingly. 
• You need two witnesses present at your official ceremony to sign the license—they can be friends, family, or complete strangers.
• You’ll need an officiant—getting ordained is straightforward. If you don’t have a close family member or friend to do it, I can also officiate your elopement or small wedding! Marry Me in the Northland is also another great celebrant option in Northern Minnesota.

6. Create Your Timeline

Now we’re getting to the fun stuff—let’s talk about your actual day! This is where you can plan your itinerary and fill it with different activities that will make your day extra special. Here’s a sample timeline of what your Bluefin Bay Elopement or Wedding could look like in July:

• 10:30: Chill morning coffee and cozy photos
• 11:30: Start getting ready
• 12:00: Ceremony setup begins
• 1:00: First look and couples portraits
• 2:00: Wedding party and attendant photos (if applicable)
• 2:45: Family photos (if applicable)
• 3:15: Break before the ceremony to do something together as a couple
• 4:00: Ceremony
• 4:45: Cocktail or appetizer hour
• 5:00: Couple travels for an adventure portrait session at Temperance River State Park
• 6:30: Dinner and reception
• 8:00: Golden hour photos
• 8:45: Bonfire and music
• 10:00: Everyone goes to their cozy room for some rest after a beautiful day

As I mentioned earlier, as a photographer, I can help you custom-create your itinerary and provide advice about the best times to take photos. If you invite guests, be sure to keep them informed along the way. In order to have a relaxed day, we have to do lots of prep work ahead of time—the more planning we do, the better!

7. Get Ready and Get Married!

Ideally, you, your boo, and whomever you’re inviting (guests or just vendors and an officiant), will stay overnight before the big day, so you’re well-rested. You can rent your ceremony space from 12:00 to 7:00 pm, so plan to start setting up your space no earlier than noon.

Pro Tip

If you choose Tofte Cove as your ceremony location, there are stairs that you’ll need to take to and from the parking lot, so it may take a little extra effort to set up.

Capturing Your Epic Day at Bluefin Bay

Minnesota’s north shore is one of the most beautiful places to exist—and getting married at Bluefin Bay is an excellent way to take in the breathtaking scenery while also accessing practical services for an elopement or small wedding.

As someone who’s captured a love story here before, I have nothing but good things to say about this place—and I’d do it all over again in a heartbeat. If you’re looking for a photographer to come along on this journey, reach out to me today!