Photos: MJ Denny Photography
Two educators found love in the staffroom.
From heartfelt vows to a packed dance floor, Grace (née White) and Alex Dahm’s wedding was the perfect reflection of their relationship—classic, joyful and full of meaning. Surrounded by family and friends under the chandeliers at Interlachen Country Club, the two educators packed a summer evening in June 2025 with intention and personality.
Grace and Alex’s passion for nurturing the leaders of tomorrow was what brought them into each other’s orbit. Grace, a counselor, was born and raised in Edina. Alex is from Eagan and is a business teacher. They met while working at White Bear Lake Area High School. “The first year Grace was at school was my second year. I knew of her from staff meetings and always assumed she was married,” Alex says. That assumption changed during a summer conference. “We had lunch with a coworker, and the rest was history,” he says.
Grace and Alex quickly realized they were a perfect match. Alex had planned to propose during a spring break trip to Arizona in 2024, but when Grace began to suspect he was planning to pop the question, he pivoted. During a weekend getaway a few months later in Two Harbors, he surprised her with a proposal she never saw coming.
But Grace always knew where she wanted her wedding to be. Grace says she grew up in the halls of Interlachen Country Club. “My parents have been members for as long as I can remember,” she says. “It was the first place we thought of after getting engaged. It’s beautiful, classic.” With that classic aesthetic in mind, they chose black, champagne and white for their wedding colors, a palette they thought best suited the club’s wood-accented interiors. “We wanted the day to feel elegant—something that would never go out of style,” Grace says.
Stationery goes beyond standard invitations. Jill Elain Designs also created matchbooks, napkins, place cards and RSVP cards. “We had matchbooks with our puppy on them, Miley. And napkins with her face on them. We wanted to make sure she was included,” Grace Dahm says.
The couple looked to wedding planner Sarah Trotter to bring their vision to life. “We knew we wanted something simple and classic but didn’t know how to make it happen. Sarah asked the right questions and made it feel effortless,” Grace says.
During their first look, Grace and Alex privately exchanged their vows. “Time stood still, and it felt like the longest moment of the day because it was the most important part,” Grace says. “There’s so much that leads up to seeing each other and having that moment and being able to say, ‘It all came together. This is for us. We are going to get married.’”
One of Grace’s favorite moments from the day was walking down the aisle. “That was a moment I’ve always thought about,” she says. “When the doors opened and I saw Alex and everyone I love, it was special … I thought I was going to be really nervous, but we were really present and could focus.”
The reception was lively and joyful, exactly as they hoped. “The dance floor was absolutely insane,” Grace says, laughing. “That’s what we wanted—a party where everyone could let loose.” Guests enjoyed custom white trucker hats, glow sticks and a photo booth.
Another effortless decision was selecting Arts and Flowers as the florist. Grace Dahm says her family has patronized the business for bouquets, homecoming, prom and more.
Their advice to others planning a wedding? Embrace all the best qualities of yourselves and bring that to life. And “don’t stress the small stuff,” Grace says. “Everything works itself out. Just enjoy it.”
Vendors
- Catering and Venue: Interlachen Country Club, interlachencc.org
- Decoration and Rentals: Après Event Décor and Tent Rental, apresparty.com; Girl Friday, girlfridaycreative.com
- Event Planning: Lasting Impressions, lastingimpressionsweddings.com
- Florals: Arts & Flowers, artsflowersmn.com
- Hair and Makeup: Lady Vamp Artistry, ladyvampartistry.com
- Jewelry: Continental Diamond, continentaldiamond.com
- Music: Rock With U, rockwithu.com
- Photography: MJ Denny Photo, mjdennyphoto.com
- Stationery: Jill Elaine Designs, jillelainedesigns.com
- Wedding Wear: Badgley Mischka, badgleymischka.com; Raffiné Bridal, raffinebridal.com; Show Me Your Mumu, showmeyourmumu.com; The Black Tux, theblacktux.com
