Tonka Bay Wedding Photographer
Private Tonka Bay lakeshore estates, Gideon Bay shoreline, Tonka Bay marinas. Collections from $3,100 with travel included.
Quick Answer
Who is the best Tonka Bay wedding photographer?
Honey Deww Photography — led by Emma Ziegler — photographs weddings throughout Tonka Bay, Minnesota, with 200+ celebrations shot since 2018. Frequent locations include Private Tonka Bay lakeshore estates, Gideon Bay shoreline, Tonka Bay marinas. Collections begin at $3,100 and include an engagement session, 2–3 week previews, and travel.
Do you photograph weddings in Tonka Bay?
Yes. Tonka Bay sits roughly 28 minutes from downtown Minneapolis, inside the Minneapolis–St. Paul metro. I photograph weddings in Tonka Bay and know the venues, the light, and the timing quirks that come with this corner of the Twin Cities.
Tonka Bay occupies the peninsula between Gideon Bay and Lower Lake South, giving couples water on three sides and Excelsior's downtown venues five minutes away.
Couples choosing a Tonka Bay wedding photographer usually weigh up nearby suburbs too — Excelsior, Shorewood, Greenwood, Deephaven, Minnetrista, all covered by my metro-wide flat rate with no travel fees. If your session is in Tonka Bay but your portraits are downtown Minneapolis or on Summit Avenue in St. Paul, that's a routine day rather than an add-on.
Where do you take portraits in Tonka Bay?
Portraits in Tonka Bay lean on the Tonka Bay peninsula shoreline, Gideon Bay, Lower Lake South, Excelsior Bay (adjacent). Whether you're after something classic or more editorial, I map the day's schedule around the light so you get the best fifteen minutes at each stop, with no rush between Tonka Bay and downtown Minneapolis or St. Paul.
Which cities near Tonka Bay do you cover?
I photograph weddings, engagements, and portraits across the Minneapolis–St. Paul west metro. These are the Tonka Bay-adjacent Minneapolis–St. Paul suburbs I cover most often — every city links to a dedicated local guide.
- Excelsior
- Shorewood
- Greenwood
- Deephaven
- Minnetrista
- Minneapolis
- St. Paul
Also serving the wider Twin Cities metro — view all Minneapolis–St. Paul locations.
People also ask
Quick answers about wedding photographers in Tonka Bay
How much does a Tonka Bay wedding photographer cost?+
Tonka Bay wedding photography collections start at $3,100 for 4 hours of coverage with one photographer and include an engagement session, online gallery, print release, and full high-resolution downloads. Most couples book the 8-hour Pearl collection at $4,200, which adds a second photographer.
Do you travel to Tonka Bay?+
Yes — I photograph sessions in Tonka Bay. Travel within 40 miles of downtown Minneapolis is included; share your venue address when you inquire so any additional travel costs can be confirmed in your quote.
What is your wedding photography style in Tonka Bay?+
Editorial documentary — I direct just enough for polish (posture, hands, chin) then step back and let the moment happen. Warm, true-to-life color; no orange-and-teal filters or heavy retouching.
How far in advance should I book a Tonka Bay wedding photographer?+
For weddings in Tonka Bay, I recommend booking 8–12 months in advance, especially for May–October dates. Contact me with your date to check availability, including last-minute openings.
How long until I get my Tonka Bay wedding photos?+
The published wedding timeline is a curated sneak peek within 1–2 weeks and the full edited gallery within 6–8 weeks. Your private online gallery includes high-resolution downloads; confirm the delivery schedule in your booking agreement.
5.0 ★ on Google
45 reviews
Booking since 2018
200+ Twin Cities clients
Minneapolis-based
Travel up to 40 mi free
Replies in 24 hrs
Mon–Fri
Tonka Bay Wedding & Portrait Photography
A look at recent weddings, engagements and portraits from across Minnesota and the wider Twin Cities.
What the day includes
What does wedding photography coverage include in Tonka Bay, MN?
Every Tonka Bay collection covers three parts of the day: bridal portraits before the ceremony, candid documentary coverage throughout, and the ceremony and reception into the evening. Collections start at $3,100 for four hours.
- Bridal portraits: 20–30 minutes before the ceremony, by window light, in the getting-ready suite or on the venue grounds.
- Candid, documentary coverage: most of the day, directed only for posture and light.
- Ceremony and reception: processional to recessional from two positions, then speeches, first dances and the open floor.
How each part is photographed is explained in my wedding photography style, and it is the same in Tonka Bay, MN as anywhere in the Twin Cities area.
Local details
What licences, permits and park rules apply in Tonka Bay?
Tonka Bay sits on a narrow neck of land between Lake Minnetonka's bays in Hennepin County, and a lakeside gathering of any size on city property needs Council approval.
- Do you need a permit for a wedding in a Tonka Bay park?
- Yes, for a gathering of more than 25 people on city property or any event with outdoor amplified sound. The special event permit is approved by the City Council, and events on city property can be asked for a damage deposit of up to $1,000. Source: City of Tonka Bay special event instructions
- Can you serve alcohol at a Tonka Bay park event?
- Only with a permit, and at least one South Lake Minnetonka police officer is required for any event with alcohol on public property. The city asks you to contact the police department 60 days before an event that serves alcohol. Source: City of Tonka Bay special event instructions
Checked against each authority’s own page in September 2026. Fees change — confirm before you budget.
What is it like to photograph a wedding in Tonka Bay?
Tonka Bay is a narrow peninsula city with water on three sides — Gideon Bay to the north, Lower Lake South to the south — and almost entirely residential. Weddings here are lakeshore estate weddings and marina weddings, with the ceremony often on a private lawn and the reception a few minutes away in Excelsior or on a charter out of Spring Park.
The advantage of shooting a peninsula is that I can chase light in either direction. If clouds move in over Gideon Bay I walk two blocks south and shoot into open sky over Lower Lake. That flexibility matters on Minnetonka, where summer storms build fast in the late afternoon. For private-property weddings I do a scouting pass on arrival, mark two portrait spots facing opposite directions, and set the timeline so we can use whichever is working.
Which Tonka Bay venues and locations do you photograph?
- Private Tonka Bay lakeshore estates
- Gideon Bay shoreline
- Tonka Bay marinas
- Excelsior Commons & Docks (5 minutes)
- Old Log Theatre (Greenwood, nearby)
- Lake Minnetonka LRT Regional Trail
- Shorewood parks
- Charter boat receptions from Spring Park
Tonka Bay Wedding Photography FAQ
Where do you shoot Tonka Bay weddings?
Private lakeshore estates and marinas on the peninsula, the Gideon Bay shoreline, and Excelsior Commons and Docks five minutes away for downtown and dock portraits.
Do you charge travel to Tonka Bay?
No. Tonka Bay is about 28 minutes from downtown Minneapolis and inside my included Lake Minnetonka service area.
How much is a Tonka Bay wedding photographer?
Collections start at $3,100 for 4 hours, $4,200 for 8 hours with a second photographer, and $5,300+ for full-day coverage.
What happens if a storm rolls in?
Tonka Bay has open water on three sides, so I mark portrait spots facing opposite directions on arrival and shoot whichever side has usable sky. It's the one real advantage of a peninsula.
Best Tonka Bay engagement spots?
The Gideon Bay shoreline at sunset, the marina docks, and the Lake Minnetonka LRT Regional Trail heading toward Excelsior.
Book Your Tonka Bay Wedding
Currently booking 2026, 2027, and 2028 dates; peak-season Saturdays fill nearly a year in advance.
Check Availability