i am ridiculously excited you are here! my name is melissa oholendt and i'm a wedding & lifestyle photographer based in minneapolis/st. paul, minnesota.
if you are curious as to who i am, the short version is this: my great loves in life are my heart-breakingly lovely husband, my cuddly dog Gunnar, rainy days, j.crew cardigans, nicknames, the smell of freshly washed clothes and above all things God. if you want to know a little more about me, click on the email address below and send me an email with questions, email hugs or professions of your undying love (i don't judge). i would love to hear from you.
Internet! Let me tell you how glorious this day was for Matt and I.
Today was the first day in three years that our schedules were not dominated by law school, graduation or the Minnesota State Bar. Let me repeat that. THREE YEARS, friends.
I don’t even remember our life before but I am pretty sure it involved unicorns and rainbows so I’m pretty stoked to return to that. I’m also certain that I am the most proud wife on the planet tonight.
My husband is a rock star.
Paul looked at Whitney and then he looked me straight in the eyes. “We met at a bar.” If you need proof that soul mates can find each other anywhere, allow me to introduce Whitney & Paul. They, quite frankly, rock.
I may have clapped my hands with glee when Paul told me how they met, not because it was a good story (it was), but because their story was so quintessentially them as a couple. Just like Whitney’s quick wit and laughter is all her own and Paul’s love of baseball gear and Babe the Ox belong only to him; when you put those things together, suddenly you have this amazing dynamic where things like meeting your soul mate at a bar in St. Paul doesn’t feel the least bit awkward. It fits because it’s them and it’s truly beautiful.
To Whit & P-dubs, can we be besties?
I made them kiss.
A lot.
I made them…
And they were totally into it.
There was a little albino squirrel running across the park (no really) and while resisting the urge to chase after it with my camera – it was hard – I snapped this shot and it turned out to be my favorite of the evening.
I couldn’t decide which image I loved the most so here they both are. I love them equally.
He was a junior; she was in 8th grade. He was the cool kid in the drama club; she was wearing blue snow pants. He doesn’t remember the day they met for the first time; she says it’s better that way.
It took Beth & Jeremy years and a change in scenery to fall in love but when they did? They fell hard. And since those days they have been intertwining their lives in such a way that is completely irreversible.
To my new friends, do you want to know my favorite thing about you as a couple? When you were talking to each other as I snapped pictures, you were talking about the most random of subjects and laughing at what the other was saying. Not just someone-is-taking-my-picture-look-pretty laughing, but flat out head-back-you-are-the-funniest-person-I-know laughing. I love that. When I say I fell in love with you both that day, I am totally serious.
The amount of excitement I have for your wedding is borderline scary. (Scary in a good way, of course.)
My friend Tom deBruyn was able to come along for Beth and Jeremy’s shoot. Keep watch on his blog for more pictures!
I don’t usually do sneak peeks but I had SO MUCH FUN (in all caps) with Beth and Jeremy tonight that I had to post a little something.
Their story coming soon. (And get excited because it involves snow pants.)
There are few things in life sweeter than young love. As we sat together, laughing and listening, I glanced at my brother and then at Lizzie and they both had that universal sparkle in their eyes; the one that says, “I think you are pretty dang awesome.”
This weekend was the first time I had met Lizzie and as a protective big sister who doesn’t think that anyone is good enough for my little brother it is a true feat that I wholeheartedly love her. I couldn’t help it; she had me at Miley Cyrus.
To Raf and Lizzie. You make a beautiful, intelligent and charming team. I’m excited to see what the future holds for both of you.
I’m pretty sure you guys aren’t aware of how awesome my husband is.
He cooks. (Way more than I do.)
He’s crazy smart. (And about to rock the Minnesota State Bar.)
He’s the most handsome man in the world. (For reals.)
AND…
Today he turns 27; which I happen to think is a very classy and distinguished number.
I have a deep obsession with love.
It all started the summer before my senior year in high school when I realized I loved Matt Oholendt. He was one of my closest friends and he was moving away and I was devastated. I watched his parent’s car pull away from their house that early morning and I remember it hurt so badly I felt like my heart was being ripped from my chest. That was the day I realized that I loved him; not just a best-friend-love but I loved him. Heart and soul.
Three years later, and a lot of denial in the middle, we kissed. Two years after that we said our vows.
And today, almost 4 years after our wedding day, we are happier today than we were then.
This is my love story. I would be honored to tell yours.
She laughed out loud; he had just asked her to come to his dad’s wedding, again. She reminded him that they had been down that road before. You know…the dating road. Besides, they were roommates and close friends; the positives had to outweigh the negatives.
When Amy & Phil sat on the picnic table bench and told me this story, I laughed but what I didn’t say is that I know their story well because it mirrors my own. Love has a mind of it’s own and sometimes the person you least suspected is the one who, very literally, completes you. Silly moments and all.
To my truly wonderful friends: you complete each other; it’s very plain to see. (Don’t hate me for posting some of the silly ones.)
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