I remember the night we met; it was shortly after our move to Minnesota and, in typical Minneapolis fashion, it was freezing outside. It was the first time I was going to meet Matt’s law school friends and, in typical Melissa fashion, I has spent way more time on my hair than the situation warranted. As my husband greeted his friends, a gorgeous strawberry-blonde with the warmest smile I had ever seen stuck her hand out to shake mine and said something along the lines of, “I’m Carrie and I’m so sorry we’re late. My hair was not cooperating.” Enter Trevor who leans in and hugs me as a hello, nice to meet you and from that moment on I was totally smitten with them.

Three years, one law school diploma and many (many) Wii Bowling Tournaments later, Carrie called me to let me know they were engaged and I could not have been happier for our two friends who love each other with so much passion it makes most people look like amateurs.

Love you both a lot.

i’m yours,
melissa

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As Kenny whispered, “I love you” just above Megan’s shoulder, her face turned ever-so-slighty in his direction and she smiled softly and whispered “I love you too”. It occured to me in that moment, if I had blinked I would have missed it; the scene happened so fast and in such a natural way that it was clear it really wasn’t meant for my benefit. They weren’t acting because I had a camera in my hands; they were doing what they always do and that was simply to love one another.

Those are the moments I live for; the moments that, everytime, stop me in my tracks and make my heart explode.

Megan & Kenny reminded me of my passion. Together they brought back the heart pounding that literally floods my ears and brings tears to my eyes and I will never be able to thank them enough for that.

Location: Walker Art Center & Minneapolis Sculpture Garden

i’m yours,
melissa

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I made a promise with myself this year that I would only book weddings & couples that I had an honest and true connection with; not because the connection was lacking with my 2009 couples but because, by the grace of God, I had formed a deep and heartfelt friendship with the bride and groom for every single wedding. For me, that connection has become an integral part of my success and quite frankly, adoration over the images I produce.

Well, I love Kristina & Rob; dotting-my-i’s-with-hearts-and-using-bubbly-exclamation-points kind of love. I first met them for a late morning breakfast and over french toast and coffee and we laughed together for almost THREE HOURS. We clicked like peanut butter and jelly. They told me how they first met, how Rob proposed and what they dreamed their wedding to be. (It’s going to be amazing, in case you are wondering…) I fell in love with the way Rob looks at Kristina, the way she rests her head on her hand, Rob’s hair color (redheads unite!) and the fact that at the end of the day they just want to be with each other. They pretty much rock.

Does anyone know how hard it is for 2 Fuji Instax pictures to develop in 30 degree temps? WE DO! (Totally worth it.) i’m yours,
melissa

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It’s for certain, my favorite thing about Jessica and Jon is that they laugh together – a lot. Not small, polite laughter but real genuine you-are-the-funniest-person-in-the-world laughter. And it was cold. Really cold. Like 18 degrees Minnesota cold. But THIS is why I have the best clients in the world – they don’t even look cold. They laughed and cuddled and kissed as if they were in the tropics. (If I were cheesy, I would say their love keeps them warm but, you know, I’m not cheesy. So. Prettysuretheirlovekeepsthemwarm.)

If Jessica & Jon look familiar, we did a fall engagement session in October. See how awesome they are? Fall engagements, winter engagements…bring on the spring.

i’m yours,
melissa

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It sounded cliche, even to him, but the first time he saw her smile it sent cupid’s arrow straight through his heart and at that moment Ryan knew that he would one day hold Keri in his arms and call her wife. They saw each other almost daily at their shared workplace but it wasn’t until they were paired as mentor leaders in a classroom miles away from the office that the sparks started to fly.

Keri & Ryan gave me such a vivid picture of love; they are a pair that would walk to the end of the earth if that’s what it took to be together.

I think the giant lollipop might be my favorite prop yet.

Remember how these two are/were mentors when they fell in love? Well, their kiddos drew these pictures of them. I think they nailed Keri’s rosy cheeks and Ryan’s blue eyes.

Love these two shots; love them. It’s a circle of love.

i’m yours,
melissa

They have the kind of relationship where one word can send them both into a fit of laughter. It’s the brand of laughter that invites you into it even if you don’t quite know why you are laughing; it’s incredibly contagious. They are contagious. The way she looks at him, the way he smiles at her…it all sounds cliche but that love makes my heart explode with happiness.

We met at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum and even though it was a bit chilly (ahem) they rocked it out model style.

“Hey, you guys up for walking through a dense field of weeds?” They rock.

If heaven is a forest full of trees, plllllllease God let there be a Nikon up there waiting for me.

“That looks like a bridge built out of twigs.” “Really?? Sweet!” And….itwasnot.

It’s official. I love them.

So, as it turns out. Your chances of having run-ins with woodland creatures increases about 100% when you are with me. I’m a redheaded Snow White.

i’m yours,
melissa

As he got down on one knee in the middle of Courtney’s favorite spot in the city she knew two things; a) she was deeply and madly in love with this man and b) she would follow him to the dark side of the moon and back. When Matt put the ring on her finger he knew that this gorgeous woman he loved more than anything would stand by him forever. I’m pretty sure they call that love head-over-heels.

Courtney & Matt, I am thisclose to creating a fan page on Facebook in honor of you. I love you guys that much.

And please applaud the fact that I managed to avoid inserting Beyonce lyrics into this post when typing “put the ring on her finger”. Trust me, I wanted to.

No but really. Just LOOK at them. The tip-toes, the way Matt soooo wants to kiss her… My job = easy.

Hand placement = fantastic. Cover grandma’s eyes.

And then their dance party started. This was the moment I both died of laughter and fell in love.

So once I knew they would dance (and dance in public, mind you) it was like a moth to the proverbial flame. Flame of dance.

Right? I know. There are no words.

Courtney has the most amazing hair I have ever seen in my life.

Guthrie. Who knew yellow could be so chic?

I know as a people photographer I should usually aim for – oh, I don’t know - in focus pictures, but this one made me swoon.

i’m yours,

melissa

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.

i’m yours,

melissa