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

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!

So, I definitely didn’t miss my calling as a pet photographer but I had a lot of fun pretending I could be one.

Doesn’t Beth have ah-mazing legs? Seriously? Rarrrr.

Hello, gorgeous multi-color wall. Yes please!

i’m yours,

melissa

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.)

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.)

It’s a true statement when I say that Matt owes quite a bit of his law school enjoyment to Jenna. In fact, I joke about Jenna being Matt’s law school wife but in reality I am so grateful for her presence in his life. I can only imagine if she brightens Matt’s life in such a way that she is the warm, gorgeous sun in Kyle’s life.

I have the great privilege of calling Jenna and Kyle friends. Between burger dates at the Bulldog and talks of food themed boudoir sessions (don’t knock it until you’ve seen Kyle’s impressions)…we mostly just laugh together.

Love that.

Oh how I wish I could claim this as my genius, but the alas the comedic moment was all Kyle.

i’m yours,

melissa

I love the way that John looks at Whitney. He looks at her and you can just feel the way his heart has totally encompassed hers. The love and adoration between these two is enough to move some serious mountains. If it’s cliche to say that I fell in love with them both during my time with them, well, then call me cliche.

May I be the first in blog form to say congratulations to Mr. & Mrs. Crosser; they married Memorial Day weekend under immense amounts of sunshine.

Love you guys for reals.

i’m yours,

melissa