melissa oholendt | minnesota wedding & lifestyle photographer » weddings

kristina & rob | wedding

melissa oholendt — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 12:00:34 +0000

Anyone with five senses could see how excited she was. Her sweet laughter floated to the ceiling as her hands & feet never stopped moving; busying herself with hair pins and mascara. He was less than a room away, but even so she knew that in her heart they were always one soul. He could be a million miles away but she knew that they would forever be one; just as they both had always dreamed they would be.

Kristina & Rob. The day of your wedding I woke up so thrilled to photograph your wedding. I knew when we first met that I wanted to be a part of your day because you were special and your love was so honest and true. I didn’t think it possible but that notion ran even more true on your beautiful day, surrounded by your fabulous friends as they toasted your new marriage. What an amazing couple you both make. xoxo

Ceremony & Reception Location: Oak Glen Country Club in Stillwater, MN
Flowers: Sweet Peas Floral
Cake: Buttercream Wedding Cakes
Chair Rental: Midwest Party Rental

i’m yours,
melissa

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megan & kenny | wedding

melissa oholendt — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 13:30:48 +0000

It wasn’t just the way he looked at her; it wasn’t just the way he held the door for her and it wasn’t just the way he playfully took her face in his hands and kissed the tip of her nose. The day her she looked around and realized she couldn’t remember life before him was the day she realized that their love was big. It was bigger than all of the wonderful things about Kenny; it was bigger than all of the amazing things she felt when she was with him. When she realized that their love was her whole world, she just knew.

Megan & Kenny are the real thing; they are two people so rooted in love that it completely fills whatever space they are in. It’s a rare thing to find two people who are all things sweetness, humility and laughter but then combine those qualities and you have a love so powerful it truly takes your breath away. I know I sound totally infatuated with them as a couple and maybe I am because they remind me of how beautiful love is every moment I am with them. How at moments it will completely rob you of thought and coherency and at other times it will fuel actions and deep, deep commitment without fear or hesitation. This couple is all of that to me and after spending a day with their best and closest, they are those things to them as well.

To Megan & Kenny. I am so blessed and so honored to have been a part of your day. I love you both. A lot.

Ceremony & Reception Location: Marjorie McNeely Conservatory at Como Park
Bride’s Dress: The Loft Bridal
Bridesmaids Dresses: David’s Bridal
Custom Suits: Measure Custom Clothing
Flowers: Bachmans Floral
Catering: Lancer Catering
Cake: Buttercream Wedding Cakes

i’m yours,
melissa

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featured! eat drink pretty & utterly engaged

melissa oholendt — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 15:03:24 +0000

I’ll admit it; sometimes life isn’t as blissful and picturesque as I might want to think. Sometimes Life just flat-out throws a fist-of-doom at you right square in the stomach just to get your attention and prove a point. (Yup. I just used an analogy of Life being the equivalent of a street fighter. Pretty sure that’s who I’ve been trading sucker punches with the last few weeks.)

In the darkness of some cloudy days came one amazing ray of sunshine. Jenna of Eat Drink Pretty made my week and featured Kimber & Chas’s fabulous Utah engagement session. If you don’t follow the Eat Drink Pretty blog, you are missing out. (I mean that.) Between her panache for making the most gorgeous sweet treats, she also posts about one of my very favorite topics: entertaining.

I also found out that a couple of the photos I took of the JNP Studios Workshop Tablescape were published in Issue 9 of the online magazine Utterly Engaged. The tablescape was all about the manly-man so I’m sure they were – ahem – thrilled with the uber-girly squeal that escaped my lips when I first saw my name.

Even though it hasn’t been the kindest of last 30 days, I know how blessed I am to have my photography recognized by a blog and an online publication that I love. Blows to the stomach included, I realize I am living one hell of a charmed life.

I have so many fun blog posts coming up soon including the details of two spectacularly gorgeous Minnesota weddings. Look for those to hit your Google Reader this month, but first…I must go put Life in a headlock. He deserves it.

i’m yours,
melissa

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a year

melissa oholendt — Mon, 24 May 2010 17:00:04 +0000

At the beginning of May I had my own little anniversary date; May 3 marked the date of my first official photo session. I won’t lie, I look back on those first photos in my portfolio and I cringe a little (a lot) but I also celebrate because I have come far since those beginning days. I have failed far more than I have succeeded thus far but out of that I have grown in knowledge, in skill and in confidence. And while I still have so far to go, it’s a little piece of joy to look back and be able to say that I am a totally different photographer today than I was back then.

My hope for next year is that I can look back and cherish where I am right now; WHO I am right now because I think the recognition of how far one has come is important but remembering who you were is just as important. A year ago, I was holding myself back in protection from the fear of the unknown but today I am purposefully running full stride in the direction of fear and uncertainty. I know my failures will be numerous but that’s ok because playing it safe is no longer in my vocabulary.

I am so grateful to the clients and friends I have gained since the beginning of this journey. I have been entrusted with documenting one of the most important events in a couple’s life and I am being honest when I say I am totally honored by their trust.

Saturday was the first wedding of my second wedding season ever and let me tell you, it set the bar pretty high; can’t wait to share. Until then, Happy Anniversary to me and a heartfelt thank you to my clients, friends and support system for pushing me and believing in me. I would not be here without you.

i’m yours,
melissa

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tiger dreams and tiger snoozes

melissa oholendt — Sat, 15 May 2010 03:10:41 +0000

I hope you all appreciate the self-discipline that it is taking not to break into some random Katy Perry song about waking up in Vegas. Because really, it’s taking a lot. My second choice is Viva Las Vegas by the Vegas King himself but all I can envision are blinding sequins, thick eyeliner and lots of hip gyrating which was not the Vegas that I experienced. (Save for that one night… Airhorns & Lasers, I’m looking at you. If the two months it took me to write about my WPPI experience in Las Vegas are any indication of the equal overwhelming parts of goodness and madness, then truly there was an immense amount of goodness and madness.

If we did happen to run into each other chances are that you encounter me with wide-eyes and maybe even that faint scent of eau de franticness that comes with jam-packed days and late (late) nights. So, what happens when 14,000 photographers converge on one city for one gigantic trade show? A whole lot of fun and surprisingly not a lot of picture taking from this photographer.

But I actually did do things. I promise. I did.

. late night pizza parties at the hotel with some of my very favorite people.
. meet people I admire & look up to.
. fred egan & jory cordy mini workshop.
. t r a d e s h o w o f i n s a n i t y (it was just big and clearly overwhelming for me, ok?).
. many, many meals with new friends & old friends and everything inbetween.
. DANCING
. and the victor sizemore mentor session. (the only time where my camera took priority)

Sad for you, I’m saving the mentor session goodness for my new branding roll-out but I will share with you the one photo I brought back. Oh, and it’s a good one.

You are welcome.

i’m yours,
melissa

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featured!

melissa oholendt — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 17:21:47 +0000

“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” -Eleanor Roosevelt

When I first started my photography journey, a very wise and wonderful friend gave me this advice: Dream BIG. There’s no point in dreaming if you don’t dream big. So I did. Some may look at my 5-and-10 year plans and laugh (There’s likely an entry for “Portraits of Justin Timberlake” in my ten year plan. No big deal.) but I am crazy passionate about making these things happen for myself. Yes, a lot of the things on my list are out of reach right now but what fun is there in aiming low?

In the past couple weeks I have been so humbled and honored to have some of my work featured on the blogs of women & publications that I respect and adore. With a huge thanks to these very fabulous women, I have been able to cross off one 2010 goal far (far!) earlier than I originally had hoped.

Minnesota Bride Blog:

First Blush Bride Event Planning:

Live the Fancy Life:

Justin Timberlake, here I come.

i’m yours,
melissa

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st. valentine

melissa oholendt — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 23:19:34 +0000

I know there are various opinions on the non-holiday that Valentine’s Day is but I venture to say that any day we set aside to celebrate the love that is in our lives is more than reason to celebrate.

To my own sweet, sweet Valentine. Life isn’t worth anything without you. Thank you for showing me God’s Love every.single.day.

Love deeply.

i’m yours,
melissa

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keri & ryan | wedding

melissa oholendt — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 06:05:44 +0000

Sometimes I look back on life and see the experiences that brought certain people into my life and I feel so blessed to see these friendships come full circle in the manner that they do. Keri & I met in the first few months after my move from Utah to Minneapolis and I can truly say to know Keri is to absolutely fall head over heels in adoration.

Ryan & Keri’s love is pretty phenomenal, so it wasn’t at all surprising when an entire school stood behind and supported their marriage. When Keri emailed me a couple months back to let me know that their wedding plans had changed from eloping to a small wedding in the library of the school where they first fell for each other I knew it was going to be something special. When I saw the work the teachers and students had put into creating a library and hallway worthy of a wedding, it nearly brought me to tears. These two are not only special to me but also to so many others and it was tangible.

To Keri & Ryan – thank you for creating a wedding that was truly about your love and allowing me to capture that. I adore you both and can’t wait to see where life leads you.

Keri & Ryan opted to do a First Look which, of course, I am a HUGE fan of because…

…this face. This face is about 99% of why I love photographing weddings. The look a groom has when he first sees his bride contains enough love to power New York City.

So, this was a first for a wedding – Nordy, the Minnesota Wild mascot came by for a little photo op. He’s a sassy guy.To view Keri & Ryan’s engagement session – click here.

i’m yours,
melissa

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whitney & paul | wedding

melissa oholendt — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 05:46:51 +0000

Whitney smiled from the salon chair; her amazing dimples shadowed in her cheeks. It was her wedding day and even the early October snowfall hadn’t dampened her spirits. When she saw Paul for the first time that day, Whitney’s smile became even bigger; the dimples even deeper. As Paul pulled Whitney to his chest, she snuggled in for warmth and giggled. “We’re getting married today.” He looked down at her and said with the utmost assurance, “We’re getting married today.”

Ceremony Location: Historic Church of St. Peter
Reception Location: Commodore Hotel
Hair: Juut Salon, Grand Avenue
Dress: Borrowed (and gorgeous!)
Bridesmaid: J.Crew
Flowers: Market Flowers
Cake / Cupcakes: Lunds & Byerly’s

Doesn’t she look like Audrey Hepburn in her fancy collarless coat? (I’ll admit, the resemblance took my breath away.)

They chose to do a First Look, which I L-O-V-E. It was such a sweet moment and so, so perfect.

Paul’s gift to Whitney were these gorgeous drop-pearl earrings that I adore. The guy has taste!

i’m yours,
melissa

beth & jeremy | wedding

melissa oholendt — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 03:00:05 +0000

I could not have been more excited for their wedding day. A sour weather forecast could not dispell my enthusiasm for September 25th; even as I checked the Hourly Forecast page and could not find a single hour without rain, I still could have jumped for joy that this day had finally arrived. As the first wedding clients that I could call my very own, Beth & Jeremy will forever be incredibly special to me.

When we arrived that morning, Jeremy came out to greet us in his slippers and it occured to me how perfectly that scene set the tone of their day. Just as his slippers on a normal day would represent relaxation, their presence on this important day created an overtone of the unhurried easygoing nature that both Beth and Jeremy posess. Even during the most stressful part of the day, laughter dominated.

Congratulations to my wonderful new friends. I hope that those Park City mountains are giving you plenty of sunshine on your honeymoon; you deserve no less.

I was tempted to take her dress home with me. She’s lucky she was wearing it when I left.

She is so beautiful. Drop dead gorgeous is the term I heard used.

I love how happy he looks here!

We were able to access the viewing deck at the W in downtown Minneapolis and I have to tell you – it may be my new favorite spot in the city to photograph a couple. LOVE it.

I think this may be my very favorite shot from the day. They are so hot.

This. Cake. Was. So. Good.

Internet – meet my rockstar second shooter for the day. He climbed in a tree, laid down on wet pavement and essentially went all out to get the shot; Tom is amazing.

i’m yours,
melissa