Wedding days can be stressful. They can be filled with so many gotta-get-it-perfect details, a checklist a mile long, and people wanting to pull you in every direction.

I get it. And I am usually able to maintain my sanity, as I’ve gotten used to the stress people often feel on their wedding days. It doesn’t bother me so much like it did when I shot my first few weddings. It’s what I expect.

But Melissa and Kevin’s wedding day was much different. So relaxed. So free from stress. It was a dream!

They chose an intimate ceremony on a lake at Legacy Park — where they met. How perfect is that? Now, the weather radar was looking a bit threatening at the time they planned to say “I do,” so they had the luxury of moving it a few hours earlier than planned. I’ve never shot a wedding ceremony two or three hours earlier than expected.

The ceremony was perfect. I can’t pretend that I didn’t shed a tear when Kevin gave Melissa’s son, Gavin, a necklace during the ceremony after the exchange of rings. The words Kevin spoke to Gavin where so heartfelt and beautiful, and Gavin was thrilled about his awesome new necklace. His reaction was priceless. It brought me back to the time when my brother and I stood with our mom as she married the man who would become our dad. To witness the official start of a new family is something that’s too beautiful for words. When it’s more than just the bride and groom joining their lives together, it’s even more amazing.

So after I wiped my tears away, I had the pleasure of working with their wonderful wedding party. They were hilarious, kind, helpful, and happy to be there supporting their friends on their special day. That’s the kind of wedding party I always hope for.

And, seriously, how awesome is it that the groomsmen wanted to get a few pictures in the weight room at the community center?!

 

The reception was a great, laid-back party featuring every element of a great celebration: food, drinks, delicious cake, heartfelt toasts, great music, and cute kids dancing. And adults dancing, of course, but the cute kids had my attention all night!

 

My excitement about the photos I’ve taken is often measured by how quickly I finish editing them. I got home from Melissa and Kevin’s wedding around 10:30 on Saturday night, and somehow finished the entire editing process by 11:30 on Monday night. That’s 49 hours. And that’s my new record for turning around a wedding. Woo hoo!

 

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