Melinda + Jeff | Married

Melinda and Jeff have to be one of the most sweet, fun-loving couples I’ve had the pleasure of working with! Their wedding marked my first “destination” wedding… but the destination was Josh’s hometown, Kansas City! Josh and Melinda grew up in the same church and have been close friends for pretty much their entire lives, and when she emailed me to ask if I would be their wedding photographer, of course my immediate response was YES!!! I knew Melinda and her sweet, bubbly personality from the many times we’ve visited Josh’s family in Kansas City, and couldn’t wait to capture her wedding day.

---

Jeff and Melinda’s wedding was the perfect combination of traditional + uniquely crafted to fit their personalities exactly. The wedding was on a Friday night and even though the ceremony didn’t start until seven, Jeff and Melinda exited their reception through a tunnel of sparklers by 9:30! I loved it because I’ve photographed a few weddings where the couple dreams of a grand exit but sometimes doesn’t experience it because so many guests have already left by the time the party is winding down. But because Melinda and Jeff’s reception was short and sweet (dinner, toasts, and cake– what’s sweeter than that?!), every guest experienced their wedding day from start to finish. The entire church came out and filled the pews to celebrate with this amazing couple, and instead of having a huge bridal party with lots of frills, they chose to have just a maid of honor and best man– but still set aside time to take photos with their closest friends!

I wasn’t sure how I was going to tackle an entire wedding day’s worth of photos in just a few hours… but let me say, mission accomplished! Jeff and Melinda opted for a sweet first look followed by all their portraits with family and friends, so once the ceremony started, everything was done (except some glowy sunset portraits we decided to take in the field behind the church… so pretty!!!) They had so many little details that gave their classic traditional wedding a little extra flair (for all you Harry Potter fans out there, don’t miss the wand that says “Bride” scattered throughout the detail shots), and everything was absolutely perfect. Melinda looked like a fairy princess in her lace and tulle gown with her long flowing braid, and the way her face would light up when Jeff looked at her was pure magic. This couple is loved by so many people, but most of all, they love each other with a fierceness and joyful dedication that deserves to be admired. Congratulations to the newlyweds, and enjoy these precious memories from their wedding day!