Melissa Oholendt | Minnesota Wedding & Lifestyle Photography

The way their friends spoke of them at the Rehearsal Dinner was entirely humbling. These two incredible individuals were a few short hours from becoming a powerhouse couple and the things that were said about this couple made me believe they would solve world hunger in one day and still have dinner on the table by 6:00pm. But you know what? It wouldn’t surprise me. They are that amazing together. Between her drive to care and love for people and his desire to serve God and immense love for her, pretty sure world hunger doesn’t stand a chance.

David. Sincerely and from my heart – welcome to the family where we smile with squinty-eyes (that is how you know it’s real) and laugh loud and without abandon. I couldn’t ask for a more wonderful cousin-in-law. Sarah. You have my heart and you know it. I love you so, so much and I am so beyond proud of the amazing woman you are. Now, go on, start living your powerhouse couple life. And then come visit us in Minneapolis. LOVE YOU.

Ceremony & Reception Location: Historic Rucker Place – Birmingham, Alabama
Flowers & Event Design: LSL Event Design
Cake & Groom’s Cake: Magnificent Cakes
DJ: My Event DJ

Together they love dogs, wine, good food and Modern Family. They make the other laugh outloud, love each other deeply and play kickball as a couple. You love them already, right? I KNOW IT. Me too.

It was the first sunny weekend since the trees had turned green and I honestly could not have hand-picked a more wonderful way to spend it. Anna & Chad, there really is something special in the way you two look at each other and the love you have for Brady and Moke truly stole my heart (as did the introduction to Broder’s). Can’t wait for your wedding. xoxo

It has been a day nearly 3 years in the making.

I know it sounds dramatic but trust me when I say I’m not mincing words here. I’ve spent every day for almost 3 years preparing myself and my business for the day when I would be able to call photography my one and only full-time profession. Yesterday was my last day at a firm I’ve been with for more than 4 years. I’m leaving behind co-workers I adore and who have very much been my family and at times my harshest critics and my loudest cheerleaders as I both grew up and became an independent business woman.

Seven months ago I sat in a roomful of industry peers and sobbed into my hands as I laid out my fears of never getting to this day. While I’m a dreamer, I’ve also fiercely held to the notion of a life with a guaranteed paycheck and security in the form of benefits and a 401k. The idea of losing that idea of “safety” was not an idea that excited me, thrilled me or made me even anything remotely close to happy but yet, here I am. And guess what? As opposed to approaching this purposeful change with a fearful heart, I am more ready than ever to take a running leap off that cliff, come what may.

I certainly would never have arrived to this place without the support of many. There truly is a litany of close friends, mentors & family to whom I will forever owe my undying love and an endless supply of Sour Patch Kids. Believe me when I say I would not be here without you; you own real estate on my heart.

To my peers who challenge me, inspire me and just generally make me happy, I love you guys. I’m so blessed to call you friends. To all the aspiring photographers who send me emails daily, you have no idea how much your belief in my talent means to this girl who never thought this would be possible. Believe in your dreams and give every piece of yourself to your passion and I promise you this, amazing things will happen. And lastly to my tremendous clients – present and past - there really are no words for me to say other than thank you.

So, it is without further adieu that I sign-off to begin the 2011 wedding season and my first day as my own boss by boarding a plane bound for Alabama to photograph a gorgeous wedding for my very fabulous clients.

I can’t WAIT to share.

Almost 4 years ago, I watched two of my very best friends in the world walk down the aisle of a church that was so familiar and felt something similar to pride. Our small circle of friends with our many years of friendship, vacations and late night conversations had produced a kind of magic; something tangible and inherently valuable. Love. It began as a love born out of friendship but grew to something much more substantial and sustaining and the ability to witness and be an integral part of their journey was one of the more amazing things I’ve ever been priviledged to be a part of. However, photographing their tearful reunion in an airplane hangar on an Army base in Kentucky last month? Wins. Hands down.

This experience that I was granted access to…trust me when I say it moved me in a way I did not expect. No matter your thoughts on the war or the politics behind it, witnessing hundreds of soldiers, who have risked their lives every single day in an environment where the word hostile doesn’t even begin to cover it, return home to their families after being away for so long is enough to make even the harshest cynic wave a flag at these men & women. The wife who crumbled to the ground in tears upon seeing her husband with her children gathered in her arms made me love my own husband even more. Hearing a little boy on the shoulders of his dad, joyously yell out “mommy” repeatedly until he found his mother’s face brought me to tears. But most poignantly, observing my best friend’s entire being radiate love when she saw Matthew – to see her throw her hands out towards his marching body; you cannot witness these things and not be changed.

Matthew & Claire. I hope I did this experience justice for you. It was the most beautiful & honest moment I have ever photographed and it truly was an honor to be a part of.  Thank you for the sacrifices you have made as a couple and as individuals serving our country. I love you both more than words.

Click here to view Part One.

We’ve been the best of friends for a lifetime. Maybe not technically a lifetime (yet) but for more than fifteen of my 27 years, Claire has been my best friend in name and in spirit. From the day we met at her house, sitting across from each other at the kitchen table, our friendship just naturally fit. Through our most formative & influential years, our lives simply revolved around that same kitchen table in the very same house. It became the place we dumped our bags after a day of shopping, the center of the birthday parties we spent many hours planning, it housed many a family dinner, graduation cake and wedding shower and was basically command central for top secret discussions and planning sessions. The morning of each of our weddings, we sat together at that table for breakfast. The day before my parents moved across the country, we had dinner at that table. Almost every significant morning in my life, I remember sitting with her at that same table.

Enter Law School, the Army, multiple moves across state lines, a dog, a cat, two passions turned careers and many, many phone calls in between, I found myself sitting at that kitchen table. Yet another big day in our friendship was beginning over that table; the half of her heart that had been serving our country in Afghanistan for a year was on his way home and as I looked across the table at her, the significance of that day showed on her face. Her man was coming home.

(Part 2 to be blogged tomorrow!)

Happy Mother’s Day to the two strong, confident women who raised Matt and I to be the very best versions of ourselves. Throughout our lives, you have taught us to love freely, give generously and to search for the value in the little things in life and for two fiercely strong willed children-turned-adults, I am certain that was no small feat. We love you both to the moon and all the way back. Always will.

And, to my lady loves who are celebrating their very first, 5th or 10th Mother’s Day, I love you all. You are the reason that I believe in my ability to be a fabulous mom one day.