Melissa Oholendt | Minnesota Wedding & Lifestyle Photography

I made a mushroom (out of latte foam). I perused the new J.Crew Style Guide like a first year law student; dog-earring, highlighting and circling the good stuff. And it was all good stuff. Our art wall in the Melissa Oholendt Photography client meeting space (aka, the Oho Family Room) is finally complete. Photos are coming soon! I attended the Minne-O-polis cabaret show put on by my dear & crazy talented friend Oron Stenesh and laughed until I cried. Literally. (There’s one more show next week! Go see it!) I dragged the husband power-shopping and, while I am sure he hated every moment of it, he now can rock the gingham like nobody’s business. I photographed a gorgeous couple on a hot, steamy night but it was so worth it. Things you didn’t see? Me, in my office, in my PJ’s, every day, editing photos like a mofo. You are welcome for not photographing that.

Oh Instagram, I love you.

In the short 4 months I’ve known this family, I’ve watched them transition from excited and nervous soon-to-be parents into professional baby soothers, swaddlers and smooch-givers and I’ve come to realize something. The transition from married couple to pregnant couple to an “oh, hey, we made a baby” family is paved with joy, anxiety, hilarity, pain and heart-swelling happiness and as a lifestyle photographer, there is no greater honor than to not only be allowed to witness all of those things but to also be tasked with documenting this transition. Add in a couple like Kelly & Greg who have welcomed me into their lives with all the warmth & generosity than I could ever dream of and I pretty much fall all over myself in love with them.

Kelly, Greg, Quinn & Riley. I truly thank God for bringing you into my life. Getting to know you both as a couple pre-Quinn was beautiful but getting to see you both as parents to Quinn is just stunning. I can’t wait to get to know you both more and to get the boys (and by the “boys” I clearly mean the dogs) together to romp around. Much love to you Bollinger Family. xo

I photographed a beautiful wedding on a boat and wanted to live and breathe the anchor carpet. (Yes, I just said I wanted to breathe carpet. Someone please give me a nautical intervention.) I snuggled with the pup. I – somehow – managed to plan, DIY and (with a LOT of help) execute the most wonderful dinner party on a rooftop with some of our closest friends in honor of Matt’s 30th birthday. I am now taking RSVPs for his 60th birthday which will be the next time I throw a party. I put a striped shirt on Gunnar. That photo did not make the cut. My office showed the effects of wedding season. (And if I am being truthful, so does the rest of my house but the 3 loads of laundry that are sitting on my dining room table don’t exactly make pretty photos. #realife) I wore polka dots. Shocking, I know. I reveled in the fact that every week of this summer has been better than the week before. And that is a huge blessing.

Oh Instagram, I love you.

(Insert resounding, sad sounding “wah-wah” for the fact that Instagram Thursday is Instagram Friday. Again. Now moving on.)

Matty-Pants turned the big 3-0 on Monday. Yeayah. I wore bracelets. MN Bride Magazine hosted their Annual Best-Of Industry Party and between my amazing new friends and my incredible old friends, I was reminded how much I adore the people I get to surround myself with and how much talent there is within this industry. Way to go all of you. I counteracted a bad day with anchor prints and spike bracelets. And pink lipstick. I ate sushi. I made besties with both the Fed-Ex and UPS deliver men this week (and managed to be fully dressed every time they stopped by; you’re welcome). I crashed a man date and then regretted it after that included the movie Ted. Gunnar exuded cuteness and badness. All at the same time. All week long.

To find me on Instagram, search for “melissaoholendt“. I would love to connect!

Amy first wrote to me about J.Crew cardigans and our shared love of fonts and I knew I was smitten. We bonded via email over restraining orders, the use of film and dogs (specifically our own) and when we met over wine (at – our – favorite wine bar ever, duh) I knew I had met a kindred spirit. We set forth planning their session with a couple solid ideas in mind; the biggest and most important one being that she wanted a true representation of their family and how they were, right then and there in this moment in life. And could we do that via film. With neon, polka dots and watermelon colored nails. Hello dream client.

Polinske Family. I LOVE YOU. If I were to have to explain what my please-Lord-let-me-have-clients-one-day-who-will-let-me-take-photos-like-this session would look like? It would be yours. Hands down. Visiting your favorite spots, eating ice cream, playground playing and really just capturing your family in a natural, easy way? Best ever. I love you for giving me that but also for so much more. For just being who you are and being the representation of the family that I want to be one day. Happy, neon-wearing, easy-going, polka-dots, crazy about ice cream and equally crazy in love with your dog. Thank you for letting me see that. xo

Oh my sweet.

Today you turn 30 which means we have known each other for almost 14 years. FOURTEEN YEARS MATT OHOLENDT. In these 14 years I have watched you go from a bleach-blonde, 16 year old, zip-off cargo pants & t-shirt wearing high school hottie to the natural-brown, J.Crew slim-fit shorts and hipster glasses wearing, even-hotter-than-you-were-in-high-school love of my whole life you are today. Words don’t even cover how proud I am to be your wife.

So today, on this momentous day in the Oho House, we will be celebrating you for the amazing husband, hard worker and best dog-dad EVER that you are.

I love you so much.

And you are old.

Hugs and Love.

Gunnar turned 5 this week. There were Stars and Stripes (and polka dots). I finally hung the art that has been patiently waiting for me to get my act together for weeks (months). HOT HOT HOT July days. I met a new friend for artful craft cocktails at Eat Street Social (did you expect anything less?). Family Dinner. I read THIS article and got a much needed slap in the face. Note to self: work to live, not the other way around. Matt and I had a good day and have the plates to prove it. Celebrated this girl’s birthday and Had a no-wedding-Saturday and brunch with my ladies, Kate & Faith. I folded approximately 1,001 loads of laundry. Bachelorette & Prom Dresses. (Trust me, you don’t want to know.)

Come! Follow me on Instagram! Search for “melissaoholendt“. I would love to connect!

Annie’s breath caught in her throat and her eyes welled up with tears. She was less than 20 steps from seeing the man of her dreams for the first time on their Wedding Day and the emotions of that reality had just overwhelmed her thoughts and her body. Her hands trembled as they held her bouquet tightly to her body but she steadied herself and took one step forward. Two more steps out into the open and she stopped breathing completely when she caught sight of him. There Nate stood with his back to her; strong, handsome and shaking just ever so slightly. She couldn’t see his face yet but she was certain that it mirrored the thoughts that were running through her mind, “We’re getting married. This is happening. This is really happening.” She took a deep breath and took a step forward; another deep breath and another step. One more breath, one more step but then she stopped short. Annie was just five short strides away from Nate but she couldn’t will her body to move; she was paralyzed by the gravity of the day, the desire to see his face and longed for the strength his presence would provide if she could only see his face. It was as if Nate could hear her thoughts and read her mind; without prompting, he slowly turned towards her with a smile that could not have been brighter and spoke to everything they were feeling. Together. And just like that, she was strong again. Annie & Nate closed the space between them and met each other in the middle with open arms and as she had thought, she saw in his face the emotions that just seconds ago had stopped her in her tracks. This day had finally arrived. She was finally his. 

Annie & Nate. I cried pretty much through your entire Wedding Day. Certainly not out of sadness but because two people I loved whole-heartedly and dearly were truly following God’s calling in their lives and dedicating their future in His hands. There is nothing more beautiful than that. I love you both for your kindness, the laughter we create together and even more so for your hearts that you share with God, each other and all of your family & friends; I could not be more privileged to be a part of that group. Love, love, love you.

Ceremony & Reception Location: American Swedish Institute
Getting Ready Location: Hilton Minneapolis
Bride’s & Bridesmaids Dresses: J.Crew
Bride’s & Bridesmaid’s Hair: Salon Intrigue (Natalie Pinault & Angie)
Groom’s Suit: Jos A. Banks
Groom’s Vintage Tie: Styled Life
Floral: Bachmans
Invitation Suite: William Arthur for Wedding Paper Divas
Catering: Common Roots
Wedding Cake & Groom’s Cake: Buttercream
Traditional Kransekake Cake: Karen Petersen
Macarons: Cocoa & Fig

Sparkly thanks to Monika Hubka & Kristen Toth for assisting me with this fabulous wedding!