I have been looking forward to Garrett and Melissa’s wedding day for almost a year! Throughout the last year, Melissa and I have connected and grown close. We have so many things in common, from being #bossbabes running our own businesses to being parts of the adoption world and so many things in between. Together the two are so sweet and caring, I think they would literally lend out their home to someone in need!

We’ve gotten to know each other through several sit down meetings that last all too long because we get side tracked talking about mom life and creating new inventions! We also hung out on the coldest day in history to shoot their engagement session and let me tell you that their son Silas wanted nothing to do with me or the cold weather that day! If you never got a chance to see their engagement session, I blogged about it here.

As if I didn’t cry enough during their sentimental wedding ceremony, I am now crying all over again reading the story of how Garrett proposed! I won’t do it any justice telling the full story here, but if you’re interested it’s on their wedding site. I am blown away by how thoughtful Garrett is and how he would go to the ends of the earth to take care of Melissa and Silas. I am not surprised at all that he knew the perfect moment to propose so that Melissa’s Grandmother could still be a part of how their love story begins. Oh, here come more tears…let me keep pushing through!

Melissa told me that her favorite part of the wedding was the lock and key they did during the ceremony, but I just can’t agree. My personal favorite part of their wedding day was their first look. Now let me explain: right before shooting the first look, I gave Garrett a letter that Melissa wrote for him. Knowing Melissa the way I do I think she tried to be a bit sentimental and romantic in that letter, but it didn’t hit Garrett at all! No tears, not even close, and when he finished reading he started cracking jokes with me. (Rude!) But things changed when he first laid eyes on Missy! He quietly turned read and I wasn’t close enough to see for certain, but I know that there were tears involved! You could see this wave of peace and joy wash over those two in that very moment, and I am telling you that’s what I love about my job. I am witness to moments that no one else gets to see and I hold value in those moments because that’s where I see what these marriages will truly be made of. Their love is deep and pure. I completely agree with the best man Ryan when he described their love as a coal. It’s not the wild, and out of control flame that can easily be put out. It’s the coal that stores the flame, and lets it burn quietly deep down in its core. That’s the love that lasts a lifetime.

Oh, I really let my hopeless romantic side get ahead of me on this one, didn’t I? Don’t hold it against me, I can’t help myself! You’ll find me watching Nicholas Sparks movies and “Say Yes to the Dress” for the rest of the day. Don’t forget to find all of their vendor information at the bottom, because they chose some outstanding people to work with!

I have to pause to tell this story, because Melissa’s Mom really freaked her out by making sure this lady bug was buried deeper into the lace and tulle of the dress! I so hope her Mama is right when she said that a lady bug on the wedding day is good luck. These two deserve all the luck the universe can offer! 

I have to pause again because you’re about to see photos of the best first dance I’ve ever seen! This will definitely win an award at the end of 2018 unless my other couples really step up their game! Photos don’t do their dancing skills any justice, contact them and ask to see the video! 

VENDOR INFORMATION

CAKE // Storm Lake Bakery

DJ // Miller Entertainment

GOWN // Nebraska Bridal

TUX // Rust’s Western Shed

CATERING // Carol’s Catering