I’m writing this blog post with a little tear in my eye (ok not really, but in my mind have a tear in my eye)… I’m blogging my last wedding of the year. Each year, I go through the wedding season and think “So much to do! So much to edit! So many weddings to photograph and get to clients ASAP!” – Photographers, can you relate??! – but in reality, at the end of the year and when wedding season winds down, I am bummed. I *LOVE* working with my clients and photographing their gorgeous days. So this blog post is long – and there are a TON of photos – but for good reasons. After all, it’s the last post of the year so it better be good!

Michelle and Adam were married on a chilly, but beautiful, November day. Overcast skies may be my new favorite to photograph. Even though I don’t get those amazing back-lit photos, the colors are just stunning 😍 This day was no different. We started our day at Michelle’s family home in Naperville, Illinois. After getting ready (and Michelle stepping in to her drop-dead-gorgeous dress – see below for the proof!), we headed to their ceremony at St. Elizabeth Seton Catholic Church nearby. I love the emotion that came with their ceremony. The looks they give each other are my favorite. They’re the looks that we all give our husbands (and wives) when we love them more than words can explain. And the tears in Adam’s eye when Michelle walked down the aisle were just perfect. After their ceremony, we went to a local dog park (yes, dog park, lol) and everyone humored me by posing for the group and bridal shots of the day. We celebrated into the night at Mesón Sabika near downtown Naperville, where the speeches had everyone in stitches, and the group danced their hearts out to everything from Frank Sinatra to Backstreet Boys.

Michelle and Adam – I loved everything about your day. You both have hearts of gold and I’m so honored you chose me as your wedding photographer. Cheers to a life filled with as much love and happiness as you had on your wedding day. Xo – Melanie