~ Melissa and Freddie ~ MARRIED!

Everyone deserves to have a friend like Melissa.   She moved in down the street from me when she was 10 years old.   I instantly loved her and proclaimed her as my new best friend.   She didn't have a whole lot of say in the matter.  I think our first conversation went something like this. 

"Hi,  I'm Kelly, and you are the only other girl on this street so you're my new best friend, got it?"

I loved Melissa the way a toddler loves a stinky little blanket they drag around.  Oh yes,  she is going to love than analogy LOL.  But I can explain, she was my security,  my safe-place,  our friendship was effortless, and I drug her with me everywhere I went.   It didn't matter that she was 2 years younger, or that we were complete and utter opposites.  All that mattered was that I loved her and she loved me, and if I was going to Walgreens at 10:30 on a school night, she needed to get her ass out of bed and come with me. 

Over the years our families became very close.  Our Dads are best friends, our Moms are best friends, our Daughters are best friends.    

I know when you're raising little girls your supposed to teach them to avoid using words like "best friends" because it might send some other little girl crying across the room.   But dude, this girl is my best friend. 

She let me have it over my last post when I was whining about "always wanting a sister" after all, I'm  positive that we are either blood-sisters, spit sisters, or both.   If you grew up in the 80's, you know what each of those disgusting ceremonies entail.  :)

Melissa's Dad had a terrible stroke about 9 years ago.  He wasn't able to walk her down the aisle, but he waited for her at the end of it, and the expression on his face made me completely lose it.   I still get choked up just looking at the pictures. 

 

Melissa asked me to be a bridesmaid in her wedding.  But after some begging and pleading,  she let me trade in my bridesmaid dress for a camera.  Sure, there are plenty of other wonderful photographers in this area who could have captured her wedding beautifully.  But you see, Melissa has  the worst luck on the planet, and if something's going to go wrong, it's going to be to her.  I didn't want anyone else steering the ship on her wedding day but me, and I promise, she liked it that way. 

Besides, she already had a whole team of beautiful ladies to support her.  After all, a girl can have more than one best friend, and these ladies have been such a beautiful support system for her over the years.  I know many of them worked very hard to make her wedding day flawless, and they all love her just as much as I do. 

I have no idea what these shenanigans are...I was in charge of the girls, LOL

I love you Melissa Ann, Lyss, Missy, Lil Sis, and I love Freddie too.   I love your friends and family and I love how much they love you.  No one deserves happiness more than you and our friendship always makes me smile.  Your wedding day was perfect,  just like you deserved.  

My whole family got to hang out and enjoy the festivities as well :) 

And now,  turn your speakers up for the slideshow :)

~ Luci and Libby Lu ~

When I was growing up I begged, and begged my mom to give me a sister.   I had a brother,  who was my best friend, but I always wanted to know what it was like to have a sister.   I was jealous of girls who had sisters,  I had best friends,  who at time felt like sisters.   But I always longed for that bond of a real sister.   Now, I have 2 little girls.  And to get to view sisters from this point of view takes my breath away. 

They love each other so much.  They hug, and kiss, and sleep together.  They call each other "Sissy" and always like to be together.   I'm trying to relish in the moment because I know in the blink of an eye they will be throwing bottles of hair spray at each other, slamming doors,  and call me the B word under their breath.  But right now they are perfect, and I really wanted to capture how much they love each other.

Taking photos of your own kids is always a challenge, and exhausting.   But I gave it a whirl.   Anytime Libby Lu actually noticed I was trying to take her picture she would make the ugliest face she possibly could and make this noise like a donkey was dying. 

And at this point in Luci's life it's almost impossible to capture a natural photo of her,  if she sees a camera she will not stop posing.   Then she wants to see the photo, critique it, and have you re-take it with her suggestions. She's just a little bit bossy.   I have no idea where she gets that. 

Oh and then there were the skirts.   100 yards of fabric each sounded fabulous on the website.  The bigger the better right?  But these things were heavy.  They were usually holding hands when I had them run or twirl,  and if one went down they both went down.   Luckily they were easy to find.   Trying to pull them out of the weeds in those skirts reminded me of those rescues you see on television when a horse gets stuck in a mud pit.

But somewhere in between all the ridiculous out-takes.   I did manage to get some decent pictures of these two.  They are as different as night and day,  but they are sisters and they love each other. 

My favorite :)

~ Mindy and Mike ~

I've known Mindy since we were shakin' our butts together on the Granite City Pom squad.   She was a couple years older than me and I always looked up to her.  She was a cool senior with great hair, boobs, and a boyfriend.   I was a freshman with braces, bad hair,  and a training bra.   It's almost tradition on that squad that the Freshman live vicariously through the Seniors and I certainly did that through Mindy. 

I was really excited when Mindy asked me to shoot her wedding.   I've gotten to know her and Mike,  through their beautiful daughter Natalie (above) I shot their Maternity photos last year.   I loved seeing their family and children blend together as one.  They were married at the Larimore plantation, and despite the crazy wet weather we've had lately,  it was beautiful for them. 

Big sister, little sister,  makes my heart swell. 

 

 

Whoever said socks and sandals are a fashion faux pas clearly didn't know these girls. 

Happy wedding day Mindy and Mike.  Thank you for letting me be a part of it.  If you didn't get enough of their photos in this blogpost,  check out their slideshow below.