Danielle & Ed | Metropolitan at the 9 Wedding

I'll never forget meeting Danielle and Ed and thinking, "OK, I want to work with this couple." Besides being fun and funny and personable and kind, they are just good people and you understand that the minute you meet them.

Danielle and Ed's wedding was such an awesome reflection of them. It was full of all these great moments. Simple, touching, hilarious. The entire day was such a great tribute to them and the people they love. Some of the most notable moments of their fall wedding day include:

• Danielle's parents opening their gifts from their daughter. Danielle and her sister and parents are so close and have such a beautiful relationship. It was so fun to watch them all support each other and laugh and cry together all day.
• All the thoughtful ways Danielle included her grandparents in her day, including wearing her late grandma's bracelet and doing a special dance with her grandpa at her reception.
• Watching how much respect Ed's family and friends have for him. Not surprising because that guy is pretty cool. ;)
• Ed's varied emotions as Danielle walked down the aisle. Their's was the sweetest "first look" I've ever photographed.
• The wedding party being champs about taking photos in a wind storm! We actually lucked out with the weather as it called for rain all afternoon, so I'll take that wind thankyouverymuch.
• Danielle's dad's touching toast to his little girl. I'm telling you. This family.
• Ed's brother gifting the newlyweds with a pumpkin during his toast. Hilarious.
• Ed serenading his new wife with Home. :)
• And … drumroll, please … Ed and his dad serenading the entire crowd with their harmonica skills. That family is talented!

Danielle and Ed, I can't thank you enough for all your kindness and generosity over the last year-and-a-half. It was SO FUN to photograph your wedding day, and it just made me adore you two even more. Hugs!

Ceremony: St. Dominic
Reception: The Metropolitan at the 9
Videographer: Infocus Studios
Florist: Life in Bloom
Cake: Michael Angelo's
Band: The Avenue
Makeup Artist: Lisa Adams
Hair Stylist: Monica Colagiovanni
Bride's Dress: Allure
Bride's Shoes: Badgley Mischka
Bridesmaids' Dresses: Bill Levkoff
Honeymoon: Maui!

Melissa & Derek | Downtown Cleveland Engagement

Downtown Cleveland is so underrated. I love the energy happening downtown these days, the vibrant restaurants, the architecture. I mean, come on, that shot up there doesn't look like your typical Cleveland, right? Well, it is. It's Cleveland, and I love it.

I'm always excited when a couple suggests the city for an engagement session and Melissa and Derek were committed to it. We traveled all around to get some of their favorite spots, and they were such sports the whole time. Enjoy my favorites of this lovely couple!

Love that Tower City shot ...

We seriously had the most beautiful day for this shoot!

To see more from Melissa and Derek's downtown Cleveland engagement session, click here to view a SLIDESHOW or watch it here:

Melissa & Will | Urban Art Deco Cleveland Wedding

They met nearly 20 years ago at band camp. But not in an American Pie kind of way. Melissa and Will were attending a camp for gifted musicians when they struck up a friendship.

Once camp ended, they kept in touch sending letters back and forth. Because they were teenagers and not from the same town, those letters were important to their friendship, and possibly a budding romance.

Years went by, the letters slowed and Melissa and Will went their separate ways as often happens, but I think both would agree that they never forgot the letters ... or each other.

Then, not too long ago, Will found Melissa on Facebook, and they struck the same chord they had all those years ago at band camp. The rest is history.

On April 6, in a unique and colorful ceremony that was so perfectly them, Melissa and Will tied the knot in front of their closest family and friends. Theirs is like a story from a movie ... one that seems too good to happen in real life. The last picture in this blog post is my favorite because it's like the last frame in a feel-good chick flick: At the end of their wedding, on the paper tablecloth of their sweetheart table written in crayon was "M&W 4 eva."

Melissa and Will collected all this china from His and Hers Auctions to create a mismatched Mad Hatter tea party feel. Between that, the Art Deco touches and the amazingly artsy, urban 78th Street Studios venue, I was in my happy place.

Really, I could gush all day about 78th Street Studios and the amazing Hilary Gent who helped orchestrate the day.

Loved Melissa's gold dress.

Will is a talented graphic designer, and he put together all the invitations.

Melissa and Will planned a cocktail party BEFORE their ceremony ...

... and did their first look in front of their guests. Will's jaw literally dropped when he saw his bride ...

Melissa had Will's mom as her "Mom of Honor" and Will had Melissa's mom as his "Best Mom." Love it!

You guys clean up well. ;)

So much love to you both!

To see more from Melissa and Will's artsy and urban wedding, click here to view a SLIDESHOW or watch it here:

Ceremony/Reception: 78th Street Studios Planner: Hilary Gent Caterer: Marigold Catering Bouquet: Hilary Gent Hair and Makeup: Zen Metro Spa Bakery: A Cookie and a Cupcake DJ: Packy Malley Bride's Dress: Sue Wong Tux: Vera Wang Paper Goods: Designed by Will: Pixel Thought Foundry China: His and Hers Auctions

Melissa & Will | Urban Art Deco Cleveland Wedding Sneak Peek

This is the thing I love about this job: I can go from a rustic country wedding one weekend to an urban Art Deco wedding the next. There's never a dull moment, and it keeps the creative juices flowing! :) Melissa and Will's wedding was a reflection of them: artsy, unfussy and warm. They thought of every, little thing while keeping it casual at the same time. They wanted their guests to have fun. I like it all! Enjoy a few of my favorites while I get to working on a full blog post for next week!