waterstone weddings » JENN STARK PHOTOGRAPHERS

We drove up to the house in the middle of the countryside, ready and excited to be a part of this couple’s wedding day. Dave turned off the ignition of our little red car and as we got our camera gear organized that Saturday morning in Melinda’s parents’ driveway, the lovely bride-to-be herself came practically skipping out the front door, the hugest smile on her face, and a hug for both of us. It was seriously so so sweet and it made me feel all warm inside seeing the pure joy in this bride’s face on the morning of her wedding day. I don’t think she could have been any more excited. Her smile was matched only by Matt’s when he finally saw her walking down the aisle towards him at their beautiful outdoor ceremony a little later that day.

Matt and Melinda’s wedding instigated a little bit of a family homecoming at Melinda’s parents’ house, which is something I absolutely love about weddings (maybe one of my favourite things). Melinda has three sisters who were all her bridesmaids, and I could tell how special it was for her parents to have all their girls together again under their one roof. It was so cute to see the girls helping dad out with his suspenders, and to find a list drawn up on the kitchen table tallying up everyone’s guesses as to how many bobby pins each of the girls had holding their hair up (…still wondering who won and what the prize was girls?!). Dave spent his time before the ceremony with Matt, his groomsmen, and Matt’s wonderful family who we’ve had the pleasure of working with before at Matt’s sister’s wedding last year…Jen & Andrew are ace and we love keeping up with them, and it was extra special to walk into the ceremony and have Matt’s grandparents recognize me and say hi : )

Melinda and Matt were married at what was once an old hunting lodge, under a gazebo out back overlooking rolling hills on a gorgeously sunny and warm day. Everything about the day was gorgeous – Melinda’s dress with her stunning green shoes, the green and white bouquets, all different black bridesmaids dresses (loved those), the sunlight streaming in sideways through the reception hall as we ate dinner and listened to hilarious and heart warming speeches, that wonderful dessert…… but nothing was as gorgeous as the way they just beamed at each other. All.day.long. I can’t say it enough, but this job kind of rocks (just sayin). Melinda and Matt are prime examples of why.

M&M: We love you guys! Congrats on a gorgeous wedding day! I can’t tell you how glad we are that we did the photos at Jen and Andrew’s wedding; that they liked us enough to recommended us to you; that you liked us enough to have us at your wedding; and that we were given the chance to get to know what great people you are. Drinks anytime. We need to hear about France! That, of course, and how many bobby pins were in Melinda’s hair.

- Jenn xx