After Jim had asked me to marry him, we sat down to first, decide on a location and we easily agreed on an outdoor wedding in the evening.  The place of the ceremony was an outdoor theatre park.  There is a gazebo next to the stage, which was the perfect place to exchange our vows.

I fell in love with the first dress I tried on and it started to set the theme in my mind from there.  Jim chose to wear a khaki suit instead of brown like the groomsmen were wearing, which set us apart from the wedding party nicely.  The girls wore sage green dresses that were slightly below the knee.  We wanted a classic look, but not formal.  We wanted to use natural colors and then brighten it up with splashes of color everywhere.

Originally, I wasn’t going to wear a veil, just something small in my hair.  But, after choosing my dress, the car we drove, and our location, I decided that I wanted a vintage look and I wanted a birdcage veil to complete that look.  I searched all over the Internet and then found Dorene.  I sent her a picture of my dress and described the look I was going for and she completely blew me away.  The way she can take an idea from an individual and create something so easily and be so unique with it is just a wonderful gift, and she definitely has it!  Once my veil had arrived and I opened it I was speechless – it was absolutely gorgeous and exactly what I had envisioned and more!

After having my hair and makeup done I was putting on my veil to meet Jim for pictures.  I pinned the front up so it rested just above my eyes, about even with my forehead.  Then, while slipping into my dress, I was thinking about the fact that I get to marry my best friend that day.  The feelings that I had were indescribable!    We went to meet Jim by the Missouri River.  I saw Jim, standing by the 1949 Chrysler Windsor Coupe that his grandpa had restored while he was alive and I got goose bumps!  I got out of the car and starting walking towards him, who was faced in the opposite direction.  I was so nervous and excited at the same time.  Jim, being the character that he is, heard me coming and yelled out “Marco”.  Instantly my nerves were gone and laughing, I replied “Polo” to my hubby to be.

Jim on seeing Melissa:  I was nervous while I was waiting there, and I knew that Melissa was too.  I was excited to see how she looked and I could hear her walking towards me.  I just decided to yell “Marco” to her to make her laugh and calm her nerves.  The first thing that crossed my mind when I saw her was WOW – she looked amazing!  The dress was gorgeous on her and the veil fit her personality perfectly.  I just kept kissing her over and over, a lot of our pictures are of us kissing, but I couldn’t help it!

Shawna Noel Photography was our photographer (www.shawnanoel.com) and they did a fabulous job!  Shawna found such creative ways to capture not only the vintage details, but also our fun personalities and most importantly the love between us.  We wanted pictures that were different and ones that would set an image into a memory when you looked at them.  Shawna and Cory both did just that with our photos.

Jim and I both have a huge sense of humor, which we wanted to incorporate into the wedding, which we did throughout, including our vows.  We wanted our vows to be unique to our love and personality, and in them I vowed to love Jim in tough times, even when Detroit loses, and he vowed to love me, even when I buy too many shoes.  For the ceremony, I wore my veil down to the tip of my nose, just perfect for our first kiss as husband and wife!

Jim on the vows:  The vows fit us perfectly.  I couldn’t have picked better ones to have for us.  We showed our love for one another, but at the same time, we showed our joking personalities as well.

Before going to the reception, we made a quick stop at Our Place Tavern, where we first met and also where I bartend on weekends.  It was only fitting to stop and serve my new husband his first drink of the night!  At the dance, I took my veil and pinned it behind the flower and feathers and created an entirely different look!  I received so many compliments on my veil and how different, unique, and beautiful it was.  It certainly made me feel beautiful and I knew that it completed the look I had wanted.  Thank you Dorene, you were wonderful!

Thank you Melissa & Jim for sharing your special day. www.shawnanoel.com Melissa and Jim's photographer   Dorene

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