Melissa + AJ | Summer Wedding in Tacoma

On a sweltering day toward the end of another phenomenal Seattle summer, Melissa and AJ were wed in Tacoma. These two had a lovely, leisurely wedding morning, filled with photos around town. I was second-shooting for my friend, ex-Seattlite Kate McElwee, and we both really enjoyed having the extra time to take first-look pictures at the pier, group photos at the Museum of Glass, and other fun shots as we made our way back to the church for the mid-afternoon ceremony. Melissa was giddy, AJ was excited, and their joy and love for each other shone through it all. We all had a blast!

But before I get ahead of myself, let’s start at the beginning.

First things first: Melissa and the girls got ready in a beautiful room at the church, filled with warm light from leaded and stained glass windows.

I was pleasantly surprised how well-equipped the church was for bridal preparations. They’d set out a garment rack and a few beautiful antique mirrors that were enough to make anyone feel like a princess.

As Melissa was changing, the girls’ flowers were delivered to the bridal suite. Melissa’s bouquet of red (of course!) roses and stephanotis looked absolutely awesome with her wedding dress.

While Melissa finished her transformation into a bride, the boys had another agenda. Just one floor up, they were already ready to go, and spent their free time playing air hockey. Oh, to be a guy!

AJ and Melissa shared their first look on a Tacoma pier reminisce of the one where AJ popped the question. AJ looked out at the Sound while Melissa crept up behind him. They shared a quiet, emotional moment, alone except for their personal paparrazzi and a few curious fishermen.

The peace didn’t last long– the couple was quickly pounced upon by their exuberant wedding party, who had co-opted some of Tacoma’s finest into letting us use their squad car (and handcuffs) for a hilarious photo op. Melissa looks thrilled to be in handcuffs, doesn’t she? And I don’t know about you, but I’d love to see more burly police officers holding bouquets.

After Melissa and AJ were released, we made our way to the Tacoma Museum of Glass, stopping along the train tracks for a few portraits. We DID get chased off by a freight train, but not for long.

I love the rapt attention these two gave each other. It was so sweet!

The Museum of Glass has a billion great backdrops for portraits, including this nearby fire escape, which I’m pretty sure was meant to be off-limits.

The wedding party had their photos taken in the shade of the giant glass cone at the MOG, which I had never seen before. I was really impressed…both with the cone and by the gorgeous bridesmaids and smokin’ groomsmen. Red is a daring color, and they all managed to pull it off so well.

I love capturing photos of the moments in-between group poses. The little looks that happen when people relax, like the one below, are often some of the most wonderful shots of the day.

After portraits, we met the families in the park across the street from the church to start prepping for the ceremony. The boys got their bouts, and the flower girl and ring bearer were instructed one more time on how to walk down the aisle. I absolutely cannot believe how heart-breakingly cute this flower girl is, and I’m so happy that she became my friend as the night went on. I love kids of this age.

After the sermon, an emotional exchange of vows and tear-jerking rendition of Bless the Broken Road sung by family, AJ and Melissa were finally pronounced husband and wife… Hurray!!

The red-rose themed reception was held at Pioneer Park Pavilion in Puyallup (say that five times fast). Melissa told me that they were operating on a pretty strict budget, but put so much effort into the little details that the venue looked like a million bucks. With a big space like the Pavilion, that can be hard to do, so she gets my kudos!

Did I mention I love kids? This reception was filled with them. More than I’ve ever seen at a wedding, and some of the cutest, too!

Melissa and AJ made sure everyone, even the littlest, were having a good time. When they had their first dance, they were joined on the floor by my friend, the flower girl, and the dapper little ring bearer. No one minded one bit.

Don’t they look like a mini bride and groom?

The evening wouldn’t be complete without the bouquet and garter toss, both of which went off without a hitch save for one potentially embarrassing picture of the bouquet winner in mid-lunge. It was a great group of good-humored people, all smiles all around.

After that, there was nothing left to do but dance the night away. So we did… and the party didn’t quit until the day was long over.

Thank you, Melissa and AJ, for sharing your wedding with me. It’s the exuberance I feel around people like you that makes me love my job. And thanks, Kate, for letting me photograph alongside you. You rock my socks off!