We were invited to witness this union, a marriage of soul mates, and we are oh-so-thankful. The fact that Lee and Melinda were able to nurture their relationship, and are legally able to wed in ANY of the 50 states now ’cause LOVE WINS! while having their family and friends join in the celebration, connection and love… it was all just so emotional and beautiful. Their wedding day was one of the most authentic, intimate, grounded and joyful days we’ve been able to photograph.
Some of the highlights included: soul-mate theme at the venue Sole Repair, the (gorgeous) custom designed suits made while pre-wedding-honeymooning in Thailand including matching details for the ring-bearer and his dad, the fathers’ of the brides, DELICIOUS and FUN folks from Bake My Day (thanks, Wilmer!), beautiful food from Feed Co. Catering, a time-out espresso/photo shoot at Caffe Vita, non-stop dancing compliments of Magnolia Rhapsody and impeccable coordination and fun from Katie of Sprinkled in Seattle. What a great team to be a part of, seriously, we could go on… though the manner in which Mel + Lee share their story is far better than I can encapsulate in a mere paragraph. Copy. Paste. Scroll. Enjoy.
Lee: We met in the fine heartland of Hart, MI. We both attended the Michigan Womyn’s Music Festival and were introduced by our friend Marla. We both lived in Chicago where our lives intertwined frequently and we developed a friendship over the years. An overall similar viewpoint on life, like- minded values, and an easy-going approach to keeping a balance, all were reasons we stuck together. One night at a mutual friend’s house, we had a momentous conversation over a bonfire and spilled some of our deepest thoughts. We bridged the gap between our friendship and the love that united us through never-ending conversations. This was fueled by a secret-a-day shared between us, as we kept diving deeper into each other’s souls. The proof of our love is shown in our laughter together and our ability to breeze through tough decisions with grace and an utmost understanding of each other. As a couple who has been deeply troubled by the struggles across the Nation with having same sex-marriage approved, we’re so excited to now be able to take this step in our life-long journey together.
Melinda: I can clearly remember the moment I met Lee in 2010. I was waiting for a concert to start and a mutual friend introduced us. My first thought was “dang she is cute”. Even to this day whenever I see Lee on the street, catch a simple glance or come home to her …. My first thought is still… “dang she is cute”. However, now I also think “how did I get this lucky?”
Lee: Everything stemmed from that bonfire where we knew the next day that we had shared more with each other than we typically share with anyone else. The signs just kept multiplying and our first few dates we talked for hours. It was the longing to see her again, just moments after she left the room. It was the first kiss. It is the way I have a desire to look deep in her eyes. For me, the “ah-ha” moment was when I saw a hypnotist, which helped me trace a path to a previous life and she was my best friend there. I was able to “see” her values and how those are what I love so much about her. The visions I had I still see in her today, her power, depth of knowledge (especially about how life works), her ability to move people, her passion for everything that she believes in. This experience helped me to come to the realization that Melinda is my soul mate and someone who I will forever be connected to.
Melinda: The first time we had planned one-on-one time was the moment I knew my life was changed forever. We met for coffee where we talked for 4 hours straight without coming up for air. Lee showed me a vulnerable side of herself and I felt the overwhelming urge to hug her and never let go. Although I had known Lee for years, I never had the opportunity to look deep into her eyes. During this 4 hour talk, I couldn’t help but stare into her beautiful brown eyes and felt like I was able to see deep into her soul. After that day I did everything in my power to get her to look at me. I yearned for her to understand – without words – that this type of connection we had was truly rare.
