Mr & Mrs Stefan- October 5, 2009

Holly and Cosmin got married this past chilly October 5th, in Ankeny, Iowa, and it couldn't have been any more simple and elegant than what their day was. Talk about a laid-back bride, add a totally relaxed groom equals a very delightful day! The day started out different than most weddings do. With both the bride, groom and all the wedding party getting ready in the same house was a bit of an overload, yet super easy to keep up since Flo and I share our camera.
The Capital was awaiting us for a very fast 45 minute time frame to capture the beautiful couple and wedding party overlooking downtown. After the challenge was given to me to keep up with a very hyper groomsman(no names but it starts with a P and ends with an L) hahaha, we had gotten what we came for and off to the ceremony/ reception hall we went.
The dim candle lights gave the feel for what the rest of the night would be like. Brian, Holly's brother -in-law which is a pastor lead a short, sweet and to the point message and ended the 10 minute service with a prayer. Awaiting everyone, was really good food and the best appetizers I had ever eaten. With the vows exchanged, food served, cake fight won, and the "formal" wedding shots snapped, the party had moved to a limo bus and downtown was once again waiting. The night was passing by and after all was said and done, it was time to wrap it up let them get to their after party and for us to pick up our mothers from the hotel who stayed with Alyssa and Abel, and hit the long 5 hour drive back home.
We want to thank Holly and Cosmin for allowing us to be a part of yet another wonderful experience of two people in love that have made a promise to God and themselves to love, honor, respect and spend the rest of their lives together with their adorable little princess Lilly. May God bless your marriage with His guidance and everlasting love. We love you guys and Congratulations. (Happy almost 1 month Anniversary!)

Holly & Cosmin Engagement Session 9*14*09

Holly & Cosmin

What a day we spent with this couple. We decided to take them to the Japanese Stroll Garden where Flo and I had our "love story" captured on DVD. The captivating scenery plays through-out my mind and I thought it was a perfect place for this couple. On top of them feeling so right for each other, they are the perfect example of "opposites attract". Holly is a very sweet, gentle and quite young women. You can see the love between them especially the way her face lights up when she looks at Cosmin. And talking about him, he is such a character that even if you wanted, you couldn't be bored around him. He is a very hyper and kind hearted fellow that has an awesome talent from God of playing piano. They are a young and beautiful couple that have decided to start their lives together with their adorable daughter Lilly on October 3rd of 2009.

Who, What, When, Where & WHY... Seems to be the questions....

*PICTURE TAKEN BY SILICA POLOCOSER


Who, What, When, Where & WHY... Seems to be the questions....
I will start off by answering question's many have asked me and question's many want to ask me but are too afraid to ask. Who, What, When, Where, and WHY (seems to be the questions on people's mind.) Melissa Melen Photography?.... Melissa and Photography?

Okay, the who and what part I hope you've established... It's Me Melissa and photography. Now to get to the more juicy questions, I will answer the "when, where and why" all together so I won't write a book (once I start its hard to get me to shush up)..... So here it goes, its real quiet simple, just pay attention.

As most of you all know that before my wonderful children God has blessed Flo and I with, (Abel and Alyssa) I was a Massage Therapist and went to school for it at SOMA here in Springfield, and also Business at OTC (which I never finished, but it's on my list of things to do). Well, about 2 years ago as a hobby, I was taking pictures and my husband said to me honey, you should be doing this full time. Not putting much thought into it or paying any attention to it on the moment, I laughed and was like "okay". But let me tell you that what the word of God says about the power of the tongue. Proverbs 18:21 (NIV) says "The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit." In this case, the power of the tongue has changed my life forever in the sense of the words Flo spoke and those words sitting in the back of my mind molding my every thought every time I picked up the camera. So I began to pray about all of this 2 years ago and said Lord, your will be done. It's not like it was in my every prayer because I didn't think I could every afford such expensive equipment or even pursue something like this. Basically, my mind was not letting me comprehend what God was allowing and how he would open doors for me. So it was my "whenever I remembered kinda prayer". Well, a year had passed, then last year came along and that thought was really piercing my mind and it was like static... you know it's there, everything klings to you and its annoying if you don't do anything about it. Other than that static spray... spray it on and its gone lol well instead of spraying I really got to praying, fasting and doing my homework on what camera what lens and all that good stuff I should invest in. (by the way CANON, no other can bring it.. :)) And it was not until December of 2008, that Flo was telling me, honey just get it, just go for it. He was the "push" I needed to just jump right in. But that still wasn't enough for me, I was waiting for a "sign" like Lord if this is really from you I need to know 100% cause I know for sure it's what I want but I don't want to go at it alone. I need to know this is what I should be doing with Florin and we don't ever what to think we know it all and proceed and it fail (that's what happens when you start something without the Lord and we weren't about to be that couple with that failed business). So a few extra months passed and it was April 2009. My homework was done, I knew exactly what I wanted and I had gotten my "green light" from God so we went ahead on April 20th (the exact day we had our closing for the house we purchased) and got my beautiful, shiny Canon! So here we are today October 2009 and going strong with our God.

I share my story with you all because I want to encourage you to pray, fast and read the word of God and take your time with any decision you want to make in life and then decide. Proverbs 21:5 (NIV) says, "The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty." Even with all this said, intelligence, talent and skills are not enough without diligence. So don't be hasty, in moving quickly without planning anything, cause it won't work out. Take your time dwell on it in prayer and wait on God to give you the green light. That's what we did and here we are in the hands of God with this beautiful, flourishing business; Melissa Melen Photography.

Mr & Mrs Nica- August 23, 2009

Where do I start with this wedding....I would like to start by thanking my dear friend Ana-Maria (aka Mia) and her husband Mike for intrusting Flo and I to be part of their wedding in such a trustworthy and intimate way by capturing their once in a life time moment through photography. Not only was Mia a long time friend but we grew up together and it was like I was at my own sister's wedding. I want to point out that their wedding was our very first "professional gig" and that we were honored to be a part of it in this way.Let me tell you a little about the couple. They complement each other so well because Mia is such a calm, soft spirited person and Mike knows just the right words to say to bring her to a smile with his kind and unique style. They are such a laid back couple and that is so hard to come by these days. Mia was and will always remain to me and the people around her a God fearing women that has always gone down on her knees in the presence of the Lord. And as for Mike, the love I saw him shower her with that day left me speechless! It was a never ending love story ... Gazing in her eyes with adornment, caressing her face, kissing her and holding her tight all throughout the day. The love I saw between them was like fireworks! I pray that together they fall on their knees and become "prayer warriors" throughout life. My prayer for them is that God will be the glue that holds them together and helps them with all that life has to offer them. And may He pour out His blessings on their marriage and may they remain head-over-heels in love for each other until the return of Jesus!
The wedding day couldn't have started any better than it had. That beautiful weather San Diego is known for started the morning off with a refreshing breeze and turned into a sun filled day. Mia showed up that beautiful afternoon with a special glow to her. She was all ready to get her hair and make-up done and slip into her gorgeous white gown. From there Flo went to go check on Mike and snap some shots of him getting all "groomed out". He was looking handsome and confident walking down the aisle awaiting for his amazing bride to walk to the alter with her father giving her away was such an emotional moment. Tears filling the room with sadness that they were losing a daughter but turning into joy filled tears that they were gaining a son. The wedding day was here faster than they ever thought and after a few hours of good preaching from close family pastors and friends, beautiful songs sung by skilled artists, touching vows being exchanged and most importantly the prayer of blessing over them, the ceremony had came to an end . What can be said, nothing but emotion of happiness.
Awaiting us was a beautiful sunset in door reception overlooking the ocean with nifty sailboats in the background giving the photographs awesome character. The reception food was yummy but the bride's parents took responsibility to do it themselves but thank God for the couple that owns a catering business who came all the way from Arizona (and also my dad) who helped out and made it outstanding! Great food, plus a slideshow (made by the bride's sister Roana) was very nicely done. After that, it was time for the toasts. Roana was one the first to start but couldn't finish because emotion overtook her which was a total "tear-jerker". It really hit her that her best friend and big sister was now married and within a few days be moving to Canada to start her new life with her husband. So, to cheer things up the grooms sister picked up the microphone and sang a silly song and pumped the room with laughs and got the bride and her family to smile. Then it was open mic for whoever wanted to say any last words and my dad had just joined the party to say a few words. The poor guy missed the entire wedding and most of the reception, but did it for an awesome reason by helping out the couple with last minute things. He said a few words to the newly married couple about how Ana-Maria was always a "prayer-warrior" and well, I have to be honest and admit that I stole his "prayer-warrior" saying. It was too good to let that go. With the reception coming to an end. Capturing the last of the good bye photo's it was time to head on out.
Ana Maria left her mom, dad and little sister Roana that she was so close to and moved to Canada with her husband to start their own family.
With all that said, the day had ended and we drove back to where we were staying at my cousin's house in Up Land, CA which is two full hours away .Talk about long drive after a long day. Abel and Alyssa were knocked out tired from missing their naps but in return had an overwhelming fun filled day meeting their mom's childhood best friend Adina and her husband Joel and their beautiful two kids Selah and Joseph.
Let me just say one last thing... Never again will I ever, ever do such a stupid thing and wear high heels when I doing a wedding! My feet were killing me and I couldn't feel my left toe for almost over a week! NO JOKE.. I thought I was going to have to see the doctor for that lol. Over all this 23rd day of August in the year 2009 will go down in history for us as our 1st "professional gig" not to mention wedding but not any wedding. The wedding of a dear loving friend Ana-Maria and her wonderful husband Mike.