Melissa and Thomas’ wedding was supposed to go an entirely different route. It was supposed to be at Philadelphia City Hall the previous afternoon. That didn’t happen. Instead they had a gorgeous evening wedding and I got to spend time with them in the most beautiful light right before their ceremony at Estia.
I feel completely fortunate to have been a part of their wedding. Melissa and Thomas let me get snarky with them and we just laughed, and laughed, and laughed. It was a great day. I met them near Philadelphia City Hall to start the pictures.
Melissa and Thomas have been together for five years. They thank SEPTA for bringing them together. They met on the train and flirted for a few months. They love Philly, the city that brought them together.
They are completely playful and simply happy. You can’t ask for anything more from a couple!
Totally love the hot pink clutch (did you catch the hot pink shoes too?!) and her grandmother’s aquamarine engagement ring!
The ceremony was held at Estia, the Mediterranean restaurant right off of Broad Street. It was a quick, intimate ceremony with all of their guests standing around them. I especially love that they had a reading that was shared throughout the room – different guests speaking up with lines from “These Hands”.
Thomas is from Windhoek, Namibia and proposed to Melissa on a trip they took together. He popped the question at the top of a dune in Sossusvlei in the Namib Desert (oh how I would have loved to photograph that proposal!). Table names paid homage to these sites. Guests were treated to chocolate LOVE favors to bring in a little bit of Philly and Melissa’s sweet tooth.
What an amazing day and a great couple. I’m so glad that things worked out the way they did! Congratulations, you two!
These are the hands of your best friend, young and strong and full of love that hold yours on your wedding day.These are the hands that will work alongside yours as you build your future together.These are the hands that will passionately love you and care for you throughout the years.These are the hands that will hold you when fear or grief torments your mind and with the slightest touch, will comfort you like no other.These are the hands that will give you strength when you struggle and support and encouragement to chase down your dreams.These are the hands that will tenderly hold your children, and help keep your family together as one.These are the hands that will, countless times, wipe the tears from yours eyes, tears of sorrow, and tears of joy.And lastly, these are the hands that even when wrinkled with age, will still be reaching for yours, still giving you the same unspoken tenderness with just a touch—- a touch from these hands
~ “These Hands”, Author Unknown
