MELISSA & DAN :: MARRIED IN MEMPHIS

Photo Credit: Benjamin Chan

Well, okay, Melissa and Dan were technically married in Clarksdale, MS. We had a great time at this wedding weekend. I talked about it a little here. We had shrimp boils and a night at a blues club and breakfasts (plural) and a stunning reception. My Event Coordinators, Cherie and Whitney and I drove down to Clarksdale for this awesome weekend. We worked HARD, but ate good! I'm telling you, if you want an awesome homemade pie, you must look up The Dutch Oven in Clarksdale, MS. She has no website or email but you can Google it. We feasted on the most scrumptous key lime pies, chocolate pies, lemon pies, strawberry pies. And that was after we had stuffed ourselves on Melissa's uncle's crawfish, shrimp, potatoes and corn. 

I really loved Melissa and Dan's sense of style for their wedding. They were married under a carport that we turned into an open-air chapel by bringing in wooden pews, white chairs and a red carpet for the bride to walk down. There was a small threat of rain the day before the wedding. But, that did not hinder my bride from going forward with what turned out to be one of the most touching, sunset weddings I have attended. They had no wedding party attendants. Instead, they had close family members and friends come up one at a time and build the altar they were married in front of. The altar consisted of a delicate, antique lace tablecloth that belongs to the groom's family. We placed this cloth on a wonderfully aged table that we found on the property. Atop the cloth was a water basin, which they used to wash each other's feet during the ceremony. Also on the altar were flowers, a vase and mason-jarred candles, which were brought up individually but put together by the family members and friends. Whitney commented that she had just met the couple but couldn't help but cry at their wedding. It was that spiritual and emotional. With all the uncommon and beautiful touches Melissa and Dan added to their day you would think tradition was far away. Not so. Melissa walked down the aisle in a Chantilly lace gown sporting four inch heels. The perfect touch.

I have to say thanks to a few other vendors for the weekend. I really appreciate them working with our time schedule and helping make it all come together. The Flower Bouquet (also from Clarksdale and with no website, but can be Googled) was so awesome to work with. I definitely look forward to seeing Craig and his team again. I found the best and most dedicated stylist/makeup artist in Mary of Secret Services Salon in Memphis. I was able to track her down and get her booked for Melissa within about 12 days of the wedding. Thanks a ton to Mary for making that drive! You were awesome! I must also say a special thanks to Kathie and her husband Jim, the owners of The Shack Up Inn. With this being a truly non-traditional venue, there were last minute needs that they never failed to pull off for us. Also, a huge thank you to the team at Morgan Freeman's Ground Zero Blues Club in Clarksdale. We don't generally have a sip of champagne until after the wedding is almost over. And, then, to toast a job well done. But, hey, we were in a blues club. 

Below are a few shots from the most laid-back photographer I have ever met in my life, Mr. Benjamin Chan. Benjamin is a friend of the couple's from California. He has the most awesome eye for photography, which is so important in telling the story of a wedding. You can see more of his work here.

This was such a fun, family-oriented wedding. It was our pleasure to be a part of it. You can see a few more images from the wedding at my site here.

Stay tuned for more real weddings from us!