Each wedding is a little different. Different cultures, different family dynamics, some traditional, some not, some very long and others relatively short. One thing that’s true every time is that this is one of the most important days in this couple’s lives. It also seems consistent that if the bride and/or groom was nervous in the minutes leading up to the ceremony, most let go and have fun once they seal it with a kiss.

Michael is like many grooms that I’ve recently met. On the outside anyway, he seems pretty easygoing and just happy to have friends and family close when he makes his commitment official to his bride-to be. The preparations for the groom are such a contrast to the bride’s. There is no make-up artist, nobody getting their hair done and usually takes all of 20 minutes for the entire set of groomsmen to go from casual to fully dressed. When I cover this part of the day, most of the images are taken in the last few minutes before the limo arrives.

Melissa, on the other hand, had a way of communicating how she felt through her facial expressions. I put together this series of six images that span a five-minute period while the toasts were being given. I have to admit that I don’t know Melissa that well, but I’m pretty sure you would always know where you stand with her, good or bad.

This doesn’t happen at every wedding, but sometimes the couple will make an extra effort to add something unique to the event. For Melissa and Michael, they had a special fire truck (since he’s a volunteer firefighter) and a car that reminded me of the Dukes of Hazard for their getaway.

Best wishes to both of you. So glad I could be a part of your day.