Melissa and Travis know how to bring the party, beauty, and all the feels! I am obsessed with the results every time I get these two in front of my camera! Their fall destination wedding fit this couple perfectly. 

Rewind to September of 2021. I had the privilege of shooting Melissa and Travis’ engagement session. From drinks at their favorite bar to stunning sunset beach photos, that shoot is where I first found the magic with these two (I mean, how could you not? Check out the gallery here). These two lovebirds originally planned for an August wedding, but they altered their plans when they discovered the exciting news they were expecting! (I also shot their maternity shoot, and you probably guessed it, the photos are beautiful!) 

Melissa and Travis got their picture-perfect fall wedding in October. I am honored that Melissa and Travis entrusted me with many of their big life moments. Not only have we been able to capture the love and excitement surrounding these times, but we’ve been able to create gorgeous art—all photographed in a seamless style from one life chapter to the next.

Setting the Tone // Wedding Day Prep

Melissa started the day by getting ready in her childhood home. I say it time and time again, but if you’re getting married near your home, use it to get ready! It makes the photos feel very intimate and personal; you’re surrounded by the warm memories you’ve made in the space while simultaneously creating new ones. Melissa’s parents’ gorgeous lakeside property offered a relaxing and scenic background for pictures. 

After the perfect morning spent popping champagne, getting ready, and writing vows, Melissa and Travis shared their first look. Melissa surprised Travis by bringing their adorable son, Cal, with her (in the tiniest and most precious baby tux!). The look on Travis’ face when he turned around and saw these two was everything! It was so special to document that priceless moment with their sweet family.

Outdoor Fall Wedding Portraits

Autumn was in full swing, so that was one major upside of rescheduling their wedding in October. The striking colors of the changing leaves juxtaposed against their black wedding party attire added beautiful depth and vibrancy to their photos! These incredible images are proof that you don’t need an extravagant amount of space to have great shots. We took portraits in a small neighborhood park with a few bike trails close to the venue. A naturally pretty place with a few different spots and varying lighting options is perfect for beautiful images. 

Intimate Outdoor Wedding Ceremony

Melissa and Travis exchanged vows with an intimate outdoor ceremony for their fall destination wedding. The gorgeous natural-wood gazebo and towering shade trees provided a picturesque landscape for their ceremony photos. I said that these two know how to bring the party, right? They celebrated with a “beer chug” during their ceremony and included the guests too! I love that they made their wedding so them, and their personalities and unique love shine through in their pictures. 

Again, their wedding portraits prove you don’t need expansive space for quality pictures! We captured a fantastic mix of bold, editorial images on a 15-foot area of grass surrounded by a small farm. We took advantage of every inch of the space and scenic landscape to get all the dynamic golden hour images. 

Let’s Get this Party Started!

We celebrated the newlyweds with a night full of dancing, drinks, and yummy food. Melissa and Travis started the reception by having guests join them on the dance floor, which really lit things up! Friends and family toasted the couple with heartwarming speeches that brought on laughter and tears alike. Something different about their wedding dinner was the main dish—pizza! (After all, parties and pizza are always better together!) Serving a fun, classic party food like this brings a distinct energy to the celebration and makes for super cute photos. After their special dances, the dance floor was officially open, and we proceeded to dance the night away (after sneaking out for some shots of them with their new bling). 

The Perfect Match

Editorial Portraits + Photojournalistic Wedding Photography

Melissa and Travis’ fall destination wedding was memorable and beautiful for many reasons! I loved capturing their day from start to finish with a genuine documentary approach and some stunning editorial images mixed in. I am loving this style, and I want to give a huge shout-out to the incredible vendor team below that made it happen! You can have the best of both wedding photography styles—it’s all about context and composition!

I’d love to bring these unique styles to your wedding day and do what I do best: record the authenticity of your special moments with images that truly embody you. Check out my blog or get in touch to learn more!

Wedding Vendors

Photography // @hannawalkowaik
Hair // @katyasladhair
Makeup // @elleartistryllc
Cake // Area 51
Caterer // @woodenpaddle
Ceremony Site // @thefarmhouseplainfield
Reception Site // @thefarmhouseplainfield
Officiant // Amy Hubbard
Music/DJ // Admit One DJs
Brides Dress Designer + Shop // @enzoani @herecomesthebrideinc
Videographer //  @munacopictures