I met Melissa and Tashia over three years ago at the Say I Do! LGBT Wedding Expo at the Hotel Palomar. We clicked pretty quickly and before I knew it, they had decided to go with me as their photographer.
Here’s their update, as well as some photos from their engagement session and wedding.
"We can’t believe it has been almost 3 years since we got married and over four years since we met Chris (and thanks to Facebook we can maintain constant contact, if only for the purpose of admiring each other’s puppies)."
"Much has changed in the last 3 years since we got married. The first year of our marriage was full of traveling for Melissa. On a monthly basis she was flying back and forth to London."
"After a few months we both were a bit exhausted of the traveling (even if we did appreciate the frequent flyer miles we were racking up) and decided it would make more sense if we could move to London."
"Late 2016 Melissa’s law firm approved our request and off we went to London! We were excited for this new start for us in a new country."
"Unfortunately, within a few weeks our beloved pup passed away…safe to say we were devastated. Because Tash missed our pup so much it forced her to reevaluate her career path."
"Tash started dog walking/sitting as a way to get in some puppy cuddles, but discovered she has a knack for caring for other people’s animals (and providing stellar customer service, if she does say so herself)."
"In 2016 we travelled to 9 different countries, including Greece and Austria. We had some truly amazing experiences and grew stronger as both individuals and a couple."
"We continue to learn new things about each other and have learned to adapt to the changing world around us by being each other’s constant reminder that there is good in the world."
"As of February 12 we became brand new puppy parents to our adorable (if mischievous) basenji puppy, Leonidas. Raising a puppy together is teaching us even more about ourselves and our exceptionally high capacity to love another living creature despite its constant burning desire to destroy anything and everything we love."
“We plan to return to Washington, DC in the next year or so, but until then we hope to travel to a few more countries, meet new people, and experience new cultures all while appreciating the love we share and the bond that connects us.”
And now what everyone’s been waiting for – a photo of Leonidas:
Vendor Information:
Wedding Planner and Coordinator: Katie Wannen of The Plannery
Venue: Josephine Butler Parks Center
Caterer: A Main Event
Make-up/Hair: Modern Bridal Studio
Cake: Sweet Black Orchid
Silhouette Artist: Tiny Paper Portraits