My first call with Kelsey lasted over one hour and it was seriously love at first sight in between us! As all of my couples know, we have several video calls before our sessions and before their wedding day and the ones with Kelsey & Stephen were some of my favorites.

Here is a little bit about them:

How did you meet?: We were set up by a mutual friend shortly after Stephen moved to Roanoke, VA to play for the professional hockey team there. I was working as a waitress while finishing college at the time, and he showed up and asked to sit in my section one night. He stayed for the rest of my shift and kept ordering food so I couldn’t kick him out. I had turned down plans to meet him before that night, but we were inseparable for the rest of the season after that.

How did he propose?: Stephen and my sister decorated every inch of our downtown apartment with candles, rose petals, and hanging lights from the ceiling. I came home from work and was so surprised I actually stepped on one of the tea candles on the floor as I walked into the scene they set up. He was on a knee in the living room with a sign around our dog’s collar asking to marry me. He recorded the whole thing, including bloopers of the entire day setting everything up. My favorite part was watching the video later and realizing he was so nervous for me to come home that he actually stayed on his knee in a suit for 5-10 minutes before I walked in the door.

What was your favorite moment of your wedding day?: Bride: I had so many favorite parts it’s so hard to choose. Overall, the love and just plain happiness we felt from everyone on the dance floor at the reception stands out to me the most. I couldn’t have pictured a more perfect day.

Groom: My favorite moment of the day was finally being announced as Mr. and Mrs. Mele when we walked into the venue and everyone we love was there cheering us on with genuine happiness their faces.

What made your wedding unique?: Like most couples trying to get married in 2020, we faced challenges that we never could have imagined at the time we got engaged. Each of us had a list of friends and family that we would have loved to have there with us, but the cards just weren’t dealt to us how we had planned. The entire planning experience was unique, but kept us centered on what really mattered at the end of the day.

Tell me a funny story about the two of you!: Stephen loves to cook and I am about as far from a chef as you can get. The first time he cooked for me he suggested we make the meal together as a date night. My first task was to chop the onions and my eyes immediately started to water uncontrollably. I didn’t want to look like I didn’t know what I was doing, so I kept chopping through my tears and ended up cutting my finger. I excused myself without him knowing what had happened, went to the bathroom and stopped the bleeding, then never told him about it until years later. It’s probably still his favorite story and makes us laugh to this day.

Ceremony : St. Andrews Catholic Church

Venue: The Plantation on Sunnybrook

Bride’s Dress: Celebration Bridal

Alterations: The Gilded Thimble

Groom’s Suit: The Black Tux

Bridesmaid’s Dresses: Lulu’s Bridesmaid Dresses

Event Planning, Catering, Cake & Flowers : The Plantation on Sunnybrook

Music Band: The Finns

Cookies: Hilltop Cookie Shop

Make-up: Cady Garst & Jessica Hall with Gorgjess

Hair: Terin Mabry & Amanda Taylor

Vintage Car: Ron Vanderpool