Melissa and Matt at Villanova

We spent our Memorial Day weekend in the Philadelphia area, photographing two beautiful weddings on consecutive days. The first was Melissa and Matt's celebration, headquartered at the Villanova Conference Center, which includes the beautiful Rose Mansion:

Shelley captured some getting ready moments, and took advantage of a stairway in the mansion to make a graceful portrait featuring Melissa's gown:

At the same time, Keith was nearby at the Villanova Chapel, with its tall spires, where Matt struck a pose:

Soon, Melissa arrived at the Chapel with her dad, ready to climb the steps and get married:

The Chapel is a classic beauty, with really nice available light, letting us make a record of the ceremony without the intrusion of flash:

Working as a team, we were able to find a lot of interesting angles, hiding behind columns and using our long lenses:

 

And with a meaningful kiss, they made their exit, with the usual phalanx of guest "photographers" snapping away:

Then, it was back to the conference center for some portraits. It was very warm and humid, but Melissa and Matt were total troupers, and we had a nice time exploiting the beautiful garden and grounds:

A resident family of geese allowed us access to a striking vertical sculpture, for a full length and close up view:

Shelley made this beautiful shot at the end of the portrait session, framing M&M with green:

After cocktails, the garden took on a magical quality as the light began to fall:

And it was time for the reception, beginning with Melissa & Matt's entrance and first dance:

Soon they were joined by their guests, still lost in each other, and savoring the moment:

Just a couple frames from the party that ensued, it was a lot of fun:

Of course there's more to the story, but a quick overview makes clear that this was one special day for Melissa, Matt, and all their friends & family. A happy ending, and a new beginning: