Melissa Tuck Photography Blog »

WELCOME TO MY BLOG!

Hi there! I'm Melissa, and I am a visual storyteller who specializes in documentary wedding photography and fresh, stylized portraiture. I'm based in Rome, Georgia, but I love to travel!

I am passionate about telling people's stories fully and authentically from a unique perspective. I love what I do, and I'm excited to share my life and work.

If you use social media, please consider liking my Facebook page to stay updated on new content.
So happy you stopped by for a visit. Look forward to hearing from you!

KELLY + ASHER – Revolution Mill Studios Wedding

09.23.10

Normally, I don’t begin a post with an illustrated ring shot, but I love this one SO much because it has such significance to the couple… AND it’s such a timeless, romantic song lyric. : )

Weddingphotography-051-athensga-rosinger

Kelly and Asher both grew up in North Carolina, but they currently live here in Athens, where they are both working toward their PhDs at the University of Georgia. The Modern Skirts is a band that is native to Athens, and they ROCK. If you haven’t heard any of their music, go listen to the song that Kelly & Asher chose for their first dance together. I just died when I saw that the couple had incorporated a quote from their first song into their program cover. So touching!

Kelly and Asher were married on an absolutely gorgeous (and non-humid!) day during Labor Day weekend at Revolution Mill Studios in Greensboro, NC. They had their Jewish-Christian hybrid ceremony (yes! my second within a month of each other!) outside in the courtyard. Kelly’s grandfather and a rabbi co-led the ceremony together. The day was also very special to Kelly’s parents, because Kelly’s grandpa also married them in 1976 on the same day that he married Kelly and Asher. So sweet! I’m going to keep things mixed up a little and start with the guys first:

Weddingphotography-018-athensga-rosinger

Weddingphotography-004-athensga-rosinger

Hiding from the groom before portrait time. : )

This little guy passed out before the ceremony even started! Precious.

To me, there’s nothing more heartwarming than a groom’s face as he sees his girl walking down the aisle.

Such pretty blonde curls!

The crowd got a chuckle when the last bridesmaid was set to leave the ceremony by herself and instead got escorted by two friendly bystanders. ; )

Congrats you two! It was such an honor to share your special day!

by Melissa

1 comment

add a comment

link to this post

email a friend

September 25, 2010 - 1:07 am

Mary McCulley - Beautiful, amazing photos! I wasn’t able to be at my neice’s wedding and I enjoyed these so much. I love so many of the photos…but especially the one you captured of my stepdad and mother…(Kelly’s grandparents)…and the one of Mark kissing Granny’s hand…priceless. Kelly and Asher picked a fantastic photographer. ;-)

KATIE BRIDAL: UNVEILED!

09.20.10

Ohhh how I LOVE Miss, I mean, Mrs. Katie. : )

Katie got married last spring and decided after the wedding that she wanted more fun pictures in her dress in a setting other than what the wedding day had to offer. Of course I was stoked! We had so much fun prancing around Old Salem, North Carolina (the historic district of Winston-Salem) together with her parents. Katie’s got that infectious smile and spunky personality that I adore! She is simply gorgeous. Here are some of my favorites from the afternoon:

Isn’t this flower crazy awesome?! We had no idea what it was, but it looks like a curly fry! : )

Katie let her hair down for a few at the end. So pretty!

by Melissa

1 comment

add a comment

link to this post

email a friend

September 20, 2010 - 3:05 pm

Katie - thank you for a fun afternoon and beautiful photos!!

LAURA + JEFF – Bryn Mawr Wedding (Part II of II)

09.15.10

Laura & Jeff were married in the backyard of Jeff’s parents’ home in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. First, a “there’s no place I’d rather be than here with you” shot… : )

Laura and Jeff are two of the most selfless people I know. They met registering voters at a Barenaked Ladies concert and the rest, they say, is history. ; ) Jeff – a talented writer and researcher – works as an urban planner in Philadelphia, and Laura teaches at West Philly High School, where she’s created a couple of ahhh-mazing rap videos to keep her students amped up about school. Watch the current one about success for a real treat (she’s the one in the orange!).

There are so many special elements that went into this wedding. The pair comes from different traditions, and out of these, they created a unique Jewish and Presbyterian hybrid ceremony. They honored each other’s beliefs in such an elegant and respectful way. More to come on the details during the post …

I LOVE their wedding bands – Jeff designed Laura’s!

The dress is special because it was also worn by Laura’s grandmother and mother…

The groom’s parents preparing for the day ahead. I adore this moment.

There wasn’t a mirror in the room where Laura was getting ready, so she just used her sister’s Macbook’s Photo Booth. Love it.

Jeff’s mother sees Laura for the first time:

… and then Jeff does. : )

I grew up going to Laura’s family’s house every other weekend. I always love their extreme goofiness!

Jeff’s sister’s sons… Sam & Max. How ADORABLE are they?!

The chuppah was decorated with pieces honoring the loved ones who have passed away in Laura and Jeff’s lives.

The ketubah (Jewish wedding contract) was absolutely gorgeous!

Jeff and Laura wrote their own vows. They are both eloquent beyond belief and had me crying like a baby behind my camera…

It is a Jewish wedding custom to serenade the wedding couple with seven blessings, focusing on joy, celebration and the ongoing power of love. To add their own spin, Laura and Jeff invited seven friends to offer them personal blessings:

Breaking of the glass – MAZEL TOV!

Designer extraordinaire Mark Kingsdorf of The Queen of Hearts Wedding Consultants did a BEAUTIFUL job with all the details and made sure the day went off without a hitch. He was also a pleasure to work with!

They had colorful flip-flops available for all the ladies with sore feet at the reception – genius!

Okay, this is THE coolest wedding favor I’ve seen to date: Jeff and Laura actually recorded a CD for their guests! They are both talented musicians – such a creative personal touch! Go here to listen to their awesomeness. : )

Love Jeff’s face here during the hora. …

Laura’s parents’ turn – such HILARIOUS facial expressions that I had to create an animation:

Sarah, Laura’s twin sister/maid of honor/AND one of my good friends, gave such a heartwarming toast…

LOVE.

Laura’s father mimicking Laura as a child. … So funny.

Friends of Laura and Jeff made a guitar-themed cake and cupcakes to acknowledge their passion. SO fun!

Jeff placed a Krenzel, or crown, on his mother’s head and performed the Mezinke Tanz, a dance to honor the parents who have married off their last child.

by Melissa

5 comments

add a comment

link to this post

email a friend

September 15, 2010 - 2:47 pm

Jenny - Awww, this wedding looks so special. You can see the joy in everyone’s faces, in every shot (great job capturing the expressions, Melissa!) This is one of those couples that you can picture growing old together. Even just looking at the photos and never having met them, you can tell they cherish and respect each other and are going to be a great success together. The look on his face in the photo when he sees her in her dress for the first time says it all. Sweet sweet sweet! You are awesome Melissa and congratulations to this beautiful couple!

September 15, 2010 - 2:48 pm

Jenny - One more thing… the animation rocks!!!!

September 15, 2010 - 2:50 pm

Sally Congleton - Fabulous, Melissa. I’m so glad that you are shooting all Nick and Claire’s friends’ weddings so that I get to see.

September 15, 2010 - 2:53 pm

Sally Congleton - Jenny is right- the animation DOES rock! Dr. and Mrs. Boyce look like they are having a blast (altho Mrs. Boyce looks a tad nervous!)

September 16, 2010 - 12:08 am

Courtney - you really have such great details…and moments…and scene-setters…everything, really. and the animation is pretty epic. my favorite pic is of the boy in the barn thing. cute!

SADIE!

09.13.10

If I’m running behind in the virtual world over the next week or so… this is why:

This little ball of energy’s name is Sadie! She is an 11-week-old Malticon (Maltese/Bichon mix). Ryan and I decided to adopt a rescue pup last weekend so that Bella can have a playmate. We adopted her from the East Coast Humane Society on Sunday, and I was able to snap this quick cell phone photo right after a nap today. : )

by Melissa

2 comments

add a comment

link to this post

email a friend

September 14, 2010 - 5:46 pm

Donita - Oh Sadie is just as cute as a button!

November 11, 2010 - 1:29 pm

SADIE: BEFORE & AFTER » Melissa Williamson Photography Blog - [...] We adopted Sadie almost two months ago from the East Coast Humane Society. She’s hypoallergenic like Bella and doesn’t shed so we have to get her groomed as well. Sadie had gotten pretty shaggy, so I did a before & after of her first haircut. : ) [...]

LAURA + JEFF – Bryn Mawr Wedding (Part I of II)

09.13.10

Laura & Jeff’s rehearsal dinner was held at an Italian restaurant in Center City, Philadelphia called Le Castagne Ristorante. Because I also attended this event as a guest (the food was oh-so-DIVINE), I mainly photographed the before-dinner mingling and the toasts throughout the course of the dinner. I had such a great time and was deeply touched by all the family members’ kind words about the couple. So many hugs and so much love permeated the room that night. They really are an outstanding pair! Wedding day photos are coming SOON! : )