Mr. & Mrs. Cowell!!!!

I can’t believe the day has come and gone. It makes my heart both happy and sad! Also, know that I blogged way too many images but

you guys, I’m the boss so I’ll do what I want. 🙂

We all drove to Topsail, NC for the big day! Nori got to miss her last days of school, which I’m pretty certain she had told the entire

school staff about being in her Rachey’s wedding so they were as pumped as she was!

They wanted both Adam and I to be in the wedding party, but also wanted us to shoot it. Sooo Adam took one for the team and did the ceremony

solo, while I was able to shoot with him whenever I wasn’t required to be IN the shot. Rach got us these pretty robes and beach cover ups!

My close friend, Carly, brought her whole family down so she could be our hair stylist! (And my personal make up artist 🙂 ) All of our hair looked

AHmazing. Even more awesome is that her mad skills kept it held through the rain and crazy winds!

I’m not shocked, but also loved, that both Nico and Nori jumped in to help dress Rachey and Chasey. Super cute.

We’re laughing because she was actually trying not to cry as I had to re pierce her poor ears. :0

We stepped outside for their first look and the sky looked terrifying. ALL WEEK was beautiful!! Come Thursday during portrait time, of course,

here comes the rain. As we drove, it started getting really ugly so we pulled over at the house where my family was staying and ran towards the

ocean for fear we wouldn’t have any portraits! The radar looked red for the rest of the evening! 🙁

I mean, it does look pretty epic though!!

And then the rain started and we screamed, RUNNNN!

Just driving through an ocean to get TO the ocean. UGH. What the heck!! Who goes to the beach to get married and deals with midwest weather!

We waited in the car till it slowed down enough to try again but as you could see it was still very gray! We could handle the drizzle/mist.

I can’t even believe this. I got us all lined up as Adam was backed up to shoot but awkwardly not taking the photo. I kept looking at him wondering

what he was waiting on…then he yelled “smile!” and started hysterically laughing. We were so confused because Adam was acting odd. That surfer legit

stepped in AND OUT of the frame and NONE of us noticed. NONE. He walked away behind us and said, “sweet photobomb, y’all.” Adam was so thrilled

with this, as we were so baffled. HA!

The one second the sun popped out until sunset!

Hey, handsome!

Such stunning sisters! I love being so close with the Glanklers!

Unless you follow me on Instagram, then you wouldn’t know. Rach ordered a bunch of loose wood flowers from a website, which I won’t tag

because it was a dang nightmare working with them! But I got to get my hands dirty playing florist! It was my first experience and I hope

not my last! I loved wandering Hobby Lobby for all the reception and arbor pieces and bringing it all together!

Stoooooop. My heart is a flutterin!! I found Nori’s dress online and bought some trim to embellish and make a headband to better match the bride!

All the heart eyes!!

The best.

And then the rain started again! RUN!

We spotted the color on the side of the road and pulled over for a quick shot on the way back to the ceremony!

My badass hub designed the programs and invites. He also enjoyed breaking up our normal work routine to do something different.

It was still raining when the ceremony was supposed to start but we were able to run down and set up the arbor and lanterns etc as they were

deciding the show must go on! Thanks Emily for helping me throw it all together! It looked gorgeous! I was so happy with it!

I asked Nico what his favorite part of the day was and he said, “NOT when they kissed!” Hahaha.

My Rachey is so grown and gorgeous. Those earrings and clips are mine from 10yrs ago!

Squeezing these 10yr younger than me babies made me wish time would slow down! But, look how pretty it all looks together! And had the sun

been out, it would have been right in our eyeballs here and would have stinked… so yay for over cast!

What a great group of guys! Love this!

I kept making Rachel (illegally) climb up dunes and steps all afternoon. It wasn’t easy, but so worth it!

YES.

Chase has been practicing his GQ pose, obvi.

Don’t let this sun fool you, I cheated and shot the rings the next day. :0

I could have photographed this beauty all day. I can’t get over how stunning and mature you looked that day! Makes me weepy all over again

looking at these images! So thankful I got to be such a big part of all of the planning this last 9mths and so hands on the day of!

You know, ( ::eye roll:: ) I had the foresight to hot glue all the loose flowers to the centerpieces because of wind, but I did not expect torrential rains!

So the lanterns and vases (all the tables different) were crashing down! My sister and the house guests next door ran out and tried to save all they

could. I’m so bummed that all happened after Adam and I worked so hard that morning to get it all perfect. :-/ Geesh.

Besties forever. 7yrs ago I photographed these two with other friends just after Rachel’s cancer diagnosis. Had we only known the beauty to come

of this day back then!

Dress over her shoulders, Elsie was ready to party! :0

Crossing the bridge to join their guests at the reception. Sweet little magical moment!

Jeanette was so sweet all day. Chase is an only child so naturally it was emotional for them. She’s going to make a great Mother in law! And

aheemmmgrandma, as she already spoils our kids!!

For the last few years, our kids and Rachel have had “their song” that she plays on repeat for them. After the parent dances they played Ed Sheeran’s,

Thinking Outloud, as a surprise for Nico and Nori. I didn’t even know they were doing it so it took me by surprise and I got all teary knowing they

planned it as a special thing for them. The kids ran and jumped in their arms and it was so darn adorable. Thanks for doing that you two! <3

They made a Rachel sandwich! 🙂

Let me make this brief. We’ve been through SO much together! From winning soccer seasons 13 yrs ago, cancer battles, losing and

gaining family. You moved from my soccer player right into the role of our little sister so smoothly that I’m not even sure really when it

happened. It REALLY sucks that you have to be a real adult with your own life now. Like who needs a job, husband and house? Adjusting to not

having you around all the time has been a really tough transition for me and the kids but we couldn’t be happier for the path you’re on now. Chase was

a natural fit into our family and the kids adore him. The future is bright for you two and I don’t even have the patience to see what’s in store for you!!

Before I know it, I’ll be shooting your babies and my heart SWELLS at that thought!!! EEEEEEKK!! Even with the tropical storm, it was still

perfect. Thanks for trusting Adam and I with so many key roles! It was like planning the beach wedding we always wanted with your credit card!

Bahaha. Can’t wait to see all these images around your new home! But like, how you old enough to be a home owner? Shoot.

Love you guys so much, Melanie & Adam.