I’ve been sitting on this blog post for a few days trying to decide which photos to cut out because I had so many. Sometimes it’s really hard to choose which photos I want to include, but I did manage to trim it down by about twenty photos. I finally said screw it and just included a ton. So here we go!

Melissa & Jonathan met through a video game, World of Warcraft. No really…true story. You can read all about it along with their Atlanta engagement session at the W Hotel. With that said, what type of wedding would you think they would have except a DIY inspired pop culture themed wedding! Of course, it was very elegant and modern which is also very fitting of both Melissa and Jonathan. Honestly, I don’t think their wedding could have been a better representation of who they are as individuals and as a couple.

They started the day with Melissa, her bridesmaids, and her mom all getting ready at Le Meridien in Atlanta. The room was filled with lots of laughter and excitement as everyone was goofing around. Melissa’s dress is one of my top favorites! It was custom made and inspired by Ian Stuart’s Libertine. Kristin Collins and Nisha Lagana of A Glamour Affair provided hair and makeup and everyone looked amazing! Meanwhile, the guys were out to lunch and goofing around in their own ways.Once everyone was ready Melissa and Jonathan met for their First Look. Melissa also gave Jonathan a very special Irish gift (a custom handfasting cord) which they used for their handfasting ceremony or tying of the hands part of their wedding ceremony. If you didn’t already know, this ritual is made popular in Ireland and Scotland during the early Christian period. Fun Fact: The symbolic binding of the couple’s hands is the origin of the familiar expression, “tying the knot”. And, now you know. :)All the guests arrived at the Villa Christina and the ceremony soon begun. Jonathan looked down the long aisle as Melissa and her father walked down. Jonathan took Melissa’s hand and she joined him at the altar. The weather couldn’t have been more perfect with warm, but not too hot, temperatures and an excellent mix of sun and clouds. A couple of guests and a bridesmaid or two cried. Even Melissa and Jonathan got a little choked up during their vows. They exchanged rings and began their handfasting. The Reverend Meghan Gurley pronounced them man and wife and they finished it all off with a kiss.    After the ceremony, we started with their portraits taking advantage of the amazing sunset. We even tried to shoot a few photos in a construction site that was nearby, but we were quickly kicked out by security. Afterward, we made our way back to the reception to start the party! The reception was decorated with hints of modern touches and many pop culture elements. The tables were decorated with personal touches like a Philadelphia sign, where they first met. Other table signs included Firefly and Game of Thrones. Laura Wright with Soiree South did an amazing job helping to design and direct everything. Along with Melissa and Jonathan’s Mass Effect cake, they also had Kentucky Derby, chocolate fudge salted caramel, and lemon raspberry cupcakes. And yes, they were amazing! After everyone finished eating the dance floor took off with help from Chris with AtlantaDJOnline. As if Melissa and Jonathan’s day wasn’t incredible enough already, they topped it off with some piñata swinging action which was pretty hilarious. They finished the night off with a special lightsaber dance before exiting in high fashion with a lightsaber send off. Yes….many wedding guest including myself, played with the lightsabers the whole night, but no one was injured.

Here are some of my favorite photos from Melissa and John’s pop culture themed wedding at the Villa Christina!My name is Matt Druin and I’m an Atlanta wedding photographer that specializes in unique, offbeat weddings for all awesome people! Not only do I shoot amazing Atlanta weddings, but I also travel frequently for destination weddings, and weddings all over, with no travel fees in the US for amazing wedding photography. I also shoot Atlanta engagement sessions for newly engaged couples. I’ve even been known to travel, and far, for engagement sessions too!

Contact Atlanta Wedding Photographer Matthew Druin

Email [email protected]

Phone 678-551-0115

Address 225 Parkway 575 #66 Woodstock, Georgia 30188

Portfolios www.matthewdruin.com

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