I have always loved reading...I was that super cool kid that the teacher had to ask to put her book away because it was Math time.  The one who asked if she could spend her recess in the library exploring new series and taking Accelerated Reader tests.  Yes, back when I was in elementary school, you had to go to the library to do that because that's where the only computers were.  I also rode a tricerotops to school.  Whatever.  

Today, I still love a good novel, but I also have developed an obsession for blogs.  I have the (not cheap, but well worth it) app Reeder on both my phone and my desktop, so whenever I have a few free minutes, I can have everything in one pretty place.  Admittedly, I do read a lot of photography blogs, but here are a few if you're into something different:

Stuff Christians Like - I have actually embarrassed myself reading this one in publc.  It's a seriously snort inducing, satirical look at things we Christians tend to do.  Also, I got to meet Jon Acuff at a youth ministry conference a few weeks ago, so now he's my best friend.

The Knotty Bride - I think it goes without saying that I love weddings.  And therefore, I love looking at weddings.  And Alison's hilarious writing style makes it even better.  Plus, she writes the funniest recaps of The Bachelor in the history of the world, and has a ridiculously adorable french bulldog named Bambino.  What's not to love?

Sprouted Kitchen - This blog makes me feel like a Le Cordon Bleu chef.  Sara is a fabulous cook with a passion for whole, good-for-you food, and her recipes will make you feel equal parts healthy and fancy.

Emily Ley Paper - Not only am I obsessed with this girl's products, but I love her writing style.  She also gives great tips on balancing a bustling business with family life.

Life As An Artistpreneur -  This is probably my favorite blog for professional inspiration.  I don't tend to think in a linear fashion, which is what a lot of "business" blogs will give you...this is inspiration for creative business owners, by a creative business owner.  Everything from staying fresh and motivated, to how to dress for a coffee meeting.  And it's fabulous.

These next 2 are extra fun, because I know the fab ladies behind them:

More For Les - This is my dear friend Leslie's downright hilarious ramblings on life.  Any mention of her cat, Rufus, is alone worth you visiting.

A Little Bit Of Sparkle - I just found this one the other day...and I'm not at all surprised that my beautiful bride Kayla has such an amazing eye for prettiness.  She posts amazing DIY projects, and has a series called "How Pinteresting" that I lost about 2 hours of time the other day devouring.

Speaking of Kayla's eye for all things lovely, hers and Jason's wedding was just that.  Kayla managed to luck out and be what we're pretty sure is the only bride to have her wedding at the historic Burt Stark Mansion ever.  Love it.  And her.  And Jason.  And their new little family.  

Venue : Burt Stark Mansion

Dress : David's Bridal

Cake : Sweet Expressions

These programs absolutely made my day!

This was such a dancing crowd...you name a dance, these people knew it.  And well!  

This was also the wedding where I learned of this magnificent vision called "The Bernie".  :-)

See that boy right there? ^  He's all mine.  :-)

Speaking quite generally, I'm not an easy person to live with.  As a matter of fact, I would go so far as to say that I'm a downgrade from living alone, unles you're my college roomie (hi Meg!!), and we have the exact same sleep schedule/tolerance of stuff all over the floor.  I make messes that I forget to clean, and I tend to want to talk the most when it's time for sleep.  I can cook, but I'm slow, and things sometimes have to be microwaved immediately because I didn't quite cook them through.  I have super weird routines and rituals...it takes me a good half hour to get ready for bed.  I cry when my favorite TV show goes off the air.  And Steven Ragan signed up for all of that, and thensome.  

I'm not sure what everyone's take on Valentine's Day is...maybe you couldn't sleep last night because you were so excited, or maybe you think Hallmark just made it up.  I think a day set aside to say "yay love" is pretty darn awesome.  And not just because this year, Steven gave me a pair of sparkly black Toms and a Downton Abbey-style dinner invitation.  I thought it was awesome the year we didn't get each other anything, or even do anything because I was lying on the bathroom floor, convinced I was about to die from food poisoning.  I love it because it reminds me to stop, look at my husband, and remember how lucky I really am to have him.  Not just today, but every day.  

Steven, I know I tell you I love you all the time, but just so you know...

...I love the fact that you will sit through most any movie or show with me, just so you can sit with me.

...I love  that you love surprising me.

...I love the way you talk in your sleep.  Last night it had something to do with being really good at division.

...I love the fact that you will actually fight with me over who should have to change the near-empty roll of toilet paper.

...I love the way you light up when we plan our dream home.

...I love that you actually get competitive at arm wrestling with me.  I think it's pretty much understood that you're stronger.  :-)

...I love how excited you get when listening to Dave Ramsey.

...I love that few things make you happier than a clean kitchen.

...I love that you might just love Downton Abbey more than me.

...I love that you check this blog, not to see the photos, but to see if I've written anything about you.

...I love that you love country music.

...I love that you will drop everything and come running if you think I'm hurt in any way.  

...I love how you love me.

...I love you!

Thanks for the awesome pictures, Davey!

^ That right up there?  I wish I could bottle up all that love and share it with everyone else, because it's contagious.  And awesome.

A little secret about Cassie Jo and Grant: they're actually already married! They actually tied the knot just a couple of weeks before this session took place...and I think it totally shows.  How adorable, and glowy, and happy do they look?  Love it.  And, I still get to hang out with them, because they have a fabulous celebration planned for April!  

We started out at the rescue squad house that Grant's family started.  It's actually a huge part of their relationship...they started dating shortly after Grant (during a shift) came to Cassie Jo's aid after she got in a wreck.  He wound up having to cut her out of her pants!  Somehow, her dada still loves him.  ;-)

The light and color was the stuff of dreams...

True story: when you're already married, you can change in the car whilst travelling up the Saluda Grade.

As a rule, I don't typically watch a lot of sports.  I make periodic concessions to this rule for special occasions, but if you know me, there's a roughly 95.4% chance that you've never seen me actively watching a sporting event of any kind.  And there's a reason for that.  And, I know you're all thinking, "Well duh, Melissa.  You're an artsy kid who eschews all forms of athleticism other than large, elaborate dance sequences!".  But you'd be wrong.  I actually thoroughly enjoy watching a good game...perhaps a little too much.  In other words: Hi, my name is Melissa Ragan and I scream loudly when watching any and all types of competitive televised event-like things.  Sports, game shows, you name it...I yell at the TV during it.  You should hear my parents and me attempting to compete with the people on Jeopardy.

Up until last night, Super Bowl Sunday 2012, Steven had no clue that I have this tendency.  Largely because we really haven't watched anything remotely resembling a football game together since...forever.  So, as they entered the second half, I tried to keep myself calm.  No need to scare the boy just because he's stuck with me now.  And then came Eli Manning's hail Mary pass to Mario Manningham, and before I knew it, I was jumping up and down, shrieking "GO GIANTS!!" like it was my job.  And then there was silence.  Seriously.  I'm pretty sure things got quiet in the MetLife Stadium because I'm convinced that our TV stopped making noise.  And I wish I could have captured the look on Steven's face, because it was one that can best be described as a cocktail of shock, wonder, and delight.  Apparently, even the Tony Awards don't elicit such reactions.  

So now I'm left wondering if perhaps I should have just been upfront.  Apparently, it's cute and endearing , as opposed to horrifying.  Ah, the joys of marriage...

Speaking of, how much do you love Jessica and Zack's farm wedding?  The land where they actually had their ceremony was so pretty, it made me want to up and move to Dacusville.  And I'm pretty sure I've already mentioned this, but how gorgeous is Jessica??  Good gracious, woman!

Ceremony : Private residence

Dress : Mori Lee

Flowers : Sherri Smith

Hair and Makeup : Angel Pitch

Bridesmaids : Angelina Faccenda

I think I've decided that all weddings should have a hay ride to kick things off...

Yes, everyone...Jessica is stunning, and her new hubby is quite the stud himself.  Yeesh, the DNA of these people...

Fact: I was sad because I wasn't wearing my cowboy boots.  All.  Day.  Long.

Well, hey there cute boy coming in on the hay ride!

The tiny people completely stole my heart...how cute are they??

For the picture on the right, all I did was say, "Pretend I'm not here!".  Think they were excited?

Once it was time for dancing, Jessica changed into her mom's (also ADORABLE) wedding dress.  Loved this.

Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Philpot!!

Raise your hand if you love cold and flu season!!!  What?  No one?  Well, gee willickers, that's just plain shocking.  Or not.  What I'm really getting at here is that I have a cold, and it's making me grumpy.  I'm reasonably tough about lots of things, but I feel very strongly about being about to breath through both nostrils.  I admit there are perks...staying in sweatpants all day, not feeling the least bit bad about working from the sofa watching Les Miserables on repeat, and eating copious amounts of strawberries because I just like them.  But then we come back to the aforementioned single nostril breathing, and the light pounding in my head that comes with it, and I'm just not sure it's worth it.  Plus it's been several days since I've gotten any natural vitamin D in my life.  Steven has been instructed to only approach me with chocolate, and perhaps a shiny new tabloid magazine.  

I just needed to get that little bit of whining out of my system...every time I complain to Hallie, she just sort of looks at me, and then farts.  Not quite the expression of sympathy I was looking for, but I guess on the plus side, I can't smell anything.  But I digress...and really into a place I don't particularly care to go, so let's move on.

I love looking back on this wedding...everything from the color palette and amazing venues, to just how cute Matt and Rene are together.  It's all so bright and cheery, and it helps me forget that between the weather and the cold (that I WILL whine about until it goes away),  everything seems to look, feel, smell, and even taste gray today.  I think you'll agree...

Church : Grace Church Downtown

Reception : Huguenot Loft

Dress : Poinsett Bride

Flowers : Dahlia

Coordination : B & R Events

Cake : Couture Cakes of Greenville

True story...Steven and I got into wreck on the way to meet up with Matt and Rene at the Hyatt.  It was totally minor, we were both fine, and we even managed to get to the Hyatt on time.  Always leave early, kids...very, very early. Anyway, all was fine, but I'm not exactly famous for handling things like this in a calm fashion.  My hands were shaking up until I actually got together with Rene and her bridesmaids.  They were so sassy and fun that I honestly forgot until the end of the night that part of my car had gotten smashed earlier in the day.

I still maintain that Matt looks like Brendan Fraser...

I love the this...candy buffett before and after.  :-)

A few random thoughts on this lovely Thursday:

- My internet and I have come dangerously close to having a throwdown today.  Everytime I move my desk chair, or my phone rings, or I have a deep thought, it just randomly drops.  I've made up new words to express my rage as I've been uploading the photos for this post.  I'd let you in on what they are, but little eyes might see, and I'd hate to be responsible for an onslaught of new wordy dirgaged released into your elementary schools.  

- I had a dream last night that I was biking on a majorly intense trail.  Apparently I was REALLY trying, because according to Steven, I kicked him repeatedly, pretty much all night.  And then stole all the covers just to put a little salt in the wound.

- I've been meeting with some of the sweetest brides the past couple of days.  I'm beyond excited about this coming wedding season!

- I managed to survive my post-Christmas detox.  And let me tell you, there were some days in there that were not pretty.  Not at all.  However, I rewarded myself yesterday with a fancy schmancy Camelbak that has a filter in it.  I feel pretty cool with every slurp, not gonna lie.

- My new favorite word is kerfuffle.  I want to say it as much as possible.  Kerfuffle, kerfuffle, kerfuffle.

- I shiny big red heart Emily and Mitchell, and you should too.  :-)

Ceremony : First United Methodist Church

Reception : High Point Country Club

Don't they all look so warm and happy??  They weren't...it was roughly negative one million degrees that day!

If you look closely at the guys, you'll notice that there's actually 2 of Mitchell.  Yay for twins!

Emily's parents have a photo of themselves in the exact same spot.  :-)

I'm gonna rock a napkin on my head at my next wedding...

Happy 2012, everyone!  I hope your year is getting off to a downright spectacular start.  My year is getting kicked off with a super fun detox...nothing but lean protein and veggies for me for a couple of weeks.  So just be aware that I might not finish this blog post on account of chewing off my own hand.  True story.  

I'm working on getting my goals for this new year and getting a big, beautiful, high accountability blog post up and running, but in the interim, please enjoy these images of the lovely new Mrs. Megan Bennett, who got married on New Years Eve.  When we were planning out her bridal session, Megan said she definitely wanted somewhere with drama.  I think this view covers that concept pretty well, no?

Good grief, Megan...YOU ARE SO GORGEOUS!

Give me angles!  Now smize!

For our last few frames, Megan completely made my life and pulled out this fascinator hat.  And it looked amazing.  And I wanted to be British so that I could see those suckers at every wedding I go to.

This last image is one of my favorites that I've ever shot.  No lie.

Exciting news, friends...this shoot marks the beginning of things I did in the FALL!!!  Which is extra great fun because it's pretty much Winter now.  Le sigh.  Okay, moment over...moving on now...

Before I get into the adorableness on a stick that is Megan and David, I have to talk about a personal struggle I've been facing lately.   I'm afraid that Steven is a much better wife than me.   I know that I've mentioned on numerous occasions that my hubby is an excellent cook.  It was definitely one of his snazzy early dating tricks.  Like, "Don't worry about dinner when you get home from work tonight.  I'll come up with something."  And then that "something" is pesto steak tips and cheddar fondue.  What just out of college guy can do that??  And then there's my girls' night tonight, when he is whipping up an entire meal from scratch.  Because he feels my friends deserve better than under-boiled noodles and jarred sauce.  And all that is great, it really is, but around Christmas every year, I start getting this creepy, weird domestic kick.  And I get really into baking and other dessert-like stuff.  So I look up fun new recipes, try them out, and sit back and bask in the glow of my success.  People rave about how they had no idea I was so skilled in the kitchen.  It's awesome.  

That is until this year, when Steven decided to start making homemade cheese.  That's right...fresh cheesey goodness right in our kitchen.  And he did it right in the middle of my baking bonanza.  So what happens when I take fresh saltine toffee to my parents?  Well, nothing, because they're entirely too distracted by the fact that I also brought some of Steven's fresh mozzarella.  And it's good.  And how can a yummy toffee treat compete when someone took a gallon of milk and brought forth cheese??  I'm sure I'll be talking to a therapist for a few years about that newfound inferiority complex, but in the interim, I've decided to just throw up my domestic white flag and give him this one.  So, he can cook, and churn, and get his Martha on all over the place, and I am going to sit on my keister, watch sports, and scratch something.  That'll show him...

Okay, still reading?  Excellent...onto business!  Megan and David are getting married this coming June at Furman, and I'm pretty sure they win my award for most preciously adorable couple ever.  Seriously, just look at these guys:

I rest my case.  :-)

Fact: I did not retouch/enhance/do anything to Megan's eyes.  They're actually that color.  Love!

This chalkboard sign makes my whole heart happy.

On our way to our last location, we decided to take a road that cuts through a horse farm.  And I promise that I really was planning to just quickly and quietly scoot on through...but then we saw this guy.  :-)

One of the things I learned during my summer at the Flat Rock Playhouse, in addition to the fact that I should probably not be a professional actress, was that actors are amazing photo subjects.  And, yes the celebrities that you see in magazines all the time are super experienced and usually photoshopped within a literal inch of their existance, but that's not what I'm talking about.  Actors, famous or not, love to perform, and being in front of a lens is just another great means to do that.  They also like to be looked at.  And have a particular penchant for looking at themselves.  I know that one from my own experience...just ask Steven what happens when I get sat near a mirror in a restaurant.  Or my friend Joanna about how many times I have to stop for a picture of myself when touristing.  

My very roundabout point, friendlies, is that this was a wedding chock full of actors.  A group of people that was just as excited to have photos taken of themselves as I was to take their photos.  And, as icing on the cake of awesomeness, Carly planned in 3 hours between her ceremony and reception, just to make sure we had plenty of time.  I told you I loved these people...

It rained for a good hour right before we were scheduled to head into Falls Park.  Luckily, it stopped just in time and I was working with a fabulous group that wasn't worried about the added humidity.  What we got in return was some rather dreamy looking haziness, and some crazy water in the Reedy River.  Love.

The girls decided to make this little hike down to the rock a barefoot experience and I can't say I blame them...

The furry guest of honor.  I should note that these are Hallie's favorite pictures...

As I may have mentioned before, I'm about eleventy billion years behind in blogging.  The movie had just come out when Chris and Carly actually got married, so we were totally trendsetters here!

And then this happened...

And then this...

And then this!  With no coaching from me, might I add...

Mr. and Mrs. Brown...I cannot thank you enough for allowing me to be a part of your day.  It truly meant the world to me!  I hope you guys are loving every second of married life!!

Steven and I have the world's second cheapest cable package available.  Not the cheapest one, mind you, because we are classy people...who are too cheap to pay for all the channels past 20.  We also have a Netflix subscription and TiVo.  This gives us the ability to jump in on all the great television trends a good 2-5 years later than everyone else when the stuff we normally watch goes on holiday hiatus.  Like right now.  Obviously, everyone wants to be our friend.  So, let's talk about the immense hilarity that is How I Met Your Mother.  We're halfway through the first season and we're just a little obsessed.  I want to jump in my TV and be best friends with all of them right now.  We're also working Christmas movies into the rotation, because they're awesomesauce and one of our (my) favorite parts of the year.  This yummy, and slightly bizarre combination of viewing has led me to a somewhat unsettling realization about myself: I am the lovechild of Robin Scherbatsky and Buddy The Elf.  

Seriously...Steven agrees with me, although that's probably a bad thing.  But I am an excellent bro, would definitely have 5 dogs if I were allowed, think I would be a superior news anchor, and I love smiling.  It really is my favorite.  I also think that the perfect day would involve snow angels and holding hands.  Putting all of that out there has probably also just cost me all potential clients and business for the rest of my life.  Hmmm...I think I'll distract you all with pictures!

Not gonna lie, I have enjoyed more than anything else in the world saying that I got to photograph Chris Brown's wedding.  On more than one level.  Firstly, there's the obvious misunderstanding of which Chris Brown I'm talking about, which gives me massive street cred.  Not that that's really a problem for me anyway.  Then, and this is really the biggie, I love him and his new wifey so much.  I want to shrink them down and keep them on a shelf in my house so that I can hang out with them whenever I want.  But that would be weird, so I'll settle for just saying once again, that they both are truly amazing people and I really do adore them.  

Also, I have entirely too many photos for just one blog post, so I'm dividing it up into the overall story of the day (this post) and the mammoth portrait session we did with their wedding party in Fall's Park.  Here we go!

Ceremony : Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton

Reception and Catering : Embassy Suites

Bridesmaids : Coren Moore

Cake : Kathy and Company

Carly is an avid Yankees fan.  :-)

Carly seeing her dad for the first time...is it weird that I'm majorly jealous that Steven took this one?

When I came across this little gem while culling through my original files, I may have snorted.  Loudly.

Carly's cousins suprised them with a custom version of Airplanes.  It was 100 different kinds of fabulous.

In case you were wondering...theatre people can THROW DOWN.  

Best bouquet sequence EVER!

Holy Sweaty Photographer, Batman!!  And yet still, these are my favorites.  :-)

Stay tuned for the portraits, later today!