THE KRAM FAMILY – A must-read love story!

In 1998 while working as baristas at PJ’s Coffee in New Orleans, Melissa and Kevin met and made an instant connection.  They became best friends, but fate had much more in store for the two.

They began their romantic journey in 1999 and it was a literal journey! Melissa and Kevin moved to Colorado together! In 2002 fate would take them on different paths. The couple parted ways to pursue career goals and personal aspirations. Melissa says, “Our break up was hard, but we knew if we were meant to be together, it would happen in the future.”  She believed in fate and the saying by Richard Bach, “If you love something, set it free; if it comes back, it’s yours.”

Over the next seven years, Melissa and Kevin would remain in each other’s lives as long-distance friends, Melissa back in New Orleans and Kevin in Colorado. “During this time,“ Melissa shares, “I had my daughter Alysse, and Kevin also had a daughter, Reilly.”

In 2009, Kevin returned to New Orleans and their romance rekindled.  “I can’t picture my life without him by my side,” says Melissa. They knew then they were “meant to be together.”

Kevin proposed to Melissa at a Cat Stevens concert in Philadelphia during one of her favorite songs, “Sing Out.” “Kevin turned to me and nervously told me how important I was to him,” she shares,  “got on one knee and asked me to marry him.”

Since Kevin proposed during one of Melissa’s favorite songs, it was only appropriate that she surprise him by walking down the aisle to one of his favorite songs.  Kevin is a big fan of Guns ‘n Roses, so Melissa chose The Dallas String Quartet’s version of “Sweet Child O’ Mine” for her walk down the aisle.  She recalls, “His…reaction to the song and my appearance at the end of the aisle still makes me tear up.”

Their wedding party was made up of the two very important people – their daughters. Since the girls and their family were so important, Melissa and Kevin decided to make them “one” with a family name. They chose the first letter of each of their first names and came up with ‘KRAM.”

During the wedding ceremony, each member of the new “KRAM family” took part in planting a gardenia bush to symbolize their unity.  Melissa says, “Kevin and I read our vows to one another, read special vows to our daughters, and Kevin’s mother read a poem she had written for the wedding.” Melissa’s vows were, appropriately, written on a PJ’s Coffee pastry bag. This was a lovely nod to the place that first brought them together 18 years earlier.

After their first kiss as husband and wife, the newlyweds walked down the aisle to the song that was playing when Kevin proposed to Melissa, Cat Stevens’ “Sing Out,” with their girls, Alysse and Reilly, skipping behind them.

As their reception came to an end, the couple walked through the courtyard lined with friends and family lighting their way with sparklers.  Melissa says, “This was a great way to end the celebration!  We loved our wedding and wouldn’t change a thing.”

Their wedding party was made up of the two very important people – their daughters. Since the girls and their family were so important, Melissa and Kevin decided to make them “one” with a family name. They chose the first letter of each of their first names and came up with ‘KRAM.”

During the wedding ceremony, each member of the new “KRAM family” took part in planting a gardenia bush to symbolize their unity.  Melissa says, “Kevin and I read our vows to one another, read special vows to our daughters, and Kevin’s mother read a poem she had written for the wedding.” Melissa’s vows were, appropriately, written on a PJ’s Coffee pastry bag. This was a lovely nod to the place that first brought them together 18 years earlier.

After their first kiss as husband and wife, the newlyweds walked down the aisle to the song that was playing when Kevin proposed to Melissa, Cat Stevens’ “Sing Out,” with their girls, Alysse and Reilly, skipping behind them.

As their reception came to an end, the couple walked through the courtyard lined with friends and family lighting their way with sparklers.  Melissa says, “This was a great way to end the celebration!  We loved our wedding and wouldn’t change a thing.”

PHOTOGRAPHER: North Photography  | VENUE: Degas House | BRIDE’S GOWN: Pearl’s Place | FLOWER GIRLS: David’s Bridal | FLORALS: Flora Savage (bouquets); Claudia Mitchell (ceremony & reception arrangements) | CAKE: Mary Prater | Makeup: Celeste, Make Me Up!! | Hair: Adrian Billiot, Keith Noonan Salon