This past weekend I had the incredible privilege of photographing Natalie and Billy’s engagement session at Montrose Bird Sanctuary. Traffic was a mess getting into the Harbor because of all the weekend beach goers, but I promised them that once we got into the bird sanctuary, it would be peaceful and serene, and of course it was. It made for the most romantic backdrop for their love story – the tall grasses, the tree branches swooping over them creating the perfect frame, golden light peeking through the tree tops…it was just perfect. I found a spot to start and didn’t move for probably 45 minutes, it was just too good to switch locations right away. They said that apart from getting their pictures taken with Santa, they had never had professional photos done, so I was honored to be the first (sorry Santa)!

These two grew up in Chicagoland and went to the same high school but NEVER knew each other! Think of it, roaming through the adolescent hallways for years without ever realizing their future spouse was walking by. It seems funny, but it just wasn’t yet time for them to meet and fall in love. God had different timing planned for them, and His timing is always, always perfect. Last year, they went on a blind date, and ever since then I’ve been watching their love story unfold on Instagram, just knowing that they would get married. In fact when I saw Natalie earlier this summer I wondered where the ring was, and that very afternoon he popped the question. These two just light up a room, they are the kind of couple that you always want to be around because they are so joyful and silly. Most importantly, they love the Lord and you can feel it being in their presence, it’s a beautiful thing.

So, if you live in a shoe box and weren’t aware, the Cubs won the World Series last year and it was SORT of a big deal for the people who grew up around here. Naturally, these two had to squeeze in a few pictures with their “W” shirts at the end, which they apparently bought in some sketchy town in Illinois in the middle of the night, and made it out alive. I love that these silly stories become treasured memories that become legendary tales that we tell our kids one day.

Natalie and Billy, I hope you’ll cherish these photos for years to come, looking back on them and remembering this moment in time when your love was so new and your future so exciting. Congratulations!