Just about two years ago, on a gorgeous December afternoon, I met Sarah and Jeff for the first time, in a tiny coffee shop in West Loop. We laughed and chatted about their wedding plans, and dreamed about what their wedding day would look like. I learned that Sarah was a gifted nurse, that Jeff loved candy, and that their love story started on a first date at Big Star 🙂 I knew there was something special about this sweet couple sitting in front of me, but I couldn’t quite put my finger on it. Later, when they decided to have me photograph their wedding, I just remember feeling so excited to get to know these two people better!

Fast-forward to October 3rd, 2020: Sarah and Jeff’s picture-perfect wedding day didn’t look exactly like what they had planned when we talked in December 2019, but over the course of that year, I had already learned how resilient and kind and patient these two people were. Plans changed, and they rolled with it. Rain rolled in, and they laughed, because — finally — it was their wedding day. We took their wedding day portraits in the gorgeous gardens at Elawa Farm, surrounded by big, beautiful arborvitaes, and they danced under twinkly lights at their tented reception. I watched the way that Jeff looked at Sarah, and the way that Sarah talked about Jeff. Over and over, I heard people say, “These two were meant for each other,” and as I hugged them goodbye before Marty and I left their wedding reception, I absolutely couldn’t agree more.

Now, here we are, another year later! Sarah contacted me to see if I’d be available for a portrait session to celebrate their one-year anniversary — and WOW, I was overjoyed. I love staying in touch with my couples via social media, but it’s even better when I get to reconnect with my couples in person! Sarah and Jeff have had an incredibly challenging year, filled with many months of intensity and difficulty. And wow. After spending a morning with them, I’ve seen how the adversity and challenges they have faced have brought them even closer together. They’ve always had something special between them (candy and Toby and Big Star and inside jokes and a really special connection that’s hard to articulate)… but now there’s an even deeper peace between these two. It’s a beautiful, lovely, amazing thing to see, and I’m so grateful that I got to capture a piece of it with my camera. We strolled around Maggie Daley Park, and would you believe it? The same big beautiful arborvitaes from their wedding day at Elawa Farm were there at Maggie Daley, towering over us and lining the garden. It was like their wedding day all over again (but this time, we had a tiny bit of glowy sunshine!!). My heart was so happy after this session!

And so… happy first anniversary, Sarah and Jeff! You’ve earned every day of this year, and I can’t wait to see what the future holds for you. Love you to pieces! Say hi to Toby for me 🙂