Christian & Renee || cantigny gardens, il wedding photographer

Decades before either of them were born their grandparents went to the same church, their parents attended the same school, and their mothers have been the best of friends for years, so it was only natural that the two of them grow up as playmates.  They were friends long before Christian realized that it wasn't *cool* to play with girls (because of cooootieesss!) and while their friendship faded a bit while they both went through that awkward 11/12 year old phase (where you can't look the opposite gender in the eye) by the time they were in their teens they were back to being buds again.
They went to each others birthday parties, he taught her how to fish and play chess, and she returned the favor by teaching him how to do proper jumping jacks.  He was the older brother she never had, and he never thought of her as anything more than a little sister.  Seriously.  They told each other everything, including who their latest crush was, until one day when Renee asked Christian if he liked anyone and he had to admit that he did... and it was her.
It hasn't taken long for their lifetime friendship to turn into something so much sweeter and more meaningful to the two of them.  So while they have pictures of the two of them together dating back to their sandbox days, a few weeks ago when I was in Chicago for a wedding Renee scheduled a session with me to celebrate their almost year of being "officially" together, and to document a lifetime friendship that has turned into a forever kind of love.

Much Love, Jessica Shae

Brian & Jaymee: engaged || elgin, il engagement & wedding photographer

Brian & Jaymee grew up a few streets away from each other.  Their parents and brothers were good friends, they went to the same high school (at different times), and their families attended the same church.  But somehow their paths never crossed until they both ended up at the same college.  He knew of her so when he heard that she was a freshman at the college he was attending he offered to show her around.  "I wasn't trying to get a date, or anything like that.  I just genuinely wanted to help her and be friendly."  And friends they were.  They both hit it off instantly and were almost inseparable her first year there.  But when Jaymee realized that Brian liked her a little bit more than a friend, she made it clear to him that she didn't want anything more and certainly didn't want to mess up their awesome friendship :)

After a year of college together Jaymee transferred to a college halfway across America and any possibility of more than a friendship between the two of them seemed to permanently fade away.  She dated several other guys but always found herself comparing them to Brian and each time they came up short.  "They just weren't cool like Brian.  They kind of felt boring compared to him."  And every Winter and Summer break she went home they would pick right up where they left off and spend the majority of their breaks together.  It wasn't until Jaymee found out that Brian had a serious girlfriend that she started to question why she'd been so adamant about just staying "friends".  "I was sure they were going to get married, and I realized that I was sad about that.  So when I found out a few months later that they had broken up and he was the one to break it off I was pretty happy."  But now the tables were turned.  Jaymee was the one interested in him and he seemed content with just her friendship.  After a few little hints from Jaymee, Brian seemed to realize that she was no longer interested in the "just friends" rule and he was very happy to make her his girlfriend.

Two years later they're now happily engaged and going to be married this December!  I had fun with these two in Chicago last weekend shooting their engagement pictures and then talking wedding planning afterwards over dinner (the best gourmet macaroni I've everrrr had) at a popular little restaurant in downtown Elgin.

I can't wait for their gorgeous winter wedding!

Much Love,
Jessica Shae