Theirs wasn’t a story of falling, or even of happenstance.  It was a story of persistence.  On her part mostly, as it took a year to fully woo him.  With cookies, and phone calls and friendship.  She would say she wore him down.  He would say he made her wait, but was always willing.  But that was all fine by her, and him.  They were in it for the long haul.  They wanted years, not moments.  Lazy Sunday afternoons and busy Tuesday mornings, not just Friday nights. And so they built it, one laugh at a time.  What grew were trips across the world, chances to stand together agains opposition, opportunities to foster dreams.  All glued together with a goofy candor, and an impish smile.

Courtney and Ben love Disney World.  L.O.V.E.  As in, the sort of love that draws them to its brightly colored confections several times a year.  So, it was only natural that we travel there for their engagement session.  A welcome escape from chilly Wisconsin winter, Florida and Disney World provided a wonderfully playful backdrop for this equally playful couple.

Their first encounter was altogether unpleasant.  He was upset, she was side-swiped.  There were thousands of miles and a thick accent between them.  The kind of typical work-day exchange that goes forgotten.  Some time later they had a second chance.  He was there, in Chicago, in the flesh, instead of calling from Austria.  She was standing there, arms full of carefully color-coded and organized folders, introducing him to the project they were working on.  The careful preparation she exhibited wasn’t something he could forget.  Neither was her warm smile.  She had turned him down dozens of times before he finally came clean with her.  ”I’m courting you, you realize.” he had said.  She had smiled nervously.  ”Yes, and I’m turning you down, politely”.  The attraction was there, he knew it.  Somehow, he just had to get her to ignore the roadblocks.  He flipped the pages of the book in front of him.  Spiral bound, full of hope, it was a labor of love that he hoped would prove to her, page by page, why they should be together.  He had carefully arranged and assembled his arguments.  But would she agree?  He studied the cover and then feverishly covered it in silver ink proclaiming his love and signed his name.  No turning back now.

Alys and Dietmar have truly embraced their city home.  They love the Chicago streets, and everything they have to offer.  They’ve become experts at living life fully no matter where they are – Chicago, Austria, his apartment or hers.  So we had to take a few quick shots in this place they call home.  And then it only made sense to continue with something else that feels like home to them – cooking dinner together.  He’s playfully self-assured, and she is quietly confident, a fun combination.   Spending time with them, you can see that Dietmar is the one who gives permission to Alys’ softer side, and Alys is the one who brings the twinkle and wink to Dietmar’s eyes.  It is all scheduled to come together at Riverbend in Kohler, a place that is neither here nor there, but delightfully in-between.

Elizabeth and John bought a new house in anticipation of their wedding, which is just around the corner.  They are wonderfully nostalgic, and saving all co-habitation for after they are Mr. and Mrs. – so their house is empty, still waiting for them to populate it with furniture they will select together.  An empty house filled with light sounded like a photography playground to me.  So, we snatched up this opportunity to capture a fleeting moment – the “just before” of Elizabeth and John.  And, we threw in a little pizza too.

“Yes, we have been apart too long.  But how are you going to get out here?  You are supposed to report to work in a week!”

“I’ll delay my offer for a year, we’ll see what happens.”  she insisted.

He sighed, shook his head a bit and held the phone tighter.  She was always the more impulsive one.  The one ready to leap, jump and run, whenever her heart told her to.

“Eric, I miss you, and I’m tired of chasing each other around the country.” she lobbed at him after his short silence.

“Me too”, he answered, a little too quickly, not wanting her to think he didn’t feel the same.  He did.  He looked around his sparse apartment.  He’d been here a year already and yet it looked like he had just moved in.  Yes, the clerkship took up most of his time, but clearly he wasn’t really living here, he was in a holding pattern too.

“Let’s do it!” he blurted out, a smile spreading across his face.  ”You’ll move here…..and we’ll see what happens.”

Of course, what happened after Kristen moved to Seattle to be with Eric was a year of finally being together, a year where she gave up that offer in Chicago, where he found another clerkship, a year where hey fell deeper in love with each other, and in love with their new adopted city of Seattle as well.  An engagement ring, a new home, an adorable puppy, they all naturally grew out of that one decision to wait, and see what happens.

Kristen and Eric were the consummate tour guides, showing me all of their favorite Seattle spots for their engagement session. It was my first time seeing the city, and it might have just been their infectious affection for it, but I fell for it a bit too.  The light is incredible, the sights are numerous and there is always a sweet little pocket just around the corner.  A Seattle wedding would have been a joy for these two, but they’ve decided to return to their Wisconsin roots instead for a morning affair that will showcase all their favorites and show off their hometown to their friends collected from near and far.