2011 was a great year and I had the opportunity to document so many incredible days in the lives of numerous couples. In fact, if you would have told me all that would have happened in my life and the life of my business, I don’t know that I would have believed you. And though I have often recounted how my latest shoot ranks up there as one of my newest favorites, few rank up there with my most recent.
This past November my younger brother of 23 years got engaged to his girlfriend of 3 years. They met when my brother spent his freshman year at a college in Minnesota and didn’t start dating until after he transferred to a school in the Chicago suburbs. Not the best planning on their part considering Ashely was still up in Minnesota, but they made it work. And I guess to say that they “made it work” does a disservice to how their relationship thrived in these less than ideal circumstances. It’s like the more miles they logged up and down 90, the more their relationship grew. Sure, it wasn’t always easy, but I’ve long respected how they persevered in the midst of a situation that many other couples could have thrown in the towel.
What to say about my brother… Well, there are brothers that you love because they’re family and then there are brothers that you love just because of who they are. And though I’ve always loved my brother because he’s my brother, it’s more accurate to describe him as the later. Over the last few years, he has become one of my best friends. I just flat out enjoy who he is and I’m so proud of the man that he continues to develop into. Whether we’re sitting at a Chicago bar watching a Bulls or Bears game, or we’re stuck in Yosemite National Park sleeping in our rental car for 3 nights straight because we forgot to bring a tent we manage to have a great time together. His friends can attest to his unmatched loyalty, his strength of character, and his commitment to his faith. It’s for these reasons and so many more that I am beyond honored to be standing in his and Ashley’s wedding as his best man this June.
I always give Ashley a hard time because the first time I met her (at a time that I knew my brother was interested in her before they started dating), in the brief interaction we had, I thought she was giving my brother the run-around. I swear she was playing hard to get but she denies it. Once they started dating and I got to spent time with this girl who stole my brother’s heart though, my own heart quickly warmed up to her too – a fact I know to be true of the rest of my family as well. I mean, what’s not to love? She’s fun, she’s cute, and she has one of the kindest and gentlest hearts. What’s more is that she doesn’t miss a beat with my family’s often quirky sense of humor – a prerequisite my siblings have extolled over the years with anyone we’ve dated.
David and Ashley, I couldn’t be more excited to celebrate your relationship and I’m honored to have documented the start of this journey together with your engagement pictures. I’m so excited for your wedding and thrilled to be welcoming Ashely into our family. I love you both!
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