“Jamison + Jamie’s engagement session was inspired by the couple’s love of the city, boating, the water, and Jamison’s proposal to Jamie which was on the beach. The proposal occurred with their toes in the sand, at the bride’s family lake house in Michigan. We considered an on-location engagement session and us meeting the couple in Michigan. But later we decided, because of the timing of the late in the fall session and the season not being quite right for boating, to alternately chose to capture photos downtown.

 

On the wedding day, a number of guests will be traveling into Chicago from Indiana. So, we decided on locations and photos in the city’s Gold Coast neighborhood. Jamie grew up in the Chicago Western suburb of Wheaton and Jamison is from Carmel near Indianapolis. The two met while attending Purdue University and during Jamison’s final year of school. After graduation, sadly Jamison was offered a job moving him to Ohio and therefore he had to move away from Jamie. After a few months and another job offer later, fate and determination brought the couple back together again in Indianapolis. Next Jamison planned his proposal to Jamie. That proposal took place last Summer and Jamie said nearly her entire family who were all visiting for a reunion were able to watch as it all happened from afar.

 

“In July, Jamison and I traveled to my parents’ lake house in Michigan. I went a few days earlier in the week to spend additional time with my aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandmother, and on Friday Jamison arrived to spend the rest of the weekend with everyone. On Saturday, we spent the day swimming, hanging out on the beach, and cruising around on the jet-ski. Before dinner, my grandma insisted on taking the family on a pontoon boat ride. I found it odd that Jamison decided to stay back and help clean with my dad and uncle. Little did I know, Jamison was in the process of asking my dad for his blessing while I was on the boat. Later that evening and after dinner, I was about to eat a piece of cake when Jamison asked if I would help him train our Labrador Retriever, Jaxon. I agreed to help as the sun was beginning to set. We went down to the lake (piece of cake still in-hand) and Jamison threw a dummy into the water for Jax to retrieve. Jamison then had Jax bring it back to me, so I could throw it for a second time. As I set my piece of cake down on the beach chair and took the dummy from Jax I noticed there was something written in black marker. I read the dummy, and in big bold letters it said, “WILL U B MY MOMMY 4-EVER?” I was confused, shocked, and excited all at the same time! I turned around to find Jamison on one knee. He then proposed while the rest of my family was watching from the deck. I immediately started crying and hugging him. When I finally composed myself, he put the ring on my finger and we turned around to find everyone cheering ( including the neighbors who unexpectedly witnessed the entire proposal from their beach. ) We were extremely fortunate to have my brother and his girlfriend capture the entire moment on camera. It was the perfect beginning to our vacation and a wonderful ending to my family reunion!”

 

Congrats Jamie and Jamison. Can’t tell you both enough how much we enjoyed spending the day with you. It was great getting to know you two, meeting you both finaly for the first time, talking about boating, wakeboarding, the wedding, and thanks for letting us capture the love between the two of you. You two have so much chemistry… thanks for making our jobs so simple! Hope you enjoy our favorites from the shoot.”

 

 

 

♥ Jamie provided the details of her clothing selections and nautical styled fashions. Her black dress with gold button embellishments was from Bebe and the second red and black outfit was from White House Black Market ( red heels from Charlotte Russe. )

 

Jamison and Jamie’s ceremony will take place in July at Saint James Chapel ( Archbishop Quigley Center ) in Chicago, Illinois. Located at the corner of Rush and Pearson Streets in downtown Chicago, St. James Chapel is steps from the “Magnificent Mile” and The InterContinental Hotel where the couple’s reception will be taking place. J+J say they fell in love with the chapel from the minute they walked inside. Quigley’s Saint James Chapel is a replica of Paris’ Sainte-Chapell and was completed in 1919. Its French Gothic Revival design, arched windows and soaring vertical buttresses, and exterior walls surrounded and guarded by statues of saints, has described the church as “a hidden jewel” in the midst of a bustling commercial and residential neighborhood on Chicago’s Gold Coast.

“Meet Gary + Michelle, they are our newest friends whom we LOVED working with for their portraits. Gary + Michelle contacted us after discovering our photo blog and they mentioned how they were especially drawn into our fashion-foward engagement photography style. We will be shooting Gary and Michelle’s Naperville wedding later this year, in the warmer Summer weather. However for their Winter time engagement session, it was brrrr a little cold outside. G+M decided on a suburban shoot with locations nearby their Naperville home.

 

You might be wondering, why did we take Gary + Michele into a laundry mat for this engagement session? Well after getting to know these two a little better we learned Gary and Michelle’s first meeting was in their college dorm’s laundromat. They were smiling and giggling while telling us about the story… and we eventually discussed how it would make for a great concept within the photos. So in knowing that these college sweethearts had a unique story and had plans for an indoor shooting location to warm up a bit for their session, we chose a stop inside a nearby laundry mat. It was fun re-inacting their first meeting, Michelle was studying for her Geology class when Gary first approached her. With some persistence, Michelle decided to let Gary take her out on a date, and the rest is history. We loved hearing their fun and unique story!

 

Gary and Michelle thank you in spending the day with us, we had a blast working together and enjoyed talking more over our Tapas dinner in Naperville after the shoot. Looking forward to seeing you again at the wedding + celebrating with your Naperville and Wheaton family and friends. Enjoy the photos.”

 

 

 

Gary + Michelle have set an August wedding date with their ceremony taking place at Holy Spirit Catholic Community Church in Naperville and reception at DiNolfo’s.