double.

do we have to stand so far apart?

that’s better.

happiness is… tugging on a tie.

brilliance.

good luck, you two.

-ty

late october? illinois? or lost away on an island far away?

a beachside (does it even exist?) in central illinois, was transformed into carribean paradise for but a day:

a prayer, an embrace, a moment in time:

color just exploded everywhere:

a moment together, away from it all:

as your new life together has not only begun, but is flourishing, we hope great things for you, jill + paul…

there i said it.

and i don’t take it back.

and they simply insisted we take them to the windy city for a round two engagement session, and, just having a really strong need to have people like us, we obliged.

we think we should oblige more often:

powered by the red sun of krypton (or is that the yellow sun of earth?)…

don’t worry michelle, he’ll save you:

and as time stands still,

you can see love everywhere.

still getting married (and still not getting enough of the other) july 5, 2008, the lovely michelle and andrew.

it just so happened, that the fair followed andrew’s lead in bringing great joy to others (by just a couple days). being the suckers we are for light and color, we just had to kidnap these two, good-looking sweet-hearts and fill them with sweets, movements, and carnies.

life swings around. you do it when it you’re five as faraway from girls as you can, and you do it at twenty-one as close as you can:

sweet:

andrew, she’s said “yes” already…

pop. pop.

bang.

never too busy:

gorgeous:

what happens when we run out of ice cream?

oh, i’m sure someone will have an idea or two…

to be wed july 5, 2008. congrats, m+a – we love you guys.

not that you can improve on perfection, but, here’s a shot:

you know, whitney knows where i live, and, even though i didn’t take this and she appears to be a willing participant, i feel my days on this earth are few. can’t resist:

just a few trinkets we found lying around:

show stealer:

sweet stealers:

and, yes, ben showed up too…

you bet he did:

may you find grace and joy wherever you go…

and it happened.

what’s a wedding without a little trouble (phil’s still keeping it cool):

obligatory. but if they must, they must:

i don’t know what people having babies keep drinking in their water, but all the kids at all the weddings lately have just been adorable:

see what i’m saying? (tracy’s already nephew – and now phil’s too):

and the get-away:

congrats, t+p: we love you.

molly made her own dress.  here she is…  striking and stunning and taken. sorry, boys:

in the thick of it, molly and nick slip away for a few moments together:

no one gets away, today:

you had to close your eyes to keep from being knocked over by beauty everywhere this day:

what’s a wedding without a little van halen?

a quick and long hug with grandpa,

and they’re off…

one year and going strong. here’s to another 99, m+n!

i have had the joy of personally knowing phil ennis since he was a wee lad in high school. i can remember asking phil over the years when he was going to find himself a woman, and settle down.

“not interested. nope.” and then it was off to the playstation 2 or guy ritchie movie of the hour.

and then this girl came along.

and they were friends.

and nothing more.

and then they both headed overseas on a small team.

and when they came back, the nothing more was something more.

and then my questions changed to when he was going to make her his forever.

“i don’t know. shut up.”

was the story.

until they headed overseas, once again, on a seemingly innocent, Christmas break excursion to see old friends.

and of course, upon their return, tracy has this gorgeous rock affixed her hand. and so it begins.

phil, i’m convinced more than ever you know exactly what you’re doing when you get out of bed in the morning.

and so, it was my treat to take phil and tracy to the city of their would be home for the next year, for a romantic, run-around engagement session (always a third-wheel, and never the romantic):

but hey, it’s a livin’.

to be wed june 8, 2007: tracy + phil. congrats, you two.

first up:

a girl in white. a guy in uniform. and another good looking wedding: here’s jenny and josh who got married on new years, 2006:

we love catching the b+g laughing about things only they know:

the bride and groom weren’t the only good looking catches that night:

it’s easy to see why any girl’d go ga-ga for a man in uniform:

timeless:

j+j – hope you’re in more love now than you were this night!

you just never know.

all we know is everything just turned out perfect for rebekah and david. a great-looking party, beautiful, white Christmas lights all-over (sometimes they can be gaudy), and,

you would have no idea it was cold out. and even if you did, it warmed up quick:

the groomsmen were composed of a couple military guys, and, i believe, a couple of acrobats…

a quick pause, a deep breath:

a glimpse of the future, or twin nieces?

everybody who knows these two simply know they’re most comfortable in each other’s arms…

congrats r+d, you are loved.