I know that we’ve mentioned it before, but it bears repeating: Grant and I love engagement sessions. We love hanging out with people in love, getting to know them and watching the way they interact. By the end of the session, we are getting excited for the wedding and the chance to see them again. You’d think we might get tired of weddings after attending them weekly, but no. We inevitably spend our car ride home from an engagement session talking about how excited we are for the couple’s wedding day. Knowing someone and a bit of their story, spending time with people and hearing the anticipation they have for the life changes ahead… it keeps this whole thing from feeling like a job. We genuinely love spending time with these people and showing up to witness their wedding day.

Staci and Jason’s session is a perfect example of this. We hadn’t seen them since they booked us over a year ago. Since it had been so long, Jason had the perfect suggestion of meeting for coffee beforehand to chat and get comfortable before we started taking pictures. Grant and I enjoyed catching up on their lives and getting to know them better before pulling out the cameras and heading to Rockford. Here are a few of our favorite photos from the evening:

Love this.

We found such a perfect patch of light back in the trees by the river– my favorite!

Ok folks, I have to say it: Staci, you’re gorgeous. Many people– particularly brides– tell us how nervous they are before a session, and Staci was one of them. Seriously? I hope you can see that you have nothing to worry about!

The session was on a Sunday, so most of the shops and restaurants in Rockford were closed. Lucky us! We got the river boardwalk to ourselves and made use of the lamps as the sunlight faded.

Grant’s favorite.

Jason and Staci, we thoroughly enjoyed our evening with you both. As we drove out of Rockford, Grant and I both talked about how excited we are for your wedding day and how honored we feel to be invited in to capture it. We’ll see you in July!