Dan and Kelley Got Engaged!

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A couple weekends ago I had the pleasure of spending the afternoon with Dan and Kelley. I absolutely love these two! It was a great day, we traveled to most of the iconic Chicago landmarks. And I even learned something in the process. Dan and I go way back, we met in high school sometime, I think at a football game, and if you know Dan that seems about right. Dan went to another high school but lived within our high school’s boundary, so we had a lot of mutual friends. My high school sweetheart actually went to Dan’s school. Over the years it was amazing to find out just how many friends and connections we had.

We remained friends in high school, but as our paths took us different ways in college we lost touch. We finally reconnected a year or two ago through the wonderful social networking sites such as Myspace and Facebook. (click links to check out my pages) He knew of my photography business and he had a chocolate fountain business–yummy!

Then I was so happy when I heard that he got engaged on New Years 2008! (story in a moment) He immediately thought of me for the photography, I was so honored, but worried as it took several attempts before we got a date in October that worked for them and I was free. I am so happy it worked out and I can’t wait for their wedding in Hoffman Estates on October 25!

I was so excited to meet Kelley and she’s everything I could have wished for my friend, these two are both the sweetest and kindest people you will meet-oh yeah and they both have great sense of humors and are so much fun to be around!

We started their engagement session in Millennium Park and then headed to Grant Park. I love how the park looks different all the time. I joked with them when they wanted to photograph there, since it seems everyone wants to go there. For many years I lived only a few blocks from there, so I know the parks well. But I am truly amazed every time and with each season how it can all look different and new. I enjoy taking couples there and showing them around.

So Dan and Kelley’s story is so cute, a love at first sight kind of fairytale it was fate story…But first one more photo from the park. You can tell being around these two, just how much they love each other.

Kelley had just moved to Illinois at the last minute from West Virginia just a week prior, it was Dan’s 25th birthday and Kelley went with some mutual friends to the celebration at Famous Freddies Roadhouse. (Ironically at first Dan’s older brother tried to hit on Kelley, but she figured she was too old for him.) Kelley unknowingly sat across the table from the birthday boy, Dan, and they started to talk…the great conversation lasted all night. Dan finally got the courage to ask for her phone number . Of course, just as soon as he asked, someone at the table had jokingly hidden his phone from him, he embarrassingly was looking everywhere for it. It was an amusing site, and he did still get her phone number. After the night was over, Dan called her immediately upon getting home and then set up their first date. They got together the next night and have been pretty much inseparable since. Dan figures he couldn’t have asked for a better birthday present!

Here we are at a hidden gem in the city, one of my favorite walls, tucked away in a parking lot. It was fun trying to find it again, it’s tough without Melissa McClure (this is our wall, we found it together a couple years ago and return to it again and again, its easier to find when you have two people who knows where it is.) Thanks for being patient with me Dan and Kelley while we went up and down stairs, in one entrance, followed by another, through elevators, and finally found it, so worth it!

On this past New Year’s Eve Dan made sure that it would just be the two of them together to celebrate New Years. As the day and night progressed, Kelley was getting really upset because she had left New Year’s plans up to him and he hadn’t planned anything fun!

Just before midnight, Dan sat himself on the floor next to where Kelley was sitting on their couch. When it turned to Midnight, he turned around and said “Happy New Year!” followed by “Will you marry me?” Kelley was so shocked that she immediately responded with “Are you serious?!” and then realized he was holding a ring in his hand. After a few seconds a “Yes, of course!” was recited.

Classic Tina Jean photo, I love finding reflections everywhere, Dan and Kelley looked at me a little strange when I asked them to sit on the ground next to the black wall above. This area was filled with beautiful architecture, unexpected, historical and even some hidden.

This is my favorite photo of the day! I just love this hidden courtyard.

Thank you Dan and Kelley for spending the day with me. I can’t wait until your wedding.

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