Spring had yet to sprung in good ol’ Lake Forest. The trees were still bare. The pampas grass wasn’t standing as full or tall as it has in the past. And there was still a chill in the air coming from the lake. But none of that stopped Mary Claire and Nathan’s love from blossoming right before our eyes. Their presence alone was like a burst of color and sunshine in a sea of muted tones and starkness. The setting sun radiated off of them as they sat cuddled close together. Her legs were on top of his so they were facing each other. Fingers intertwined in a tight embrace. Eyes lovingly locked on one another. Soft giggles echoed through the air and delighted smiles found a permanent spot on their faces. They began doting over each other while taking a trip down memory lane. We asked them to take turns sharing their favorite memory together thus far. And it was as if time stood still for them. The sun continued to set. The birds sang their songs. And we swooned over them, making comments about how incredibly adorable they are. But Mary Claire and Nathan were so far removed from everything around them. It was just the two of them. Focused on nothing other than one another and so obviously falling more in love by the minute. 


This moment was powerful and romantic to say the least. While there’s nothing glamorous about sitting in the middle of a field, these two made the entire moment seem natural and easy. That’s definitely due to the fact that loving each other is so simple. Mary Claire and Nathan are best friends. They laugh uncontrollably together. They know each other inside and out and have SO many sweet memories together. Nathan even laughed and said he felt pressured to choose just one moment because he couldn’t narrow his favorites down. Like okay, how cute is that?! Their love for each other has reached a level of major contentment. Meaning that their personalities coincide so perfectly that being together brings peace into their lives. Mary Claire and Nathan are comfortable with each other and find joy in everything they do together. Whether that’s spontaneously going on an adventure with their pup or cuddling in the middle of a somewhat muddy field (oops, so sorry you guys), they are happy. If our real life expressions were displayed through emojis, both of them would have heart eyes on repeat. That’s how crazy in love these two are. And how affectionately they look at one another. Pinch us, we think we were dreaming. This entire session was just too good…


Mary Claire & Nathan, thank you for letting us be a part of your romance novel of a love story! We loved getting a glimpse into your relationship and witnessing your love for one another first hand. Our hearts are so full! There’s no doubt about it. You two were truly destined to be together. Thank you for sharing your smiles and laughter with us and for being down for all of our crazy ideas. We cannot wait to spend your big day with you as we watch you promise to spend forever with each other!