Her Side Project

And I’m her maid of honor! I am so thrilled to announce that one of my favorite people in the world, Christine, is engaged to the most perfect guy for her: Ryan.

After meeting in Cincinnati, OH, while attending Xavier’s PsyD program (yep, they’re gonna be doctors!), a girl from Austin, Texas and a boy from Eaton, Ohio became fast friends. After a year of study groups, attending social gatherings and working together in the student health center, they became nearly inseparable. There was something about the way Christine spoke about Ryan that made me a little suspicious of their “platonic relationship.” I detected greater feelings that she was not letting on. I remember accusing her of liking him, but she’d laugh it off and tell me I was funny (notice she never denied it). I’ll never forget the day she called me to confess her romantic interest. I had just arrived at my storage facility in Austin after making the long drive with the movers from Fort Worth. I remember Christine sharing details of their first date, and telling me how she really, really liked him. That it was different with him (in a good way), and that the transition from friendship to relationship was so easy it was hardly noticeable. All I could think was “I told you so.”

There’s something y’all should know about the significance of this engagement. I know most young girls grow up dreaming of their wedding and future husband, but this has been a main topic of conversation between C & I for many, MANY years. Through thick and thin we’ve been there for each other during exciting life milestones, sad breakups, going to different universities, etc, and while we currently live thousands of miles a part, we remain extremely close. Because of Christine I got to use a trampoline in her backyard growing up even when my parents wouldn’t buy me one. Because of Christine, I got to get my hair and makeup done at a salon in middle school for her 13th birthday party. Because of Christine, I have a first-hand understanding of what real friendship means. I couldn’t be luckier. These reasons and more are what make this engagement so special to me.

One night last Fall, shortly after Ryan popped the question, Christine and I were on one of our famous marathon phone conversations when she brought up wanting to take engagement pictures. “I’m kind of nervous! What are we going to look like? Is it going to be awkward to pose?”

I took the opportunity to reassure her. “Look,” I said, “this isn’t about making you and Ryan look really good (although that won’t be hard). This is about capturing you and Ryan as you are now, today: freshly engaged and eagerly anticipating starting the rest of your lives together.”

“Oh,” she said quietly. “I like that.”

So, as promised, I did just that: captured Christine & Ryan, just as they are today: wonderful people who are very much in love. The pops of color (including Christine’s red hot heels) and new cowboy boots for both of them truly make the pictures. Well that and their ear-to-ear grins, despite the freezing cold temperature!

Keep your fingers crossed we’re able to make the second part of the shoot happen: Cincinnati style – before the wedding this December. It’ll take some coordination and penny-pinching, but I’m determined to make it happen for my best friend.