To say this session was an absolute dream would be an understatement. Not only did Amelia Cole Weddings + Events do an outstanding job with styling and floral design, Carly and Adam were PERFECT. 

It’s always fun to get to know the couple in the photo a little better, so I’ve sprinkled in their story throughout this post. And their story is all in Carly’s words from her original contest entry. I may or may not have teared up when I first read it, but I definitely did. So go ahead and grab a tissue or two before you settle into this one…

We met in high school. I always had a secret crush on him, and I’ll admit now that I would purposely take the long way to class just to have a chance to talk to him each day.

I can remember driving up to Wisconsin one weekend with friends, and sharing the ride up with him. I kept looking in the rearview mirror to see him in the backseat, telling awful jokes – and laughing at them anyway. I wanted so much for him to notice me.

Little did I know that he too had a secret crush on me – but as high school goes, neither one of us acted on it. College came and we both went on our separate ways.

To be completely honest, I forgot about him until a few years passed and we ran into one another in a crowded Chicago bar on Halloween. He was dressed head to toe in authentic German lederhosen, and I had on a ridiculous hot pink ballerina tutu. At that exact moment, all the butterflies came rushing back…and they’ve yet to leave.

We quickly began dating and realized we were “the one” for each other. We got engaged, and exactly a year to the date, we married surrounded by our family and closest friends.

Just about 5 years from that Halloween night, we welcomed our baby boy into the world – who is a spitting image of my husband I might add. Watching my boys together makes me fall in love over and over again with my husband.

As he plays guitar to the baby, he looks up with his big toothless grin admiring his Daddy, and I can’t help but smile myself. How lucky am I to have married my best friend?

If only my 16-year-old self could have known long ago in those high school hallways how beautiful my life would turn out.

Thanks so much for sharing your story, Carly! And also a huge thank you to all of the vendors below who made this shoot possible!

Styling and Floral Design: Amelia Cole Weddings + Events

Drapery: A Posh Production

Cake and Macarons: Sugar Fixe

Vintage Furniture: Rent Vintage Chicago

Stationery: Bluebird Paper Company