I simply adore when I get to meet a new couple and spend time getting to know them during their engagement session. But there is something EVEN better about spending the day documenting the love of a dear, dear friend and her amazing fiancé.

Their love story began at college in Syracuse. Jen was chatting with her friends as they stood in line to enter their annual fall sorority formal … when she heard a guy behind her mumble something under his breath about disliking a girl who had cut the line. Jen, intrigued by his comment, turned around and explained that she too felt the same way. They bonded over their shared dislike of this girl. As the evening went on, they left behind their actual dates for the formal to get to know each other. It was this night, the first night they met, that Eric proclaimed he was going to marry Jen.

And this September in Vermont, he will do just that. Sure, their story was full of twists and turns along the way. They lived in other countries … time zones away from each other. Jen chose to move to Chicago to work in advertising while Eric moved to New York City. They stayed friends. Talked. Somehow always remaining in each other’s lives a tiny bit.

Four years after they first met, while Jen was visiting New York for a birthday party, her and Eric rekindled their love story. They decided to take a leap of faith to date again … this time to be in a long distance relationship. It was long weekends, schedules and maybe a color coded calendar (thanks to Jen’s planning nature) to see each other and make this relationship work until Eric moved to Chicago two years ago.

I had so so so much fun documenting the love between the two of you, Jen and Eric. It has been so amazing to see your relationship spark and continue to grow since I first met Jen five years ago. I’m so happy for the both of you, and I can’t thank you so much for letting me tell your story through my lens. I love you both! Congrats again! xo

We started their engagement session at the Lincoln Park Zoo. Jen and Eric couldn’t stop laughing when we first started … and for that I was totally smitten. I love nothing more than authentic laughing photos …. especially this one …. (my favorite photo… yet.)

When we walked up to the zoo, we all laughed that they were selling ice cream because it was SO cold out (cold for the end of May). Thirty minutes later, Jen wanted ice cream. And I was there to capture all the cuteness.

I’m pretty much in love with Jen’s ring. Like in L-O-V-E. But I mean … look at this beaut! I thought about keeping it … just saying … ;)

Jen wanted to do something “super” Chicago for their pictures … so we ended up at Wieners Circle for some Chicago hot dogs and some photos. Eric and I were a little unsure about the idea, but I admit … these pictures are pretty cute, Jen!

We ended our session at the Kinzie Street Bridge. Eric wanted to do a serious face all day. So here is his big debut. I think they both nailed it. And I am obsessed with this shot.

I’ll leave you with this one because it is just too sweet not too ….

To see even more photos from Jen + Eric’s Chicago engagement session click the link or watch the slideshow below.