It’s finally here! The wedding day of my best friend. Ryan and Lauren celebrated their marriage in West Olive, Michigan at The Barn at Stanton Crossing.
Lauren and I grew up together on the same street in Middleville. We dreamed up stories, songs, and miniature towns together. We worked hard at schoolwork and even harder at telling stories. Lauren taught me how to have better grammar and, more importantly, how to love other people. Grandpa Sweers used to tell us that we were like David and Johnathan in the Bible. We were taught about how they were such close friends and how they strengthened one another. Just like Proverbs 27:17 says,
“Iron sharpens iron and one man sharpens another.”
This is who we were and how we lived. Encouraging. Up-lifting. Strengthening.
As we grew older, we made somewhat of a pact that neither of us would date before college. As much as I treasured my friendship with Lauren, I broke the pact during my senior year of high school and started dating Ryan. That’s right, spoiler alert #1: we both married Ryans. Just like every best friend story goes, we went to separate colleges and started carving new paths apart from one another. What I love about my friendship with Lauren is that even though we would go weeks and months without catching up, our “realness” with one another always remained. It wouldn’t matter how much or little had changed. Nothing would take away how much we cared for and loved one another.
One of the first times I met Ryan (Lauren’s Ryan, to clarify), I was actually photographing a concert. He and Lauren weren’t even dating yet. However, Ryan drove himself, Lauren, and ALL the “gal pals” through a total blizzard in December just so they could see Lauren’s family perform at the concert. You best believe I had an inkling Ryan was more than “just a friend”.. and indeed he was. Shortly after, he and Lauren made it official and FINALLY I could start pestering her with details. Her and Ryan’s first date was a picnic on a Lake Michigan beach with peanut butter and jelly sandwiches (spoiler alert #2: we recreated their first date during their wedding day portrait session!).
Throughout their courtship, it became more and more obvious that Ryan and Lauren were meant to spend their lives together. Ryan and Lauren were inseparable. Ryan became a part of our “framily” and we even tried out different nicknames for Ryan to lighten the confusion of the two Ryans and one Brian in our group. Nothing stuck. A few months before Ryan proposed to Lauren, I had asked to take their portraits. However, Lauren politely declined saying something along the lines of “that’s super sweet of you, but, they might look like engagement pictures.. and we might be shooting those soon anyways if you know what I mean”. Cue the ALL CAPS text thread.
Sure enough, not soon after that conversation, Ryan popped the question and gifted her with a stunning rosy engagement ring. We shot their engagement photographs and MY GOSH you could tell they were crazy in love. (see their engagement session HERE!)
….and finally, after much planning, decision-making, and bridal-showering, they made it official. Their November wedding was sunny (which is crazy for Michigan) and filled with tears. The sweet couple wrote their own vows pledging to always put each other first.
Lauren and Ryan, the hugest of congratulations to the both of you. It’s so obvious that the two of you have an immense love for one another and that you will continue to put each other first. What the two of you share is so special and honorable. May your marriage be blessed day in and day out. Thank you for allowing me to help capture your wedding day. It’s been the greatest honor to stand by your side while dating, engaged, and now, married. Lauren, just as we were each other’s “iron” when we were growing up together, may your marriage to Ryan be your closest and strongest “iron”.
Love you both,
Ellen
