It’s not everyday that a childhood friend,
someone who followed you through all those awkward years,
wants to hire you as his wedding photographer.
You know, the biggest day of his life yet.
And while I know that’s how each client might feel, childhood friends bring that realization home just a little deeper.
Meet Cody & Katie.
Adventurers & soon-to-be forever lovers.
Their long distance relationship – dating & engagement – has me feeling all the feels for them. Add that to an epic location (fact: literally in the middle of Indiana cornfields), and those feels abound all the more…
Here’s their love story &
too many favorites from their adventure engagement session!
“Kaitlyn was a freshman and I was a junior in high school. We would talk every once in a while – and even managed to hang out a few times at birthday parties or soccer games.
Over the next year, I realized I kind of liked this girl.
Unfortunately for me, Kaitlyn moved to Maryland my senior year and
my chances of pursuing a relationship dwindled
(I later learned that Kaitlyn DID like me at the same time).
“We tried to move on from each other.
But other relationships just kept fading.
When we finally found each other again, we were miles apart and I was about to begin basic training for the Air Force.
But again, our communication faded.
Kaitlyn unfriended me – trying to move on, for the second time.
But I guess I don’t pick up on those types of clues
because when Kaitlyn’s name popped up on my Instagram sometime later,
I decided to text her.
We knew this to be true:
I liked her.
And she (still) liked me.
By the beginning of 2015, Kaitlyn moved back to Indiana.
It made sense to start talking again,
this time with more of a relationship in mind.
Soon after, on April 18, 2015, we officially started dating.
A little less than a year into dating we started talking about getting married.
I came home in April 2016 and we looked at rings together. We both picked out a ring we liked the most, but didn’t tell each other which one.
Lucky for me, I chose THE ring.
And so the lying began.
I told Kaitlyn that it would take me six months,
or maybe even a full year,
to save up enough money to buy it.
Read: I already had the money and I bought the ring.
I knew exactly where I wanted to propose:
Little Muskie Lake resort in Wisconsin.
It’s significance?
My mom got engaged there.
Now I just had to convince Kaitlyn to come on my family’s vacation.
That, and ask her dad’s permission.
Regardless of how stupid I may have sounded over the phone,
he happily gave me the “yes,” I was waiting for.
My entire family knew I was going to propose at this point
– talk about scary –
but Kaitlyn?
Completely oblivious.
I told her to pack a cute outfit because I wanted to do a little photoshoot with her (not an abnormal request since I really like photography) while we were there.
And then the day came.
She was there. I had the ring.
Before the “photoshoot,” we went out to a little nearby town.
I wanted to show her everything this place had to offer
and have one last special date before popping the question.
After doing all the touristy things, she was pretty tired
and didn’t want to do the photoshoot back at the lake.
Obviously, I insisted.
She caved and we walked out to the water
– with my best friend in tow, manning the camera.
I snuck the ring out of my bag and stood next to Kaitlyn.
But then I froze.
I couldn’t figure out how to “pose,” now that everything had become so real.
This was THE moment,
and it felt like time was at a stand-still.
My friend repeatedly directed, “Okay, next pose!” until I snapped out of it.
The next thing I know,
I was down on one knee looking up at her.
I began rambling.
To my relief, Kaitlyn said “YES.”
And just like that, we began planning our future together…”
Cody & Kaitlyn,
Wow. Wow. Wow. Reconnecting (and officially meeting you, Katie) with you two was a highlight of the summer. Thank you for sharing your honest and vulnerable love story. Thank you for adventuring. Thank you for just being real. I know that good things are truly in store for you two! Only one more month to go. And then from there, it all just gets better & better. Long distance teaches you the depths of love & commitment.
Continue to choose each other.
And hey, have fun!
Always,
–Tara M (& Stephen)
