All Grown Up…

I (Joel) do not remember the first time I saw Lauren, but I am sure it was when she was very, very young. My first specific memory of her that I can recall right now was the time when I babysat her and her younger sister Amaris at their apartment. Aladdin the movie had just come out on video, and that night was the first time (and only time, incidentally) that I watched the movie. It was probably 1993 or so, which would have made me 13 and she around 7. Growing up, though, she was always my sister Elisabeth’s friend. Like most friends of younger siblings, they go into a special category where you know them a little better than the other kids, but they are still so much younger than yourself. As we got a little older, though, things changed. I taught Lauren for a year (maybe two) when she was in high school, and it was around that time when the gap of years between us drastically shrank. I remember thinking how she and the other girls in my sister’s circle had all grown up so much and I did not even realize it. It honestly was the first time in my life where I had that experience of suddenly realizing that people had grown older and changed from little kids to young adults. I have had that experience many times since then, but that first time really sticks in the mind for me. There were these little girls who were talkative, bubbly, sometimes slightly annoying to a “much more mature” teenage guy, and suddenly…they were intelligent, beautiful, funny, and interesting young women. Over this time, I became closer to them, and I began to view many of them as little sisters in addition to my actual sister. I had that same protecting urge as I have with Elisabeth, and I deeply cared about their futures and the decisions they were making. I even felt a little responsible for them. It was strange…I had never felt that type of weight before.

Years went on and the girls went to school, some got married, one married my best friend and started having kids. Things change as time goes, and understandably, the feeling of needing to protect others decreases when they are more capable of taking care of themselves. You still want them to be happy and safe and have everything in life possible, but you just don’t think about it quite as much.

During Lauren and Lars’s ceremony, it really hit me really powerfully again for the first time in while. I saw this young girl in front of me who I had seen grown up so much in front of my eyes, and I saw her entering into the most life-changing event she has known. As I was shooting the photos, it slammed into me how deeply I still wanted the best for her and for all of her dreams to be paled by the amazing reality awaiting her. It was, without a doubt, the most emotional wedding for me that I have ever shot.

Lauren, you a gorgeous and so amazing, and I am so happy for you and Lars. I love you so much, and I am so excited for what is in store for the two of you. May the grace of God be always upon you both.

Joel

p.s. We had the chance again to work with SweetTea Media who did the video for Lauren and Lars. We said it before, but these people are amazing. Check out the video from their day here.

p.p.s For anyone using Complete Music for your dj, you definitely should ask for Zach. This was also our second time working with him at the dj station, and he does an amazing job. We see many…well…not so good dj’s, and we see an occasional very good one. Zach is up there at the top of that list.

Written by Joel Conner | St. Louis Wedding Photographer