From Paris to the Midwest: Léa + Ryan’s Shawnee Forest Elopement

I always love asking my couples how they met. It’s one of my favorite parts of getting to know their story. Ryan grew up on the East Coast, while Léa was raised in Paris, France. 🇫🇷 During college, she joined a study abroad program that brought her across the ocean, and somehow, in a classroom far from home, the two of them found each other.

Now they live just outside Chicago, building a life together that bridges both of their worlds. For their elopement, they made the trip down to southern Illinois to explore and say “I do” surrounded by the beauty of the Shawnee National Forest, exploring both Garden of the Gods and Cave-in-Rock. The day felt soft and full of wonder. Two worlds coming together, perfectly at home in the wild. I especially loved the hazy skies this time of year during harvest. It made for the prettiest sunset. 🌅 Thank you for choosing me to be your first professional photoshoot on the biggest day of your life. I wish you both nothing but the best.