Becca contacted me in August with a wedding inquiry, describing a most ideal type of wedding day for me: All in one location, outdoors, on their family farm.  So after discussing more and her deciding to book, I of course hoped their engagement session would be similar- so a couple weeks ago, I met them for a beautiful final hour before sunset with their beautiful dog Savy (and their moms!) at their Carlinville farm for a whirlwind beauty of a session!  I absolutely loved it.

I told this story on Instagram, and even though I usually try to share different stories at each spot, it is my largest similarity with these 2 so I have to tell it here.  Becca and Brandon grew up together, but didn’t date until after high school even though they always knew of each other.  They both grew up in small farm towns, and went to school a year apart.  They are both familiar with the farm lifestyle, and Becca specifically told me that she missed harvest when she was away at school, something that just 2 years ago before moving to the country, I never would have understood.  Our upbringing is certainly not our similarity here.  The story though is that even after spending an hour with them at their engagement, chatting a lot before, and seeing her fiance Brandon’s last name on various things at the farm…in my mind, in my brain, it was Becca’s family farm.  Because Becca talks about it with such endearing love, knowledge, and heart.  With such a passion and a stake in it all.  So in my mind, even though I knew the name didn’t match up and should have drawn the pieces together, I didn’t.  And of course, I knew- when she told me I knew from all the before mentioned details.  But…it is also hers, because of her relationship with Brandon.  And I get that. Because that is how I feel about the Gum Farms.  I didn’t grow up there, I don’t know all the ins and outs and roads and I am just learning about the technicalities.  But in my heart, it is part mine.

Becca and Brandon are just beautiful together.  They are so comfortable and natural.  They have a plot of land (where Brandon proposed!) that they will build a home, a life together, on some day soon.  And it will all start next August with a wedding on the land Brandon grew up on as a child.  The land that Becca has come to love.  I absolutely cannot wait!
Meet Becca and Brandon.
And Savy, their adorable pup!! 🙂 Love!! This light!! Love these 2 images!

Becca and Brandon, I loved meeting you two and can’t wait for your wedding! I hope you love these favorites– full gallery coming soon!!