Kristen + Branden

Happy New Year!  What better way to start off 2012 than with a rockin' engagement session!  Kristen and Branden were so sweet, and it was an honor to take their photos.  What a great start to the year!

Ryan + Kelsey Engaged!

Last Thursday, I had the HUGE blessing to be a part of Ryan PROPOSING to his new fiance, Kelsey!  Ryan contacted me a few weeks before and explained he had been planning this super-sweet night for Kelsey and wanted to have it documented.  He put so much thought into this incredible night, and it was such and honor to have been able to capture it.  I can't do nearly as good of a job describing it as the bride-to-be herself, so I've copied some of what she wrote on her Facebook "blog" about the night.  Hopefully her words and my images can give you an idea of what a fun evening it was.  

"Ryan told me he was taking me on a date and to wear a cute shirt, and shoes that I could get dirty. Haha :) He picked me up at 4:30pm on Thursday August 12th. He showed up at the door with picked flowers (I dont know the name of them) and was lookin mighty fiiinnee! We put the flowers in water and headed out the door... all the time my friends and roommates were being extremely sketchy but super amazing!

We drove down the street to Ruths Chris Steakhouse (super amazing place!!!) The hostess greeted us really bubbly and smiley and Ryan had made reservations and decorated the table really cute with little heart confetti...We ate our food and they gave us free little desserts (very good melt in your mouth chocolate mousse and custard with berries)."

**I'm going to interject here...While Ryan and Kelsey were enjoying their yummy steak dinner, two of Ryan's friends and I were trekking up the side of a rock cliff to get to the special spot he had picked out.  His friends set up a sweet little picnic and I started shooting!**

 

We left there and drove to a "secret location."  As soon as we got to the neighborhood I knew where we were going. We pulled up to a spot we had climbed two or three times before at South mountain. We had found it senior year of high school randomly and made our own path up the mountain.  We got half way up the mountain and I was about to pass out from exhaustion. I asked him hopefully, "Did you bring ANY water?" He said his heart sank because he thought we would have to go back down. He said, "No, but just push through. We will be fine," and smiled and grabbed my hand and we kept hiking.

We finally got to the turn right before "our spot" only to see a little trail of rose petals, which immediately made my heart skip a beat! We rounded the corner to find a pure white sheet set against dark rock with rose petals laid heavily all over.  A bucket of apple cider and water bottles (he is so prepared!) with ice and chocolate strawberries. There were candles and a black blanket the said " Sonnabends <3 (real heart) August 12, 2010." I just said, "This is perfect!"  

I had to sit for a bit to catch my breath and drink some water.  The time was about 7:00 pm, and the sun was just setting over the gorgeous city with a purple and orange hue. He asked me to stand and had to basically lift me off the ground and sat me on a rock then kissed me and grabbed his Bible. He read me this scripture:

"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak,  a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace. He has made everythingbeautiful in its time." -Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8 & 11 (This made me cry!)

He then got down on one knee and said something along the lines of "Everything is beautiful in its time and now its time for us, and I want to spend my life with you. I can't picture anything more beautiful. Will you marry m....

"YYYEEESSSS!"

I went to kiss him and he whipped me around a little and then I heard a camera flashing. He had a professional (AMAZING) photographer taking pictures of the whole thing.  He said we should open the cider, but we needed a bottle opener. I suggested that we just break the top. We hit the bottle on the rock and then broke the bottle completley and sliced his hand open! We immediately took pictures of my gorgeous ring and bloody handed boyfriend.

We then took pictures and acted cute :)"

Congratulations Ryan and Kelsey!!  You guys make such a sweet couple and I wish you all the best!!

Carrie + Will = Engaged!

Meet Carrie + Will, a super-cute couple with a wedding coming up in October!  These two know each other from way back, but just recently got re-acquainted and fell in love!  Their first date was in downtown Tempe, so we revisited some of their favorite hang-outs for a fun, personalized shoot!  I had such a great time with you guys and I can't wait for the wedding!!