I accompanied Jeanette and Kevin to their alma mater for their engagement photos, a campus that has incredible views of the Minneapolis skyline, lush green fields, and delightfully eclectic architecture. We toured many of the University of Minnesota’s landmarks, even through a brief sprinkling of rain. These two met as members of the university’s marching band, and now bond while volunteering for the group.

Another shared interest of this couple is a fun one, Happy Potter! If you look *really* close, you might even spot a time turner around Jeanette’s neck, originally sported by none other than Hermione Granger. In line with their fondness for the popular book and movie series, Kevin proposed to Jeanette in front of Hogwarts Castle at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. And if that’s not cute enough, the proposal accidentally took place on Jeanette’s grandparents’ anniversary as well. 

Jeanette and Kevin absolutely rock a candid photo, they know just how to make each other laugh. They have fun and it shows! I am so looking forward to a whole wedding day of these two in their element.

Today, so many love stories start the same. A tinder date, a meet-cute at a coffee shop, a mutual friend setting you up. Sarah and Chris’s story is a little more unconventional – they met through speedcubing. Yep, you read that right! Chris has been speedcubing for 10 years, and when he saw a girl around his age at a competition in 2016 he knew he had to get in touch with her. Little did he know that he would be marrying this same girl three years later! 

These two are super good at what they do. Sarah can solve a Rubik’s Cube in less than 15 seconds, Chris in less than 10. Sarah is also an immensely talented illustrator, and Chris is into video production. Chris even used video to capture his proposal! Here’s his telling of how it went down.

“I’m a filmmaker so I knew as soon as I was going to propose it had to involve video somehow. I have another friend, Josiah that I enjoy filming stock footage with. So, I devised this plan to trick her into shooting her own proposal video without her knowing it. 

For a month I kept prepping Sarah that him and I were going to start collecting and uploading footage. The next step was to figure out how to get her from Kansas to Minnesota. Since we were long distance, an 8 hour drive, we liked to play this game where would show up in the other state to surprise the other person without telling them. Sarah and I did this many times over the course of our relationship. So I drove all day to Kansas without telling her I was coming and showing up to surprise her. She was shocked. I told her that Josiah and I were going to go to Duluth to film stock footage and I knew she would want to come with, since she absolutely loves Duluth.

The day of, she thought everything we were shooting was just for fun/stock footage. I would film her walking around and doing various things and my friend Josiah would do the same. But he slowly started saying stuff like “you guys should hold hands” and introducing more couple-related shots. We went to many different locations and finally landed at the spot that I was going to propose. It was this big bridge with beautiful fall colors in the background. Josiah told us to stand back to back and on 3 turn around and hold hands. Well, when she turned around I was down on one knee proposing”

Not only did Chris plan out this entire surprise, but he had Sarah’s parents meet them for dinner right after Sarah said “yes.” The video of their proposal is so sweet, so of course we have to plug it. Click here to watch it! 

Since these two are obviously no stranger to being in front of the camera, their engagement shoot was a breeze and a blast. They brought along plenty of cubes to pose with, which made for super unique and personalized images.  Sarah and Chris, thank you for bringing your whole, goofy, creative, intelligent selves to your engagement shoot. We are so looking forward to your upcoming wedding!

Emily and Dan’s engagement shoot fell on the most picturesque fall day, and we had the chance to capture some awesome sunset photos of them in their fall attire. There’s something about warm light on the changing leaves that is just so magical! I know, I know, we always talk about the weather, but we’re Minnesotans, what do you expect?

Emily and Dan are both nature lovers, so the choice to take their engagement photos at Lebanon Hills Regional Park is great reflection of these two and the time that they spend together. Dan enjoys fishing, and Emily is more than happy to tag along and fish for a bit, and then read, relax, and take in the scenery while they’re on the water. Everything is better when you’re with the trees and the one that you love!

These two have so many awesome connections to Brovado, and we are beyond excited to continue to work with a group of people that we have grown to know and love! Not only was Emily a bridesmaid at Jacquelyn and Brian’s recent wedding, but she’s also sister to Anna, who had one of our all time favorite weddings in Montana. Emily and Dan, we are so looking forward to your wedding next year!

It’s only fitting that Bethany and Andy returned to St. Anthony Main, the place where they got engaged, for their engagement photos! The two were engaged on the Stone Arch Bridge and while that story is cute, it’s all of the activity that happened before the proposal that really stands out.

Andy has a great memory, especially when it comes to Bethany. He can recall what she ate, drank, and wore on their first date. He knows her favorite flowers offhand. It only makes sense that his penchant for remembering details about Bethany played a role in their engagement. After talking about marriage for a while the two visited two jewelry stores, one at the Mall of America and one in South Dakota, approximately 7 months apart. After having committed the first ring to memory, he recognized that she picked out the exact same ring at the second store, and thought to get her ring size during the process. After picking up the ring on Valentine’s Day in 2017, ordering a custom ring box from Athens, Greece, and making reservations at Smith and Porter, Andy was ready to propose. Despite the less-than-ideal weather, at 35 degrees in March, the two took a stroll across the Stone Arch Bridge prior to their dinner reservation. After listing the reasons he loves her he popped the question, to a “yes” from Bethany! Is that not the cutest backstory?

These two have such charisma, we are elated to be photographing their wedding next year. Looking forward to it, Bethany and Andy!