Alicia and Matt’s life together has been a real-life fairytale. They met back in 2007 at an airport bar before a flight they both happened to be taking to Australia to study abroad. Alicia admitted how nervous she got when flying, so once they boarded the plane, Matt worked his way back 10 rows to sit next to her. He calmed her nerves and even held her hand during turbulence.

Their bond became even stronger as they got to know each other throughout the trip, and the romance began. Few people know they shared their first kiss on an elevator in Australia.

In 2013, Matt proposed. During a trip to San Francisco, Alicia wanted to rent bikes and ride across the golden gate bridge. Here’s her story…

“San Fran is incredibly beautiful, and I kept making Matt stop to take pictures. I wanted to capture every vantage point I could of the magnificent Golden Gate in the background. When we arrived at Presidio Park, Matt led me to the top of a hill to get a better view. He asked a gentleman to take our picture. As the nice stranger held our camera, Matt started to tie his shoe. I nudged him. I thought, ‘The shoe tying can wait, honey, this guy is waiting…’ and when I finally looked down, there was Matt on one knee, ring in hand. I seriously lost the feeling in my legs and almost fell over. Of course I said yes!”  Nice work, Matt! 😉

Fast forward to this summer. Alicia and Matt met me at the Stone Arch Bridge for their engagement photo session. We wandered around Father Hennepin Park and got some photos down by the Mississippi river. After a wardrobe change, we walked along the bridge to get some pictures with the Minneapolis skyline as a backdrop. It was a little overcast – the perfect light. I had so much fun documenting this adventurous couple’s love for each other. Their story is perfect, and their wedding this fall will make it feel complete!

These high school sweethearts love to hike. One day, on a rainy trip to the north shore, they took a long hike around Gooseberry Falls, and after a few hours, they sat down to take some pictures. That’s where Chris made his move. He told Kamaria he needed to use the bathroom, but instead, he secretly retrieved her engagement ring. Then he returned and sat down to snap a few pictures with her, and when they were finished he asked if she could help him up. She stood, and then turned around to find him on one knee, ring in hand, asking her to marry him.

“It came out so fast I hardly understood what he had said, and made I him repeat it! Then I asked him if he was joking. Thank god he wasn’t!” recalls Kamaria.

I took these lovebirds over to Father Hennepin Park to shoot some engagement photos around the Stone Arch Bridge. The light was perfect. It was a little overcast, as Minneapolis has decidedly been for most of the summer, but that’s actually preferable for outdoor photography. Kamaria and Chris’ love for hiking and the outdoors was apparent as we tromped through the various landscapes the St. Anthony Main area has to offer. Parks, woods, railroad bridges, narrow urban alleys, downtown skyline backdrops… They had fun every step of the way, and I loved getting to know them. Even after so many years together, these two are still so in love, and it’s so totally obvious.

Kamaria says, “We knew we were going to marry each other not long after we started dating, even though we were really young. We never tell people that though.”

Kamaria and Chris, it’s been a pleasure working with you. I can’t wait to photograph your wedding in the fall!

When I asked Jennie and Scott how they met, they wrote,

“Nothing says ‘you’re the one I’m going to marry’ like a kick to the head. Literally! Scott’s first encounter with Jennie started out that way. Jennie kicked Scott in the head. Of course this was not on purpose….”

It turns out Scott and some buddies were sleeping on Jennie’s college friend’s floor when she came over one morning, and as she walked through the living room she accidentally kicked Scott right in the head! She must’ve made quite the impression because when the two met again a couple years later, they were inseparable. Even though they agreed they didn’t want to do the whole long distance relationship thing while Scott went to work in Canada, the two talked about every day for the next six months until Scott finally decided to move back to the United States. They rest, they say, is history!

Here’s the story of their proposal…

“Usually the bride has a sweet, sentimental story to tell for the rest of her life about how her and the love of her life got engaged. Well, if you know anything about us, you know we are not sentimental nor mushy or lovey-dovey. Rightfully so, our proposal story is not either.

It all started when Scott and Jennie had decided 5 1/2 years of dating was enough and it was time to get married and keep sharing their lives together. It was mid July when Scott and Jennie were headed to Vancouver to celebrate Jennie’s birthday. They were sitting on the plane, enjoying a few Surly’s when Scott, with a big grin on his face, looked at Jennie and said, “I’m going to give you a ring when we’re in Vancouver!” He was just too excited to keep it a secret. Or at least, that’s what Jennie tells herself. “Yep, but your real ring is not ready yet, so I got you an eight dollar ring from Kohl’s!” Scott divulged. Jennie couldn’t stop laughing. Of course he did it that way!

Once they arrived in Vancouver, Scott waited a few days to give Jennie her “fancy” ring. It was Jennie’s birthday when they arrived at the Pan Pacific hotel. They checked into their oceanview room right away. Pretty much the second they walked into the room, Scott turned around, fell to his knees, took the ring out of his pocket, and asked, ‘Will you marry me?!?’ Jennie laughed, and said, “Of course!!” Scott followed up with, “There, I did it!” It was the best birthday gift ever! An $8 ring from Kohls.”

These two are a hoot! I loved getting to know them during their engagement photo session at Father Hennepin Park. We really hit it off, and I’m sure we’ll be friends for a long time to come! Congratulations Jennie and Scott! I can’t wait for your wedding in August!

Ellen and Jason have the most adorable Australian cattle dog…. and he demanded to be included in their engagement photo session. It was at the park, after all. And this breed gets what it wants. Ellen, Jason and their pup followed me around the Stone Arch Bridge/St. Anthony Main area as we took advantage of Minneapolis’ bright evening light filtering through all the trees. It always amazes me how Minnesota can go from gloomy and grey to lush and green in just a few days! Ellen and Jason are so clearly happy together. It was fun getting to know them! Congratulations, you two!

Chainika and Shantanu met during their IIT Mumbai admission interviews, where they both went to school. Shantanu says he first spotted Chainika in the back of the waiting room. “We began talking right away, and today we are getting married,” he says.

While they were getting ready for their pre-wedding photo session with me, it was raining hard. Shantanu thought he would try to cheer Chainika up with a little surprise, and presented her with a ring. “It’s part of our culture to wait for an engagement, so we still have to wait for our parents to approve it,” he says. But nevertheless, it was a nice touch, and Chainika loved it!

These two love to hike, shop, and watch movies together, and they also enjoy long drives in their brand new Mercedes. I had a wonderful time getting to know them as we walked around the St. Anthony Main area, getting engagement photos on the Stone Arch Bridge, and in the surrounding woods and lawns. Thankfully it was no longer raining (although sometimes rainy engagement photos can be fun too!), and we had great overcast lighting to work with that made all the colors pop!

Congratulations, Chainika and Shantanu!