rachel + daniel | a downtown ellicott city engagement with their dog

On a bright and beautiful Fall day, I explored downtown Ellicott City with Rachel, Daniel and Asher, their incredibly well-behaved and photogenic #urbanrowpup! We walked near the B&O Railroad Museum, downtown Main Street and some of my favorite woodsy spots along the old trolley trail.

I couldn’t get enough of our time together — Rachel and Daniel are so naturally at ease with each other and always full of the biggest smiles! We bonded over dog training conversations because Asher is the best and including him in their engagement photos was a priority! He’s also going to be at their wedding and I am SO EXCITED FOR IT! :)

The cutest story of how these two met and became soulmates, in Rachel’s words:

“As two chronically injured athletes, we were regulars in the athletic department's training room. Daniel was recovering from hip surgery while Rachel had stress fractures in her shins. The trainer who both helped us through our recoveries would always talk about the other person, trying to set us up. Over Thanksgiving break, Daniel had a friend to start a conversation on Facebook for him, starting with the smooth opening line: "Hey, haven't seen you around the training room recently" Luckily, Daniel eventually took over the conversation and we've never stopped talking!”

I love their proposal story, and how it happened during one of the things they love doing most: travel!

“After canceling so much travel in 2020 due to Covid, we finally were able to start traveling again, something we love doing together. We went out to California to see Big Sur and San Francisco. The day we were leaving the resort in Big Sur, we took one final picture overlooking the Pacific Ocean and next thing I know, Daniel was down on one knee! It happened so fast and right when it was over, we hopped in the car to drive up the coast to San Fransisco.”

Rachel and Daniel, the way you are together is so effortless, comfortable, confident and genuine — it’s been such a joy to witness your love story unfolding and I can’t wait to see you both officially married (with Asher there to witness!) at Historic London Town & Gardens!!

xo,
Naomi

diane + connor | candid, fun downtown annapolis engagement

Name a place and couple more adorable than Diane and Connor in historic, downtown Annapolis… I’ll wait!

On a gorgeous summer night, we explored Annapolis’s main streets together, stopping at my favorite mural (full of wisteria!), State House circle, the city dock and some of the really quaint and adorable side streets.

The colors, the light, the temperature, their outfits, their smiles… all were perfect in their own way!

How they met, in Diane’s words…

“Connor and I met on Bumble on June 1, 2020. We were both looking for serious relationships and our values seemed to align on our profiles. We chatted just a little before Connor asked me to meet up on the following weekend, June 6th. After we made our plans, I didn't hear from Connor for the rest of the week, so I thought that he would forget out plans. I actually ended up making plans for a date with someone else because I thought that he might have ghosted me. Turns out, he had never had any intention of cancelling or ghosting, he was just very busy with paramedic school! He texted me the day before to confirm our date and I cancelled on that other poor sap, lol.”

And how the proposal happened, in Diane’s words…

“Connor proposed on May 15th, 2022 at Early Mountain Winery just outside of Charlottesville. We had a trip planned to Big Meadows Lodge in the Shenandoah for the weekend after and he was planning on proposing that weekend. Connor suddenly lost a good friend from the military in a tragic accident, so we knew that we would be traveling down to Florida to attend the funeral, but we didn't know the exact date. Our trip to Big Meadows was in danger of being canceled, so he had to make an adjustment.

We went to Charlottesville for a friends wedding, and Connor suggested that we stop at a winery on the drive home. He had planned on eating lunch, then going for a walk around the grounds and finding and idyllic spot to propose. While we were sitting at the table, just after ordering our food, he had this weird smile on his face and he looked sort of awkward lol. He then said that he couldn't wait any longer, and pulled out the beautiful ring that we had picked out together from his shirt pocket, which was wrapped in a paper towel! I started crying right away, which made him cry. So he asked me and I, of course, said yes!

Even though we had been trying to be quiet, the waitress overheard and they brought us glasses of celebratory champagne.”

I couldn’t be more excited for your upcoming wedding at the Kent Island Resort this weekend, D+C! You’ve been so thoughtful about every detail and it’s going to be beautiful — mainly because you’re absolutely incredible partners who bring out so much genuine joy in each other.

xoxo,
Naomi

katie + chris | a cozy holiday engagement in historic downtown sykesville

I can’t get enough of how adorable Katie and Chris are together! You’d never know it was basically 40 degrees outside during their engagement photos…! We started in Patapsco State Park with their pups and ended in downtown Sykesville.

They were completely up for having fun — being playful, cuddly and sweet is definitely a recipe for success during engagement photos in a state park (especially when it’s chilly out); it made all the difference! :) Here’s to more wintry snuggles with your favorite person forever and ever…

After Patapsco, we headed over to Main Street in Sykesville to take advantage of the cozy and festive time of year with all the lights, holiday decorations and quaint, historic architecture… basically, my favorite combination!

I thoroughly enjoyed my time exploring Sykesville with you and can’t wait for your wedding at Main Street Ballroom!! It’s going to be the best day with everything you have planned, but especially, including because your pups Peppa and Lucy will be there as your flower dogs!!!

See you soon, cuties!

xo,
Naomi