Michael and Mellissa started out as college acquaintances. And after several attempts at trying to get her number and take her out on a date, she finally agreed to dinner. But it wasn’t a date. :-) But it must have been a good, non-date dinner because she agreed to see him again. And again and again and again. Which led to a proposal this winter and then engagement pictures this weekend! :-)

 I just LOVE meeting new couples! Especially during their engagement. It’s such an exciting time – they’ve been happily dating for a while and now they get to start planning for the rest of their lives together.

Jeff and Emily are such a great match. They met while studying at a bookstore and sparks flew immediately. I’m fairly certain they went to study a lot more often after meeting that first time. :-)

I love how these two fit together – ‘just like a puzzle.’ :-)

I am SO excited to finally share this newlywed session with you! I can’t call it a ‘day after’ session because Chris + Amy have been married for almost a year. And I can’t call it a ‘trash the dress’ session because the dress was not harmed in the making of these images. :-)

What I can tell you about the newlywed session is that we had fun!! It is always my goal as a wedding photographer to allow couples to relax and have fun during the portraits on their wedding day, but sometimes there is so much going on that relaxing and having fun is easier said than done.

This weekend I was in on a little secret. Okay, a BIG secret. I was asked to photograph a PROPOSAL!!!

Brent was planning to propose to his girlfriend at Sylvan Lake in Custer State Park and he wanted photos of him, down on one knee, asking Kelcey to MARRY him!!!

I told Brent I would be walking around the lake, and I would be taking photos of the nature and the scenery….

… and how beautiful Sylvan Lake looks…

…and I would be in just the right position when they walked up…

(…and I SO wish I could have recorded Kelcey’s uncontrollable giggles!!!)

…and with a little wave from Brent I came over to photograph the VERY newly engaged couple!!!

As they were driving up, and I was taking photos of the lake, they said “ooh, that would be a pretty place to take some pictures!”

Little did Kelsey know, she was going to get photos of Brent proposing to her!!! :-D

Plus a few extra portraits around the area…

Thanks, Brent for including me in such a special and exciting moment of your relationship!! Congrats again to you and Kelcey!!