Capitol Romance: Ashleigh & Bruce’s Lake Ridge Park, Woodbridge Virginia Engagement Session

I don’t feel that bad posting today’s Virginia engagement session from this past summer because it’s going to be 67 today, so no one should be that jealous of their tank tops & shorts. Seriously I am NOT feeling this gross fog/mist/warm weather. It’s December, and I want SNOW! I want to be ice skating on the lake Ashleigh & Bruce are posing in front of ;)

Ashleigh & Bruce knew each other for a long time [elementary school!] but only found themselves in loves way years later. This beautiful Virginia engagement session was captured by the insanely talented Tim Riddick Photography [submitted via Two Bright Lights] and was shot at Lake Ridge Park in Woodbridge, Virginia.

Ashleigh & Bruce’s Lake Ridge Park Virginia Engagement Session

How they met:

While going to the same community church since elementary school, we watched each other from a distance but were never close and never had a romantic interest in each other. Three years ago, Bruce’s mom got remarried and Ashleigh attended. After seeing each other for the first time in years, we had a brief conversation and made tentative plans to see each other again.

After finding out that Bruce was single, had a job, and his own place, Ashleigh said yes to getting together when Bruce called her to hangout. The “hangout” turned into a date and from there, we started our relationship.

Click inside for the rest of this beautiful lakeside, Northern Virginia park engagement session from Tim Riddick Photography

Read the rest of this entry »

Wedding Music That Doesn’t Suck: The Heart of Life

If I really went back to check the last time I did a “wedding music that doesn’t suck” post on a Monday morning, I’d probably be embarrassed. So instead of focusing on the fact that it’s been entirely too long since I’ve shared any songs, let’s get to this beautiful modern processional wedding song suggestion.

I’ve always had a roller coaster opinion of John Mayer. Before he hit the radio, I loved him, then I hated him, then I found myself singing along, then he became a dbag and I hated him again. But the other night I heard this song during the cool down of my spin class … and, well, I remembered why I initially liked his music.

Song

The Heart of Life would seriously be a movie-perfect, modern processional song, or even for another part of your wedding ceremony music lineup.

Wedding appropriate lyrics:

Pain throws your heart to the ground
Love turns the whole thing around
Fear is a friend who’s misunderstood
But I know the heart of life is good
I know it’s good

When I hear songs like this, the images of a bride sashaying down the aisle, just instantly plays in my mind. I also find myself imagining it playing during a wedding video montage.

What do you think? Non-sucky processional song suggestion success? Better for the cocktails? Or maybe you are just still mad at me that I have completely sucked at suggesting songs?

Regardless, let’s do this Monday.

Capitol Inspiration: 1950s Pickup Truck Picnic Engagement Shoot

It’s that time of the week again. Friday Inspiration! Today we have an adorable 1950s inspired picnic styled engagement shoot courtesy of Eastport Photography [submitted via Two Bright Lights].

Not sure what I love more, the amazing teal vintage pickup truck, or the tattoos on the bride’s arm. [Ok, that's a lie ... it's the tattoos]. Regardless of my favorite part ~ this whole slightly styled shoot is just adorable and perfect inspiration for today’s post! Enjoy and have a GREAT weekend!

1950s Inspired Pickup Truck Picnic Engagement Shoot

Eastport Photography shares:

What better way for two lovebirds to spend a beautiful Fall afternoon than having a picnic in the park on the back of a 1950s pickup truck?!  I got it in my head that I wanted to use a classic car for my styled shoot, so I turned to Eastport’s own Mr. Meade. He was kind enough to let me choose which of his immaculate classic cars I wanted to use for the shoot, so I chose this cool green pickup.

I used Truxtun Park in Annapolis as the backdrop for the shoot. The fall colors were abundant and I found a nice secluded winding road to park the truck and relax for a while.  All that was left to do was set up a gourmet picnic on the tailgate; Root beer, apples, French cheeses, bread, nuts, and some caramel popcorn. Yum!!

Capitol Romance: Lauren & Jake’s ‘Gone Fishin’ Maryland Engagement Session

Lauren is a beach bum at heart, loves to travel [even recently as far as Thailand and Cambodia], and loves to sing. Jake is a native Minnesotan, who moved to DC in 2006 to pursue a career in forest policy [cool!] and enjoys any concert that entails 80s Hair Bands [yes!]. They met over quoting from Anchorman. Jake wrote the first half and Lauren finished the quote. Since then, they have been completing each others sentences ever since.

Thanks to Eastport Photography & Two Bright Lights for this adorable dockside Maryland engagement session!

 Lauren & Jake’s Dockside, Gone Fishin’ Maryland Engagement Session

The Proposal Story:

It was a Friday night in South Bethany Beach.  After dinner, at about 9pm, Jake suggested we take a walk on the beach. It had just stormed and the waves were so gigantic, you could hear them crashing from down the street. As Jake held my hand, I wondered why he was squeezing so hard. He also seemed distracted which was quite unlike Jake. He then suggested we walk onto the sand and made our way to the spot I’ve frequented since childhood.

He wanted to stop and asked me to put my flip flops down. Puzzled, I obliged. After grabbing my hands and saying some amazingly lovely things, outlining the course of our relationship, Jake got down on one knee and asked me to marry him.

I was so utterly shocked that he had gotten down on one knee and could not believe what was happening; I had to double check, “Jake are you asking me to marry you”? To which he replied, “YES LAUREN”. Of course, I said YES!!

Just as Jake put the ring on my finger, a giant wave crashed, water barreling towards us. As we were getting soaked and our flip flops were washing away, Jake kept saying, “the ring Lauren, don’t lose the ring”! It was as memorable as it was comical. With ring and flips flops in hand, we paused for a moment to “soak” in the moment and then headed back to the beach house to call our families!!

Congratulations Lauren & Jake! Thank you for sharing your beautiful proposal story and engagement session with us. A special thanks again to Eastport Photography & Two Bright Lights for making this submission possible!