Denise and Matt first began hanging out in the fall of 2008 after many failed attempts. The previous summer, Matt attempted to get Denise’s attention during a summer rodeo gathering. She gave him her phone number, but (foolishly) screened his call when he called.

A few months later, fate had them colliding again during a University of Wyoming football game in Laramie. They agreed to meet for drinks, but just as friends. Over cocktails at one of Sheridan’s local hot spots a few days later, they realized just how much they enjoyed each other’s company. Before they knew what was happening, they began spending more and more time together, and soon, were falling in love.

Fast forward a couple of years…

With Denise’s birthday coming up, Matt asked her to accompany him for a usual walk with their pups, Vea and Bailey, plus her parents’ pup, Pinot, after work. Because of an impending Wyoming winter storm, they wound up having to take the walk the day before her birthday. This was after they spent hours looking for Denise’s pup, Vea, who had taken off earlier in the day.

After all had been placed to rights again, Matt and Denise went on their previously scheduled walk. As they came upon the place they had recently hypothetically envisioned as the perfect wedding location, Matt brought the subject up again. With the sun just beginning to set behind the Big Horns, he dropped to one knee and asked Denise to spend the rest of her life with him. Of course she said yes!

They returned to their house to find a perfectly placed bottle of Henriot Champagne and a dozen red roses in the living room. Matt had asked his father to come up and set everything up for their return. They’ve been counting down the days to their August 18th wedding (where they will revisit their engagement spot to exchange their vows) ever since! :)

{Behind the Lens with Alissa Ferullo} Being the lucky one to document the excitement, the sweetness and the bliss between a newly engaged couple, while creatively making those captures into artwork, is so much fun for me as a photographer. From a professional standpoint, engagement sessions are the perfect way for the three of us to get comfortable with each other, to laugh, and to experiment with posing ideas that can be easily replicated on their wedding day. I have always taken a fairly laid-back approach to portrait photography in order to allow my clients to be themselves, while still mentally creating to some degree the “look” of the photo I’m envisioning (location, lighting, composition, etc.). With couples, I provide general (often laughably misunderstood) guidance for placement, interject posing ideas, and then simply wait for the magic to naturally happen between them; it doesn’t take much for them to get in the zone and to connect in front of my lens.

Matt and Denise were adorable and comfortable together, easy to photography and so much fun to hang out with. I can’t wait for their wedding in August – I have no doubt that it will be a beautiful, timeless, fashionable, emotional and unbelievably happy day!

Whether this was a “warm you up” or “chill you out” kind of post, I hope you enjoyed it immensely! :) Congratulations, Matt and Denise!! We are so excited that your wedding will be in the same place he asked and you said yes and the same place you hypothetically envisioned your wedding in the first place. One of the sweetest details we’ve heard :) Best of love and luck to you both! A very special thank you to Alissa Ferullo for sending us this sweet shoot today!! xoxo

We know how important it is to make the right choice when it comes to choosing a wedding photographer and wedding planner. And we think we have a pretty amazing group to choose from! Many of them have their own blogs where they share different tips and even more of their great talent. Britt Croft Photography shared Why I Love Engagement Sessions and Why I’m Doing a First Look last week to brilliant response. Live View Studios was so excited to shoot the engagement session from our joint giveaway last year. We’ve shared some sneak peeks and will have the full feature up soon! Can’t wait :) Studio 516 Photography shared some great ideas for wedding attire, especially for intimate weddings or elopements. Today also marks not only her third wedding anniversary but her third year in business!! Yay :) Jillian McGrath Photography has been busy, busy, busy. Can’t wait to share some of her latest weddings with you! Christi Falls Photography has been a busy gal with engagement shoots. And if a boudoir session has ever been on your bucket list then Katherine Henry Boudoir is your gal! She’s got a brand new studio that she is just dying to share with you! ;)

Britt Croft Photography

Live View Studios

Studio 516 Photography

Jillian McGrath Photography

Christi Falls Photography

Katherine Henry Boudoir

Can’t decide if a wedding planner is a must-have on your wedding to-do list? Well, think no more, just do check out Viva L’Event and Danielle Pasternak Wedding Coordinator. Danielle always has great tips to share! Like this one: 12 Steps to a Smooth and Efficient Wedding Rehearsal. And we recently featured a baseball themed wedding that Viva L’Event shared with us!

Viva L’Event

Danielle Pasternak Wedding Coordinator

Happily Ever BorroWED’s site is filled with gorgeous sparkly things that makes a girl fairly giddy with anticipation! Be sure to inquire about their Send before You Spend option – great idea! TADA Makeup + Weddings is our latest addition to our Bridal Fashion & Beauty category. Tara was responsible for the gorgeous glam look for Alexandra’s recently updated head shots! :)

Happily Ever BorroWED

TADA Makeup + Weddings

Looking for some great wedding invitations? Then look no further than our fabulous invitation designers, Blush Printables and Simply Designed Invitations. Each has their own unique qualities and designs, you just have to find your favorite! :) I truly love the font on the newly introduced DIY Wedding Invitations – Jane by Simply Designed. And if you remember our post on Basket Bridal Shower Ideas, then check out this adorable Kitchen Bridal Shower invite on Blush Printables’ Etsy Shop! I think it would be the perfect way to kick this type of shower off!!

Simply Designed Invitations

Blush Printables

Well, it’s another wrap on a beautiful Wednesday! Thanks to all our wonderful vendors who just love our readers and can’t wait to share their talents with you on your special day!

Looking for more information on these fabulous vendors, please visit the Vendor Boutique and check out the beautiful inspiration boards that we feature for each of our fabulous vendors! Don’t forget to check out their websites and blogs too! :) xoxo

If you are interested in joining the Heart Love Weddings family and Vendor Boutique, click over to our Advertising page and fill out the new form. We’ll be in touch with our brand spankin’ new media kit within 24 hours! Have questions? Email karin at heartloveweddings dot com.

This beautiful shade of purple in the bridesmaid’s dress is what started the inspiration today, and you can see how a small amount of buttery yellow in the gorgeous bouquet plays well with lavender as the background. The oh-so-pretty lilacs in the vintage table setting makes for a beautiful greeting for your guests as does the lavender lemonade. Does anyone know what lavender lemonade even tastes like? Does it have an earthy, herby taste or is the lavender stem only for show and pretty factor? Do tell, anyone that knows! Little homemade lavender sachets are the perfect touch for our purple inspiration. And as far as I’m concerned having an ombre wedding cake, especially in purple, just takes the cake – ha! Lastly, no wedding is complete without a little touch of sparkle. Whether a bit of bling on your finger, on your wedding dress sash or better yet, your pretty shoes, sparkle is a must!

How about you? Are you digging the ombre trend? Take it, leave it, love it? Let us know! And if you do, what’s the next color you’d love to see us ombre up? :)

Happy Wednesday!

xoxo

Row 1: Bridesmaid and Bouquet via Inspired By This | Vintage Place Setting captured by Karma Hill via Wedding Chicks | Lavender Lemonade captured by Karen Mordechai via Santa Barbara Chic

Row 2: Favors captured by Sutherland Kovach via Style Me Pretty | Purple Ombre Cake by Sweet & Saucy Shop via Style Me Pretty | Sparkly Shoes via Inspired By This

Colors: Deep Purple, Lilac, Lavender, Sparkle!

Photo by Adam Barnes via Southern Weddings

{Open Bar} An open bar is probably one of the more popular choices when planning your cocktail hour (usually a time when the bride and groom are taking portraits) and your reception.

Pros:

• Easy for your guests. No worries for them if they didn’t bring enough cash with them.
• Guests have many choices and varieties of drinks (both alcoholic and non), especially when the wedding is held at an established venue such as a restaurant or banquet house that is well stocked.
• An open “bar” is more conducive to guests getting their own drinks rather than waiting for staff to wait on them.

Cons:

• Possibility of overindulgence by a small group of your guests. Only you can be the best judge of your family and friends.
• Expense. Having an open bar can be a budget buster and that is why many opt out.
• Depending on your guest list, an open bar can be a distraction from other events at your wedding reception. I have been to weddings where some guests were more interested in “hanging out” at the bar because the drinks were free, than watching the cake cutting, first dance or bouquet toss

Photo by Anne Marie Photography via Style Me Pretty

{Cash Bar} A cash bar is when your guests will be expected to pay for all of their alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages with the exception of a champagne toast at dinner.

Pros:

• Easy on your budget.
• Usually, lesser chance for overindulgence by your guests.

Cons:

• Your guests may feel a little disgruntled especially if the drinks turn out to be very expensive. The price will depend on whether your wedding reception is held at the local Moose Club, where beer is $2.00 a bottle, or at the Four Seasons, where it might be $7.00 a bottle. The bigger the price tag for your guests, usually the less they will drink. It might even chase them out of your reception sooner; like right after the meal. Kind of sad, right?

Photo by Hazelnut Photography via Style Me Pretty

{Limited Bar – Open or Cash} A limited bar is just that. Limited. Choices include one or two different beers (regular and lite), red and/or white wines, even limitations of soda – Coke, ginger ale and/or club soda. No hard liquor but a signature drink – both alcoholic and non-alcoholic may also be available. You may offer a champagne toast with dinner, which is a nice touch when having a limited bar.

Pros:

• A limited bar can save everyone money, whether open or even cash.
• Most guests are satisfied with options of beer or wine.
• It’s a happy medium for everyone.

Cons:

• Choices for guests are limited. Maybe they don’t like beer or wine. Then they are left with only soda (maybe not even one that they like) or water.

Photo by Anna Page Photography via Style Me Pretty | Photo by The Nichols via Style Me Pretty

{Non-Alcoholic} The decision to serve no alcohol can be a very personal choice. It may be based on religion or other personal circumstances. Either way, family and friends who know and love you will understand and respect your decision. Katelyn James, a popular wedding photographer in Virginia who’s personal wedding we featured in January, did not serve alcohol at her wedding. She observed, that while no alcohol was served, everyone had the best time ever!  Don’t believe me? Then watch her awesome wedding video, starting at 4:13. Evidence that alcohol does not a party make, because when all is said and done, it is your day, a celebration of your love and marriage. :)

A couple of other things to think about when considering the types of refreshment to serve at your wedding. When having an open bar, to save money, you can place a dollar limit of your choice. We did that at our wedding. When we were close to the limit, the head bartender came to us and let us know. As we were very close to the end of the evening, we opted to keep the tab open, resulting in only an additional $30 to our original budget. If you do reach your limit, you can then convert to a cash bar, however, it may create a bit of awkwardness for your guests.

Photo by Dan Cutrona via Inspired By This

If you’re having a backyard bash, there are other options that you have available. If you have a caterer, check with them if they will be providing the liquor and what their pricing will be. Since you are hosting, a better option might be to purchase your own liquor and save a bunch of money if you are able to take advantage of a discount liquor store. Be sure to advise the caterer or hired bartender to not open all the bottles or get the labels wet on the unopened ones. This way you can easily return items that were unused and save some money.

One last tip, when working with your venue or caterer, ask if there is a package/fixed price for the bar or if you could pay on a consumption basis. Guests sometimes will surprise you and not drink as much as you originally might have thought or planned. You can save a fair amount, especially on those guests that will nurse a drink all night long.

Photo by Adam Barnes via Southern Weddings

Now, if all this has your mind a totally jumbled mess, then my last recommendation… hire a wedding planner, tell them your budgetary needs and wants, and let them handle it! :)

You can see why this topic could cause some angst with so many (maybe too many) options. Who knew, right? Anybody else feel this way? How will you or did you handle serving alcohol at your wedding? Let us know in the comments below! xoxo

Joe and Andrea met online and conversed for many weeks before agreeing to meet for their first date. They met at a bowling alley and had a good, yet awkward time. Joe was very shy to begin with. They went for coffee afterward where thankfully the awkwardness (and Joe’s shyness) melted away. They shared their first kiss just days later on the sidewalk outside of a restaurant in Boston, on a beautiful snowy night. Sounds über romantic, doesn’t it?

On their third date, Joe cooked for Andrea, making chicken saltimbocca and chocolate mint cupcakes with cream cheese frosting for dessert. Andrea said it was on this night that she realized just how special Joe was.

About a month into their relationship, they taught a class at 826 Boston, which hosted writing programs for kids during their winter break. They spent the better part of four days together, and Joe says that he really loved how comfortable they were together. He said it exceeded what he thought a great relationship should be.

Ten or eleven months after they started dating, Joe got up early one morning to make breakfast. By the time Andrea joined him in the kitchen, Joe had cut toast into the shape of the words, “Will You Marry Me?” with a beautiful ring laid next to the last piece. Of course, Andrea said yes. They ate the toast together with blueberry jam and called their parents immediately after they finished. They hadn’t even been dating a year, but no one was surprised that they were ready to spend the rest of their lives together.

{From the Bride} We chose the Northeast Kingdom for our wedding almost as soon as we decided to get married. Joe’s parents bought land up in Newark 25 years ago, and he helped his parents build their house up there almost every summer while growing up. By the time we met, the house was done and beautiful, and it’s been a great place for us to relax and get away from Boston, where we live. We started considering some local venues when Joe’s parents suggested we have the wedding at their place, and it just seemed so right. We both love the view of the mountains and we really wanted the whole occasion to feel intimate and unique to us.

Our ceremony was held in the Newark Union Church, which was built in 1862. I loved that it was such a beautiful old church, and it was the perfect size for our 75 guests – it felt really cozy and intimate. The church is very plain, so we added some color by hanging paper garlands and using flowers to create a sort of arch at the altar.

To honor our parents, we presented our mothers with a rose to thank them for raising us to be the people we are today. Both of our readings ended up coming from literature. We read through a bunch of different vows other couples have used, and came up with an amalgamation that we felt was right for us:

“You are my best friend and the one I want to share my life with. I will love you forever, and under all circumstances. I will stand by you always. I will have faith in you and encourage you in everything you do. I will be here to listen to you, to laugh with you, and to hold you. I promise before family and friends to commit my love to you, to respect your individuality, to be with you through life’s changes, and to nurture and strengthen the love between us, as long as we both shall live.”

When we started planning, we knew we had to have a tent in case of rain, but we didn’t want to feel enclosed by it and we wanted to incorporate the natural surroundings as much as possible. We had lawn games out front, and also set up cocktail tables outside the tent to encourage people to hang out. 

We didn’t start off with a color palette, but we started to figure out we were attracted to vintage-y colors, and a kind of faded, rustic look. My dress ended up being a little old-fashioned looking, and we kind of ran with that. We also really like birds and tea, and without doing it on purpose those two things started to find their way into our reception plan. Once I figured this out, I used pictures of vintage English tea cups and Chinese cherry blossom prints as inspiration. I wanted the invitations to be really unique to our wedding, so I made a graphic from a picture of the church we were going to be married in and incorporated that into the invitation and stickers we used on welcome bags and on the table number holders. We used Chinese and English tea tins for the flower arrangements in the tent. It’s not necessarily a new idea, but it worked really well for us and brought a lot of color and character to our tables.

{Advice for Couples} Throughout our relationship, we have written each other love letters, sometimes on special occasions, but most of the time just to tell the other how much they are loved and appreciated. I’ve talked so much about how comfortable we are with each other, but we never let that comfort turn into taking each other for granted. I think it’s fitting that our courtship began with writing to each other, and we keep it up, even on our wedding day. Before our “first look” pre-ceremony photographs, Katie and Max (Dreamlove) delivered letters we wrote to each other. It was a great way to remind ourselves that the wedding day was about our relationship and not all the other stuff.

Congratulations, Andrea and Joe, and thank you for sharing your love story with all of us! We couldn’t be happier for you both and wish you nothing but the best in the years ahead! A very special thank you to Katie and Max for sharing this very special day with all of us today! xoxo

P.S. I’m still swooning in absolute love and delight over here, aren’t you? :)

I can’t believe this wonderful week has already come to an end! And truly what a wonderful week it has been :) Thank you everyone who visited, commented and shared posts this week! We are so grateful for each and every one of you! We’re also super excited for the progress we made on the site updates this week! If you’re a long time visitor, you probably recognized some of them, if not, no worries, all will be revealed soon!!

We shared so many amazing posts this week! Y’all had a hard time choosing a favorite :) We kicked off the week with love, cowboy boots and flower girls with bows on their butts in this gorgeous rustic chic elegance wedding from Two Chics Photography!! I packed so many shades of blue into Tuesday’s post on blue wedding ideas that I lost count!! No, really, there’s a lot. I have to say that this week’s mint, pink, peach and gold shabby chic wedding inspiration board is swoon-worthy perfection and one of my all time favorites!! Be sure you check out our vendor spotlight on Katherine Henry Boudoir, a fabulous Boston boudoir photographer!! I’m still swooning over the love and natural light filled carnival engagement session from Archetype Studio Inc. that we shared on Thursday!! Catch me, won’t you? :) May’s pretty love quote printable is here and ready for download! Be sure to tell me what you love today and every day!! I also shared my May Goals this week and announced that I will be on vacation from May 25th until June 8th. To find out where I’m going and what our post schedule will be like for those two weeks, click here. Lastly, Saturday Snapshot is here!!

We’re seriously IN LOVE with this Penelope Inspired Engagement and Wedding shoot put together by a slew of amazing vendors and photographed by HLW Vendor Boutique vendor Jillian McGrath Photography! Katherine Henry Boudoir shared my fabulous new headshots on her blog yesterday! Check them out and leave us both some love, please!! :) Britt Croft Photography has been on a roll with her blogging lately, sharing both her reasons and tips for doing a first look and an engagement session!! And we loved seeing Danielle Pasternak feature a Q&A on wedding stationery with fellow HLW Vendor Boutique vendor Simply Designed Invitations!

Have a fabulous weekend! xoxo

One Photographer. One Snapshot. One Quote.

One-thousand words and emotions.

“Familiar acts are beautiful through love.” – Percy Bysshe Shelley

Photo by Elizabeth Messina via Style Me Pretty

I purchased the books Rework, The Happiness Project, Boundaries and The Five Love Languages. I (with the help of Doodle Dog Creative) launched and announced the updates to our Vendor Boutique to our wonderful vendors. It will all be announced to the rest of you soon :) I drove into Boston to spend a fabulous afternoon with Katherine Henry who took the fabulous new photos of me you’ll start to see throughout the blog (and everywhere else). I updated our submission guidelines to Two Bright Lights (because I hadn’t yet) and I cleaned out my address book (because it required it). I also booked my plane ticket to Florida for VACATION.

Every year for as long as I can remember and even before that, I have gone on a two-week vacation with my family to Captiva, Florida, where my family has a timeshare on the beautiful South Seas Island Resort. It has always and probably will always be my home away from home.

I haven’t really been able to enjoy it much in recent years though. Two years ago, I didn’t go. I can’t remember why. Work maybe? Last year, while I went, I spent about 95% of my time working (and fighting to get an internet connection) and only about 5% soaking up the sun on the beach or by the pool. Why? Because we were in the final (and most critical) stages of the design for the new Heart Love Weddings that launched just a few days after I returned. Needless to say, I spent most of my “vacation” last year on my laptop than I did on the beach. It’s shameful, I know. Which is why, this year, I will be dedicating 95% of my time to the beach and only 5% to my laptop.

Here’s how things are going to run:

I will be working my butt off from now until Thursday, May 24th. On that day, at 4PM, vacation auto-responders (for email) will go up, the iMac will be shut down for the first time in I don’t know how long, and I will take the pups to doggy daycare. Tears will more than likely be shed by us all. On Friday, I am on the first flight outta here!!! There will be a fun, personal post on this day, so be sure to be on the lookout for that!!

The post schedule for the following two weeks (Friday 5/25 – Friday 6/8) will be as follows:

• 5/25 – What’s In My Suitcase
• 5/26 – Saturday Snapshot
• 5/28 – NO POST
• 5/29 – NO POST
• 5/30 – Inspiration Board
• 5/31 – NO POST
• 6/1 – June Goals
• 6/2 – Saturday Snapshot
• 6/4 – Biggest Hits – Love Story Recap
• 6/5 – Biggest Hits – Tips & Inspiration Recap
• 6/6 – Inspiration Board
• 6/7 – NO POST
• 6/8 – NO POST
• 6/9 – Saturday Snapshot

You’ll notice that in the two weeks that I’ll be gone, there are no real wedding or engagement session features. I did this on purpose. When I feature a photographer’s work, I want to give it my utmost attention all day long, and since I won’t be able to do that, I’m making a conscious decision to not have those particular features shared while I’m gone. They will once again resume on Monday, June 11th. You’ll also notice there are a couple of days sprinkled throughout the 14 days that will NOT have a post. This is to prove to myself (as many people have said) that the world will not end because I don’t blog. I can neither confirm nor deny that I actually believe this to be true.

Out of all my May Goals, I am most excited for this vacation. As I mentioned before, this is my first “true” vacation in two years and I need it. But more than that I deserve it. It’s taken me a while to actually say those words out loud. I am a workaholic and a perfectionist (you do the math). I eat, sleep, and breathe weddings, and this blog, and everything that goes along with them. It is because of this that I need a break. I’m not saying that I’m burned out. What I’m saying is that working your butt off to achieve your goals and make your dreams comes true is just as important as taking a step back and finding a state of rest and relaxation. It’s going to be really, really, really hard to step away from my computer and iPhone, but I also know it’s going to worth it. Because I know that when you shut down the part of your brain that works the hardest, allow it the rest it deserves, you will be more inspired than ever when you finally turn it back on. I can almost guarantee that I’ll be brainstorming away by day three ;)

Other May Goals I’m psyched about? Finally starting, doing, and COMPLETING Lara Casey’s The Challenge!!! I’ve read through it about a millions times but have never “had the time” to do it. Well, I’m not using time as an excuse anymore, or coming up with any other excuse for that matter. I have a printed copy on my desk and I AM DOING IT. I’m excited to finally get through a fairly large stack of books (see the list above) that I have been steadily collecting for months now. And finally, I am really happy to be (already) following through on a goal that a sweet friend and Making Things Happen alum suggested in our private Facebook Group. Last month, she randomly decided to start speaking great things over herself. Many of us, I’m sure, have fallen into the trap of saying “I’m not ________ enough” or “I can’t do ________”. So, instead of continuing on in this way, Amy began inserting positives into those statements. Every day she’d tell herself “I can…” or “I am…” even if she didn’t believe it at the time. She posted this idea on her blog too, and on May 1st (because I have a thing about starting new goals on the first of somethings), I started speaking beautiful, confident, inspiring, motivating things over myself. And you know what, it has already made a world of a difference. I highly recommend reading her post and trying this for yourself. Every time you feel yourself about to say something negative about yourself, insert a positive. You’ll be surprise what a difference it really makes.

That’s all for now, friends. If you made it to the end of this goals post, I applaud you :) and I’d love for you to share your thoughts, your dreams, your goals in the comments below! xoxoxo

**DOWNLOAD IT HERE**

**DOWNLOAD IT HERE**

What we really wanted to accomplish with this month’s quotable was something bright, cheery, and also something that didn’t have to stay the same. Once you’ve printed yours out, simply pop it into a simple frame (ours below is from Target). All you then need is a cute caption and a black dry erase marker (which easily wipes right off the glass with a paper towel). Place it in your office for a cute, motivational reminder that date night is just around the corner… Or put it up in your kitchen or back entryway so your sweetie can notice and change it too! It’s cute. It’s fun. It’s simple. It’s free. You know you want to print your own today!! :)

So, what do you love today and every day?

xoxo

Blush Printables is a member of our Vendor Boutique.

John was originally introduced to Mary Beth’s older sister by a family friend who also happened to befriend John while they were both studying abroad in Ireland. Did you follow all that? A few months later, John was looking at apartments in Houston when Mary Beth’s sister decided to introduce the two. Little did she know how perfect the match was in the making…

John and Mary Beth became great friends after their first meeting. So great that Mary Beth arranged for two of his best friends to come to Houston and surprise John for his birthday. He was so thrilled with his surprise, and all the thought and effort Mary Beth put in to make it happen, that later, he gave Mary Beth a surprise of her own. He pulled her aside to thank her and then kissed her!!! It was just about a month after they’d first met. He also asked her out on a date :)

That date didn’t exactly go as planned though… Mary Beth actually (technically) got stood up. The night their first date was to take place, John, an engineer, got caught up in an emergency and didn’t call her until the next day!! Luckily for him, Mary Beth understood and agreed to reschedule. They had a fabulous time. Phew!

Their first official trip together was to Washington D.C. over a weekend in September 2011. The second night there, John had a private car pick them up at their hotel and drive them around to see all the monuments before taking them to dinner. To kill time until their dinner reservation, the driver dropped them off at the Lincoln Memorial to walk around some. The weather that day had been raining and humid but the skies had cleared and they were able to watch the sun set over the Washington Memorial.

Just past the Korean War Memorial, John stopped, gave Mary Beth a kiss and said, “You know that I love you more than anything in the world and want to spend the rest of my life with you, right?” Completely oblivious to what was about to come next, Mary Beth replied, “Why, what’s wrong?” Typical girl. But John just laughed and then got down on one knee. Mary Beth was so shocked/excited/emotional that she doesn’t remember saying anything except yes!

Later, John told Mary Beth that when he’d gone to her father to ask his permissions, her father simply said that he had a no return policy. HA! Haven’t heard that one before…

{Behind the Lens with Archetype} Mary Beth and John are an awesome couple!! We can’t wait for their wedding (on the most popular wedding day in Texas for 2012… October 20th). This shoot was kinda an accident… we were scheduled for an urban park in the middle of downtown, but when Koby and I got there – it was crawling with people – and an outdoor concert was taking up most of the park. I made a quick phone call to Mary Beth to see if they might be open to a spontaneous location change – she said YES! So off we went! It wasn’t long before we found a quaint little carnival (they are frequent all year round here). We also went to a park (where Mary Beth works) to accomplish some of the images closer to the feel of the original location.

Breathtaking and swoon-worthy isn’t it? I know so :) Congratulations, Mary Beth and John, on your engagement and upcoming nuptials! We couldn’t be happier for the two of you and can’t thank you enough for sharing your love story with us today! And thank you, Terilyn and Koby, for sharing your incredible talent with us also! xoxo