We recently got together with Courtney and Ryan for their Central Park Engagement Session and I’m excited to share their images today! We started out our session at the Bethesda Terrace and it was such a beautiful day that the park was super packed. I love how the hustle and bustle of the park contrasts with the quiet, romantic moments between Courtney and Ryan. It’s not easy to be photographed in such a busy place with lots of onlookers but these two did great! After spending some time around the terrace we ventured down a path and enjoyed hearing the details of their wedding day as we walked to a quieter area of the park. They are such a sweet couple and we can’t wait to shoot their wedding next year! Enjoy these highlights of our time with them and get excited for their wedding at the Park Savoy Estate next year!

How they met:

Courtney: Ryan and I met while in college. He was a senior when I was a freshman and I became friends with his sister, who is now one of my best friends. It wasn’t until my senior year he started coming to visit his sister more, who I lived with, which eventually led to us going on a date, and we have been together ever since :)

Ryan: We met in college and had known each other for years before we started dating. We had a lot of mutual friends through our fraternity and sorority so we were always crossing paths. It wasn’t until I graduated college and would occasionally go back to visit her roommate (my sister) when we really became close.

What they remember about their first date:

Courtney: Being extremely nervous! It was not just a typical date for me, he was the brother of one of my best friends! We went to Rooney’s down in Pier Village in Long Branch and he was a complete gentleman! It was the perfect first date and he made me instantly feel comfortable.

Ryan: Absolutely everything; where we were sitting, the weather, what we had ordered, …and me being quite nervous. It’s really uncommon for me to get anxious but I knew Court was special and I wanted to make sure the first date went well. Courtney’s genuine personality (and a few drinks) helped calmed the nerves and from that point on it’s been nothing but laughs.

When they knew:

Courtney: To be honest, there are so many times that reassured me he was the one, as cheesy as it sounds. I immediately knew he was a keeper :) but he always made me feel so calm and comfortable. A moment that sticks out in my memory though is the first time he met my family. My dad is a big tough fireman who is not easy to impress lol and right away he loved Ryan, and not to mention my little brother who was 9 at the time, connected with Ryan immediately, and for me, that was something really special!

Ryan: I think it’s everything she says and does that makes her the only one for me. I can’t recall the exact moment but it was pretty early on in our relationship when I knew. Ever since then she’s just been continuously proving me right.

The proposal:

Courtney: I had no idea it was coming! Ryan had been pushing for us to go to The MET (Metropolitan Museum of Art) for a few weeks, but I kept pushing it off, because I like to relax on my Sunday’s. Finally the week before he proposed, he pretty much yelled at me and told me I had to go with him haha! So we eventually went, and it was a perfect day! We saw the museum and then when we were finished he told me he had one last surprise and took me up the elevator to the rooftop which overlooks the entire New York skyline, it was beautiful! We decided to take a picture and Ryan said he wanted to find someone who would take a good one, and seriously looked around for what felt like forever! Finally he found a guy and asked him to take the picture for us. I walked over to the ledge that overlooked the skyline and Ryan continued to talk to the guy saying “make sure you keep taking the pictures, get the whole skyline in, and our feet”, etc. and I apologized to the guy for Ryan being a pain in the butt lol and before I knew it, he was on his knee if front of everyone! I proceed to slap him on the arm and ask him “are you for real?!?” And the rest is history :)

Ryan: It was really important to me to find somewhere we could go back to experience the moment again whenever we wanted – somewhere that wasn’t too far or difficult to get to that wasn’t going to change or get shut down. After much deliberation, I chose the roof garden at the Metropolitan Museum of Art overlooking Central Park. There were more people up there than I had anticipated which was nerve-racking but we got a nice a round of applause afterwards.

One thing they love about each other:

Courtney: That’s a hard one because there are so many! But if I had to only pick one, it’s that he ALWAYS makes me smile and laugh! When we are with one another, we are constantly smiling and laughing, and he always knows what to say to crack me up, especially when I need it the most!

Ryan: Courtney is the most caring person I’ve ever met. She is always there for me to make the hard times less tough and turn the good times into the best times. I know that I can always count on her and she’s always first person I look to.

Besides getting married what they are most looking forward to on their wedding day:

Courtney: Being able to celebrate with all the people we love the most! It’s rare to have a time where all your family and friends are all in one place, so it will definitely be a day filled with so many special memories.

Ryan: I can’t wait to have all my favorite people together in one place! We have so many great friends and family members and to have them all celebrating with us is going to be truly amazing.

A Central Park Engagement Session by NJ Wedding Photographers Idalia Photography, a husband and wife photography team based in Central New Jersey. Contact us for more information.