All this talk of snow this week has me thinking back to Shannon and Chris’s snowy engagement photos at Sayen Gardens! When Shannon and Chris first contacted us about their Windows on the Water at Frogbridge wedding, Shannon mentioned wanting to incorporate snow into their engagement session. I immediately thought it would be so fun and made a note to myself to contact her as soon as there was snow in the forecast! Well, it happened earlier this month and somehow the three of us were able to coordinate schedules and make this wintry shoot happen. Not only that, but we made it happen on a day when the temperatures weren’t so wintry that my fingers would get frozen while shooting. I was so thankful! We really couldn’t have asked for a better day for this session.
Shannon and Chris are the kind of couple that we absolutely love to work with. They are kind, easy-going, and so excited to be married that it shines through whenever they are together. From romantic moments to candid moments, their love for each other comes out in every image and is a great reminder of why these engagement sessions are so important to us. It’s not just about getting to know each other and doing a practice run for the wedding day, it’s also about creating an opportunity during a couple’s engagement where they can escape from the busy schedules of work and life (and escape from wedding planning as well!) to just focus on each other and celebrate their love. Thank you to Shannon and Chris for reminding us all of how wonderful it is to love and be loved.
With no further ado, here is a peek at Shannon and Chris’s love story.
“Chris and I were introduced through a mutual friend. Chris had his eyes on me for a little while and I remember when I first laid eyes on Chris, I remember being physically taken back. I stumbled a little bit and he took my breath away. He. Was. So. Handsome. I wanted more.”
“Chris and I messaged for a few weeks and then he finally got the guts to suggest we take this to the next level. I called him two days later. He said that was the longest two days he had ever spent. For our first official date, we met for coffee at Starbucks. I remember laughing. A lot. That has not changed. I had connected with him on a level that I had never connected with anyone before. Our conversation was effortless and there was a sense of excitement as the date went on, knowing this was going in the right direction.”
Shannon: “I knew Chris was the one on our first vacation together. It was with my entire family to the lake house in Vermont. Parents, sisters, brother, cousins, aunts and uncles. Everyone loved him. Of course they loved him. How could they not? He’s the most charismatic guy I know. It was fourth of July weekend and we had taken the boat out on the lake to watch the fireworks. On our ride back, I was sitting on the boat, in his arms, enjoying the scenery and an overwhelming sense of gratitude for that moment. We were so happy to be in each other’s company. I want this. Forever.”‘
Chris: “I knew Shannon was the only one for me on a night that had caused a little scare for us. We were out to dinner in Red Bank a few summers ago and I was not feeling well. As dinner went on, Shannon began to notice a sudden change in my face. A face we now look back on and have a laugh about. She noticed in my smile a slight change, as if I were half smiling and it caused concern. It became worse and worse and we both noticed a droop in my face on the left side. Of course we thought the worst. We paid our bill, hurried home and rushed to the hospital. From the second, we decided to leave the restaurant until the second we left the hospital in the wee hours of the night, she took complete control of the situation and never for a second left my side. As I sat in the hospital waiting results, I stared at her without her noticing and smiled the best I could and thought to myself, ‘Wow, I am going to marry this woman and spend the rest of my life with her.’ Needless to say, I recovered a few weeks after that Emergency Room visit and I wouldn’t have had the night go any other way.”
The proposal
“I was having a rough week at work. It was a beautiful day, and knowing my love for the outdoors, Chris suggested we go the the Manasquan Reservoir to unwind. My sister Erin would tag along too. We hadn’t been there longer than 5 minutes when we approached the water. Erin suggested we take a picture in front of the pretty bridge so we obliged. Something was different in that moment. As I stood next to my future husband, I felt his heart beat on my shoulder. What was going on? As I turned to face him after our photo op, he drops down on one knee, ring in hand, and asks me to marry him. I grab his face first and tell him OF COURSE I’LL MARRY YOU!!! Then I take look at the beautiful ring he designed and put it on my finger. It was sparkling in the sunlight. I jumped on Chris out of excitement. Luckily, we had Erin to document the entire occasion with photos. It was so special.”
Shannon: “I love Chris’s ability to bring me back to my center whenever I am feeling sad, angry, confused. He knows how to make me laugh and reminds me what’s truly important to us.”
Chris: “It is obvious when you see the two of us together that we are infatuated with one another. If I had to point out one thing that I love about Shannon the most would be the fact that she makes me a better person. She encourages me to be a better me everyday, a better me than I ever dreamt possible.”
“A romantic, whimsical garden party.”
“The ring is a round diamond, set in a cathedral setting, with diamonds around the band and the setting. My favorite feature is the actual diamond. It is cut perfectly and cates the light like no other diamond I’ve seen. He designed it personally with what I wanted in mind and the guidance of a jeweler.”
Thank you for viewing these Snowy Engagement Photos at Sayen Gardens! For more inspiration on planning your engagement session check out these engagement sessions.
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If we haven't met yet, I'm Alex! I'm passionate about discovering beautiful stories, documenting genuine moments, and capturing timeless images along the way. Here I share my latest work, a peek at the heirlooms we create, and helpful resources. Thank you so much for visiting my blog!
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