Last month, I got to meet Sam and Ryan for their Weehawken Waterfront engagement session! These two were engaged on January 23, 2021, and started planning their wedding right away. They’ll be tying the knot at The Mill Lakeside Manor in Spring Lake, one of my favorite venues! When Sam realized Ryan was the one, she started to envision their dream wedding. They then found The Mill through a friend. She fell in love with the venue and after she and Ryan got engaged, she told her mom she wanted to schedule a walk-through. Little did she know, her parents got married there over 30 years ago! Not only that, but Ryan’s father grew up in Spring Lake Heights, so all the signs pointed towards the Mill. They knew from the second they walked in to their appointment that they had found the perfect place to say their “I Do’s”.
For their engagement session, Sam and Ryan chose Weehawken because it’s the place where they started their life together. It’s where they grew their love, moved in together for the first time, and even started their family with their adorable pup Nala! It turned out to be the perfect spot. Between the classic views of NYC and the spacious waterfront area, we were off to a good start. Add in their cute pup, and Sam and Ryan’s amazing rooftop deck, and of course such a joyful couple in love, this Weehawken Waterfront engagement session had so many great aspects to it. Check it out below along with glimpses into Sam and Ryan’s love story. I can’t wait to document the next chapter next June!
Weehawken Waterfront Engagement Session
How they met
“Ryan and I went to high school together a year apart and ran in similar friend circles but never met each other . It was not until 2017 when we matched on the dating app Bumble when Ryan was home in East Brunswick for a family holiday. It took over a month until our first date but we constantly texted about many things, especially our love of Disney.”
Their first date
Our first date was the perfect reflection of our personalities; I ended being super late and making Ryan wait around, while Ryan was somehow able to convince me to not only golf but also eat pizza afterwards. We stayed up talking until 3am about all the things that we had in common and we had a shared love of. Ryan even played the piano for me which completely won me over and I knew I was going to fall for this guy.
When they knew they had found the one
“We went on a trip together with friends to the Poconos to ring in the new year. On the trip we were inseparable doing everything together from snow tubing. watching movies, and late night conversations. Soon, we knew there was something special about the connection we had. On the trip Ryan even asked me to go Disney World with him two weeks later. After returning from the trip we spent every weekend together. I knew he was the one with how comfortable he made me feel. I went from a girl who loved going out to parties and bars, to not being able to spend a weekend without him. I loved just hanging out at his apartment on Friday nights, ordering pizza, watching movies, and laughing the night away.”
The Proposal
“Unbeknownst to me, Ryan planned a trip including my immediate family and future brother-in-law to Disney World. It just so happened that the timing worked out to happen in the middle of a pandemic. He took me and my family in hiding to the Magic Kingdom where, on a rainy and overcast Florida Saturday morning, Ryan popped the question to a rain drenched and slightly grumpy me, who just wanted a hat. My mood changed after the proposal and my family popped out from their hiding spots. The rest of the weekend was full of love and many memories that will last a lifetime.”
All about the ring
“Ryan did a wonderful job listening to all of my instructions about what style ring I “thought” I wanted. He even went to my Pinterest board to look at pictures and consulted with my mom, sister, and several friends. The ring Ryan proposed with was stunning and exactly what I envisioned it would be, an oval with a hidden halo. After a couple weeks being home we were talking about the ring and they soon both realized there was something missing about the band and how we wished the halo wasn’t hidden. We decided to go back to the jeweler to pick out wedding bands, and on a whim we looked the perfect band and setting that we knew fit our dream ring perfectly, a halo! ***Funny thing is, it is exactly the ring Ryan would have gotten if Sam had allowed him to choose the ring himself.”
One thing they love about each other
“I love how Sam is my best friend. I am just as happy traveling the world or going for a fun day in the city with her as I am staying at home with her and just talking about our lives together.”
“I love how level headed Ryan can be with me, which he is not with other things like traffic, golf, or not being able to defeat the boss in World of Ward Craft. He makes me feel calm, supported, and safe. He is my biggest supporter in anything I do, whether its work related or in our personal lives. I have never felt the love that Ryan gives me each and every day, even when I joke around that he loves golf more than me.”
About the Photographers
Idalia Photography is based out of Central NJ and specializes in romantic, timeless, and classic weddings. Our photography style can be described as a perfect blend of classic, romantic portraiture and authentic, candid moments. Are you planning a wedding? We serve NJ, NY, PA, and beyond. Click here to view our wedding portfolio or contact us for availability.
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