Their Session: Bear Mountain Fall Engagement Session
Abby & AJ’s Bear Mountain Fall engagement session was a blast! We had so much fun exploring the lake and mountain top, laying in the leaves, and lighting some sparklers! These two are so in love and so filled with joy, they have a contagious happiness around them! I had the best time photographing these two! I have so many favorite photos to share from this engagement session! But first…their love story!
Their Love Story
When I asked Abby & AJ to share with me one thing they love about each other, they gave the sweetest answers. Abby said, “I love his caring, kind nature. The most thoughtful human I have ever met.” AJ said, “We have have the same sense of humor, she’s always laughing – even in a stressful moment we can still laugh together.”
How They Met
I LOVE the story of how these two met. The way Abby tells it is the best. Even when things don’t go exactly how we THINK they will, sometimes that ends up being even better than we imagined! I’ll let Abby’s words speak for themselves.
She told me, “I always believed I would meet someone organically – my grandparents met at work, their first date was bowling (my grandmother told everyone else that was invited not to come because she wanted to be with Pop alone) etc. and I have always been in love with their love story, so naturally I wanted the same thing.”
“After college I was single as a pringle and my best friend persuaded/forced me to join Hinge, an online dating app. After a few months I was over it. But I had one guy message me back so I figured, why not have another dinner and get to know someone before I delete this stupid app? In walks AJ. We had our first date in Morristown. We went to dinner, then when the restaurant closed we moved to Starbucks. And when that closed we ended up at our now favorite ice cream place. (This is when milkshakes became our little tradition- we had a milkshake on our first five dates). We ended the night talking in my car until 3am. He asked when he could see me again. I said I was free next Thursday or Friday and he said sign me up for both.”
“Our second date was bowling, the third was ice skating (he plays hockey) and we have been inseparable ever since. I met his whole family (he is one of 4 siblings) that next Sunday, and we still see them every week. What I didn’t realize at the time is that I did meet him organically – it just wasn’t the way I pictured things in my head but yet I wouldn’t change it at all. Our first date was January 11, 2019.”
Aren’t they the cutest!? Such a good story!
The Proposal
Ok, now you HAVE to read their proposal story. Proposal stories are my fave, and this one is the sweetest. Abby gave me the inside scoop. “Fast forward to January of 2021 – our two year anniversary was coming up. AJ put in our calendar a bunch of mysterious “date days” later telling me that he was sick of staying in (due to the pandemic of course) and wanted to start exploring NYC again. We love to go into the city and missed our adventures there.”
“We drive in and he tells me we are going to the Museum of Modern Art. However, we ended up in the financial district. When I pointed this out, he said he actually wanted to go to the Statue of Liberty instead. He had never been. So… in 20 degree weather with what felt like 30 MPH winds, we jumped on the boat and went to the Statue of Liberty.”
“We eventually walked near the pier where he turned to me and said “well there’s something I wanted to talk to you about” and I responded “are you serious, is this really happening right now”. He proceeded to tell me he completely forgot what he was going to say and babbled something about me being smart and pretty and he wants to spend the rest of his life with me, got down on one knee and asked me to be his wife. Naturally I said yes and hugged him. He then asked me if I wanted to put it on and I said put what on? (Complete blonde moment). He had my best friend hiding taking pictures of us. She popped out and we took a lot of photos all around the statue of Liberty in a lot of wind.”
“When we got back to land, he had a limo waiting for us. This was my favorite part of the day – just the two of us alone able to talk about our life together and enjoy the moment. (He hired the limo because he didn’t want to drive, he wanted to be able to be with me completely). The limo took us back to his grandparents house, with both of our families present. (At this time his grandfather was on hospice at home and AJ wanted us to be able to spend time with him). He had the whole thing catered, printed out pictures of us and hung them around the house, etc. It was a great day.”
Abby & AJ
Abby & AJ, thank you for being so incredible! I had the best time taking your engagement photos! I’m so happy for you two, and can’t wait to photograph your Indian Trail Club wedding next year! In the meantime, enjoy every minute of being fiancés! This season of engagement will fly by! Sending you both a huge hug! xoxo
If you loved this Bear Mountain Fall engagement session, you’ll also love this Hidden Pond Tree Farm Christmas-y maternity session!
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