Their Session: Hamilton Farm Golf Club Fall Engagement
Sam & RJ’s Hamilton Farm Golf Club Fall engagement session was an absolute BLAST! These two are so filled with joy and laughter, affection for each other, and impeccable style. They had three incredible outfit changes. Each one felt like an Anthropologie catalog spread – truly perfection! Hamilton Farm was showing off with the most gorgeous fall foliage and beautiful light the day of our shoot. It was so fun getting to explore so much of the grounds and use so many gorgeous settings for the backdrop to this session. I have SO many favorite photos from their session! I can’t wait to share them all. But first, I have to share a bit of Sam &RJ’s love story. It’s a really sweet one!
Their Love Story
I asked Sam & RJ to share with me one thing they love about each other. They gave such thoughtful answers. Sam said, “I love how optimistic RJ is. I always tell him he is the sun, he truly brightens my life in every single way & I couldn’t imagine my life without him. He is the most hardworking and generous man I have ever known and I have never questioned his love for me- he makes me feel loved, safe and treasured every single day. I am truly blessed!” RJ said, “I love Sam’s beautiful personality & everything about her. She is just an amazing person & I love how easy going she is & that she cries during dumb commercials that wouldn’t make most people bat an eye.”
How They Met
Sam & RJ first met for the first time about 8 years before they started dating! Sam told me, “RJ was working on a project with my Dad and I was still in college. We met briefly and I had a huge crush. I asked my Dad if he was single, but he let me know he had been with his girlfriend for about 6 years at that point. That night my Dad told my Mom he thought we would’ve made a great couple. Flash forward and I was working as a listing agent on a project RJ was building for my Dad. I flirted for a year and a half before I forced myself to ask him out & the rest is history!”
The Proposal
I love the story of how RJ proposed to Sam! It’s a marathon week of celebrating in insanely special ways! And the way Sam tells the story with her sense of humor brings the biggest smile to my face. Sam told me, “WELL. This is funny. I had no idea RJ was proposing on a random Tuesday in November (21st). He had told me he was taking me to the city for our anniversary and we were spending 2 nights in the city at The 1 Hotel on Central Park.”
“We were getting ready to head into the city & he told me before dinner that night we were going to meet a super random friend of his. So it was pouring outside & I wanted to wear leather leggings and a sweater. (AGAIN, I had no idea the proposal was coming). He said maybe I should dress fancier, but I thought we were going to have time to stop at the hotel between meeting his friend and dinner. Naturally, I was very offended LOL.”
“So we head into the city and check-in to the hotel and head downtown to meet said random friend. I am asking about a billion questions about this friend I have never met. (He is real, but I have never met him and he lives in Miami and was a childhood friend). RJ told me we were meeting him at a secret apartment speakeasy ?? I was once again confused. But, alas we went up the elevator and a woman greeted us at the door and said the friend was waiting for us & put what I am dumb to not have realized was a portable microphone in his jacket pocket and said it was so the cocktail waiters could find us. Yes, I am the most gullible human alive.”
“SO we got off the elevator and the room was covered in yellow rose petals (yellow is my favorite color) and there was a violin player playing You Got It by Roy Orbison which is kind of our song. I knew instantly and sobbed for about 2 days. The proposal was incredible & then followed by an amazing dinner at Daniel.”
“The next day my family surprised us at lunch (I literally saw my Dad in the restaurant and said to RJ it’s so weird he is here on business and didn’t text us) LOL GULLIBLE. RJ then surprised me by booking the room next to us for my older sister and her husband and got all 4 of us 3rd row tickets to Billy Joel. The next morning was Thanksgiving and he invited my siblings and parents to watch the parade with us from the terrace of our insane suite and had it fully catered with tons of champagne. I still cry thinking about it. I think I cried tears of joy for 3 full days until there was no water left in my body.”
Sam told me her favorite part of being engaged is “knowing that RJ will be my best friend & partner for life. I could’ve never dreamed of such a perfect match and such a wonderful man to spend my life with. I’ve never met anyone as loving or generous as RJ and I feel so lucky to know we will be together forever!! I also LOVE wedding planning.” And RJ said his favorite part is “the excitement that we are almost there, but not yet. The anticipation is so exciting. I really love helping to plan our future and the wedding. It has also been great looking at honeymoon destinations and narrowing that down!!”
Sam & RJ
Sam & RJ, thank you so much for having me photograph such a special season in your lives! I can’t wait to be back at Hamilton Farm to celebrate you two at your NYE wedding! It’s going to incredible! In the meantime enjoy this time being fiancés! Sending the biggest hug and all my love! xoxo
