Their Session: Alstede Farms
I LOVE when I get to shoot at a location with limitless beautiful options! That’s what makes Alstede Farms such a gem! Filled with gorgeous sunflowers, wildflower-filled fields, and even the CUTEST animals, there is nothing that this incredible location doesn’t offer!
All of that was made even better by spending the day with Rachel and Brian taking their engagement photos. I LOVE these two so so much. They are SO much fun, and down for absolutely anything! We had a BLAST laughing til our cheeks hurt, and exploring all the different areas of this gorgeous farm! We walked through a stunning sunflower field (sunflowers are Rachel’s fave flower!), played with their sweet pups Nanuq & Luna, and we even got to pet a horse and a donkey! In my opinion, the more animals involved the better! This was literally a dream! We got SO MANY great photos that I can’t wait to share- but let me tell you about them first! Their story is one I just gotta share 🙂
Their Love Story
Rachel and Brian have a love story that feels like a movie! Rachel tells it like this. “We met in our apartment building in Hoboken. Brian used to smoke (horrible habit) and I have a dog so he would be outside smoking and would see me walking my dog. We always said hi but never mustered up the effort to ask for each other’s numbers. It took two years. One day I decided to dress my dog up in a hoodie and a jean jacket and took a video of him to gangsters paradise. Brian came outside and was talking to me about my day. BUT we still didn’t ask for each other’s numbers we both had been dating other on and offs but nothing stuck. I kept thinking to myself I should grab life by the horns and give him my number but never did. Finally, I joined bumble and then one day guess who I matched with? His photo was he and three other people, good thing I knew his name. I immediately sent him a message. We traded messages for a minute and then I FINALLY gave him my number. On that Thursday I made him get out of bed and watch a show with me, we sat on opposite sides of the couch and didn’t touch. When I left his apartment he gave me the ‘bro hug’. I got upstairs to my apartment and immediately shamed him for not kissing me. So he rushed upstairs to give me a kiss goodnight. Two days later was our first date. He made me plan it because I lost a bet. I made a reservation at Sorrellina in Hoboken and started to get ready. He was playing golf with his friends during the day and ran into traffic coming back into Hoboken, he was two hours late. We still went out to dinner and loved every second of it. We hung out every night after that.”
As much as I love a good love story, there’s something about proposal stories I just can’t get enough of. And Rachel and Brian’s proposal is a great one! As Rachel tells it, “Brian was being super suspicious for about two weeks. I used to have my thumbprint in his phone but for some reason, he took it out. In addition, my mom wouldn’t let me on her phone or iPad either. Then we went on a family vacation with my parents and sister. In the airport, he wouldn’t check his carry when asked by the airport. I was confused all we had in that bag were shoes. I had traveled for work a lot so i suggested he said he had a high-value item in the bag. When he did that my mom was very confused giving him looks and I look. So we were able to get on the plane with the bag. Fast forward a few days and we had been going to grab a drink before dinner. He suggested we go somewhere else to grab a cocktail beforehand but told me to get ready three hours beforehand. I started getting ready but was dancing around my room singing and doing my hair (obviously moving too slowly). Little did I know we were going to get engaged. I finally finished getting ready. We made it to the water and then Brian dropped to his knee and quickly asked me to marry him. He stumbled over his words but it was the cutest thing. He had arranged for my sister to loiter nearby to take a photo for us.”
When I asked them to share one thing they each love about the other, their answers were simple, yet perfect. Rachel said, “He makes me laugh.” Brian’s response was “she is kind and caring.” I loved this shoot and getting to see these responses come alive in each of them. It was a memorable day for sure!
Rachel & Brian
Thank you both so much for a fun and amazing day! Getting to spend time with you, Nanuq and Luna was a blast! I loved getting to celebrate this part of your journey with you, and as always sharing in the love and laughter you two radiate is such a joy. You guys are the best! xoxo
