Their Session: Jersey City Engagement Session at Van Vorst Park & Waterfront
Mikaela & Austin’s Jersey City engagement session was a BLAST! I loved getting to visit some of their favorite spots in Jersey City, and of course meet their sweet pup, Stella! If you know me, you know I LOVE it when my couples include their furbabies in their sessions! (Want some tips on including your furbaby in your session? Check out this blog post!) I was so excited Stella got to join us, and she was such a perfect little model!
Mikaela & Austin are the kind of people you can spend time with and feel like you’re hanging out with old friends. They radiate a kind of warmth and kindness that’s so special. I loved spending the afternoon with them, capturing their love in this season of being engaged. I have way too many favorite photos from our time together! But before I dive into all the pics, you have to read about their story! It’s a GOOD one!
Their Love Story
I asked Mikaela & Austin to share with me one thing they love about each other. Their answers were so sweet. Austin said, “I love how adventurous she is. She’s always taking me out of my comfort zone.” And Mikaela said, “Austin is quite the comedian! We’re always laughing together and making jokes. He’s so caring and patient with me, especially with my health. I have Type 1 Diabetes and he’s been so supportive, I couldn’t have ask for a better life partner.”
How They Met
Mikaela & Austin’s love story seriously sounds like a plot to a movie!! I’ll let Mikaela’s words speak for themselves, but I already know you’ll love this story! Mikaela told me, “Our story starts at Rosa Mexicano where my mom and I were seated at our table for dinner waiting for my friend and her mom, but at the last minute they bailed on us. So we struck up a conservation with the table next to us who just so happens to be Austin’s uncle, Mark.”
“The conversation led us to finding out my father and Austin’s parents and uncle grew up a few blocks away from each other in Canarsie, Brooklyn! They even went to the same high school growing up, but never knew each other. It’s a small world. Mark started talking highly about his nephew – aka Austin – and mentioned that I would be “perfect” for him. I was skeptical at first, but I took a chance and told Mark to have Austin reach out.”
“Our first date was at a cool bar called Tanner Smith’s in mid-town. We met up one night after work, it was our first time meeting each other so we were a bit nervous. I ended up dominating the whole conversation that night, which worked out since Austin is actually quiet when you first meet him. Before we knew it, three hours had passed by! We decided to plan a second date while sitting at the dinner table, so I feel like that was a good sign.”
The Proposal
Their proposal story is just as sweet as how they met! Mikaela gave me all the details, “Austin proposed in Vermont this past September on the deck of our AirBnB overlooking Lake Champlain while the sun was setting. The original plan was to go to a fancy dinner with our friends at 9pm, but apparently the restaurant called to “move the reservation” to an earlier time.”
“I panicked since I wasn’t ready and didn’t want to rush to be on time, so I immediately started getting ready for dinner. When I was ready, he suggested we take photos outside – I should’ve known then! He never wants to take photos.. We go out on the deck and he pulls out a letter he wrote to me and we both start getting emotional. After he read the letter, he got down on one knee and proposed! Side note: Dinner was always scheduled for the original time, he just wanted me to be ready before sunset haha.”
How perfect is their proposal!? Austin knocked it out of the park if you ask me! 🙂 I just love these two and their story so much!
Mikaela & Austin
Mikaela & Austin, thank you both so much for letting me share in your happiness and excitement, and capture the memories of this special season of your love story! You two, (and Stella of course) are such a joy! I adore you three, and had the best time photographing you! I cannot wait for your wedding day! It’s going to be a blast to celebrate with you at Park Chateau! Until then, soak in every last minute of being fiances!!! Sending you two a huge hug! xoxo
