Let me just tell you...some of the images you are about to see are basically taken out of The Notebook. Prepare yourself because this couple is one for the books.

Sara & Marcel have been together for nine years, yall. 9 YEARS! They met each other in school and basically the rest is history. I met them a few years ago via a mutual friend and just swooned over the energy these two gave each other. That same mutual friend offered these two lovebirds this very same engagement session and I am just so thrilled they obliged!

Since Marcel is stationed in Jacksonville, NC, it wasnt a tough sale to get these two to meet me in Emerald Isle. One, the beaches there are out of this world amazing, and two, there are two completely different sceneries right across the street from one another. We started the day on the sound side, then switched to the beach side for those primo golden hour shots!

I do have to admit--the jumping picture (youll see) may be my all time favorite. Marcel wore his Marines attire and Sara wore the sweetest white dress to compliment. It's seriously a dreamy portrait, but you know I am a bit biased.

These two are tieing the knot later this year and I am over the moon that they chose me to photograph their happiest day yet. Life is just the sweetest.

Brooke & Teddy kind of stole my heart. Look, I know I am preaching to the choir, but I really enjoy my clients, and these two fit right on in with the Fancy This clan. The day we "officially" met, I had just gotten off the plane from Germany, went home to wash my face, and then headed out to downtown Durham to meet this cute duo of a couple. They came down from Oklahoma for some serious wedding planning, visit family, and yes, meet me. I was so glad I could see them before they left to go back.

We started the day at the Durham Ball Park--a must for this couple as this Durham held many memories for them. If it's one thing I learned the most about Brooke & Teddy, it's their love for sports. We then trekked over to the American Tobacco Campus for some iconic images featuring the Durham water tower, and of course, the pretty water scenes. 

However, and a big however, my favorite part was not either of these places at all. It was Ponysaurus. Yep, a brewery and now Durham staple. I found out that this couple had their very first date at Ponysaurus and even remembered what they wore on their first date. I know what youre asking -- "Wait, did they wear their first date attire to their engagement session?" and the answer is YES. Absolutely YES! Because these two are awesome and why wouldnt they? I am just so proud they could even remember that! They even sat at the very same table where the two had their first beer together. It was, hands down, my favorite favorite part of the day. 

We ended the day at Duke Gardens for the last hoorah. Brooke told me that her parents got married there back in the day and I thought that was just the sweetest gesture to go to the same spot. Her parents married right under the gazebo, with that beautiful staircase that follows down. This was definitely a sweet moment. After this we found some shade throughout the gardens, talked about our weird thoughts on the Shape of Water movie, tried not to die in the June heat of North Carolina. I was happy they made it through, but happier that I finally got the chance to meet them. They plan on getting married next year at the beautiful Rickhouse in Durham and that is going to be an even happier day for them! 

Stacy & Alex are planning on tieing the knot later this year -- and I mean late as in New Years Eve, and honestly, it's going to be one of the sweetest days ever. I had a bit of a small world moment when I met Stacy & Alex's parents at the Rickhouse bridal show earlier this year. Not only did I hit it off with Ms. Shirley (Stacy's mom who absolutely loves photography), but I also found out that Alex grew up right down the street from my husband, Jason. In fact, I had met his dad before about 3-4 years ago when I was visiting Jason's mom in Carrboro. 

The best thing about getting to know Stacy & Alex had to be the fact that they loved and appreciated agriculture. If you have known me the last 10 years, then you know that I have anxiously awaited to have a couple who could bond with me over agriculture. It's true, I love it. We wanted to incorporate some aspects of this into their session, and to my surprise, we actually came across cows by accident. I don't know how the world gives me these great gestures, but I will take them any day.

We started off the day at the beautiful JC Raulston Arboretum. It's filled with lush greenery, fun pops of color, and little garden sanctuaries we could join in for some fun portraits. Later, we found ourselves at the NCSU University Club. It was there that we found the cows and I also found out those were Stacy's favorite animal. Thank you, universe. 

It was fun getting to know these two and I can't wait until their wedding later this year.