Kim + Dennis' Linville Falls Engagement Adventure | Boone NC Engagement Photographer

Just one day after Dennis proposed, I received an email from Kim inquiring about engagement photos. They wanted to go back to the spot where he popped the question and was wondering if Linville Falls was a place I would consider going.

I eagerly emailed her back with a response and told her how much I love hiking there myself, and that working with adventurous folks is what I do so this type of engagement photography was right up my alley!

We couldn't have asked for better weather on the day of their engagement pictures. It was unseasonably warm for this time of year but it made for a beautiful Fall day! Even though it was past the peak of the season, that didn't stop vacationers from visiting Linville Falls to catch a glimpse of the popular waterfall. There were so many people there that day that it was nearly impossible to find a parking space!

Normally, when I meet with a couple I haven't had the opportunity to see them face-to-face since they aren't from the Boone area, so it's kind of a game to guess who it is I might be looking for sometimes. I was up at the visitor's center searching faces, trying to find someone else who was also looking around. I finally spotted Kim and Dennis after I noticed them studying the folks walking by. They were also a dead giveaway once I saw that they were wearing matching Panthers jerseys!

After a change of clothes, we started their session at the bridge behind the visitor center since there was still a little fall color left on the trees. As I mentioned earlier, this place was packed so there were tons of people walking by and watching us. Yep, it was a little uncomfortable and awkward for them to be looking into each others eyes and smooching in front of complete strangers but they carried on and laughed a lot despite the curious onlookers!

The next stop was to hike to the spot where Dennis proposed which was a smaller trail called Dugger's Creek. There was a small cascade there where a narrow bridge crossed the gentle stream. It's where he stopped Kim in the middle of the bridge and got down on one knee to ask for her hand in marriage. I totally had him reenact the scene, of course!

Our original plan was to then hike down to the bottom of the Linville Gorge and finish out the rest of their engagement photos on the river, however, time got away from us with the hiking back-and-forth and multiple outfit changes.

Once we were done taking photos up top near the parking area, we weren't going to be able to hike down to the bottom. I feared that we wouldn't make it back up before losing light, and I didn't want to take that chance, especially since the ranger told us that it took 1-hour round-trip and that was all the time we had before the sunset. It was a little disappointing but we came up with another idea instead.

The Linville Falls Winery was just around the corner, and it was also a place that they visited the weekend they got engaged, so we quickly hiked back to the vehicles, huffing and puffing all the way, and headed over to the winery before they closed.

We almost didn't make it because they were closing in the next 6-minutes, but that gave us just enough time for Kim and Dennis to grab a glass of their Blueberry Wine, so they could sit and enjoy a sip or two before we continued their engagement shoot.

The grapevines made for a perfect place to traipse around for their engagement portraits! I'm really glad that its where we ended up even though it wasn't part of the plan because I love the images that I captured of this fun-loving couple bathed in golden light.

It was funny that on my way to meet Kim and Dennis for their session that I passed by the winery and though that it would be a nice place for engagement pictures. I didn't realize at the time that that's where were would end up!

That's what going on adventures is all about! Sometimes things don't go according to plan so you have to go with the flow and that's what Kim and Dennis did.

CONGRATULATIONS to Kim + Dennis on your engagement and upcoming marriage. I wish you two lovebirds epic adventures in life and love, and I hope that your relationship and connection will grow stronger as you continue this journey together! Thank you so much for choosing me to capture your adventurous engagement at Linville Falls. I had such a blast with you two! Hope you enjoy this sneak peek while I work on your full gallery.

Ready to book your exclusive Choose Your Adventure Session?

Simply send me an email at wayfaringwanderer@gmail.com or message me through my website contact form and I'll get you on the schedule ASAP! Availability is limited, only 10, 8, 5, 3 spaces left for engagement photos in 2014!

I'm hosting some fun giveaways in November for the Fan of the Week and a special Geocaching Giveaway that will be announced in this week's Weekly Wander if you want a chance to WIN a FREE session. Weekly Wander subscribers will get the details first. I recommend that you sign up for notifications so you don't miss those announcements! GET NOTIFICATIONS

Hi! My name is Jessica a.k.a. Wayfaring Wanderer and I reside in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains here in Boone, NC. I'm a free-spirited wedding, engagement, and lifestyle photographer who loves working with couples, families, and individuals who are committed to travel, adventure, and laid-back lifestyles. If you think we might be kindreds, I invite you to join the WW tribe by signing up [ HERE ] for weekly updates & get connected to the [ WW Facebook page ] to join the conversation! | Website www.wayfaringwanderer.com

{ Featured LINKS }

» Choose Your Adventure Portrait Marathon (Nov ONLY)
» Focusing on the Marriage and Not the Wedding
» Casey + Sarah's Valle Crucis Anniversary Adventure
» Ali + JB's Engagement Adventure at Grandfather Golf
» Logen + Nick's LGBT Engagement in Downtown West Jefferson

Casey + Sarah's Valle Crucis Anniversary Adventure | Boone, NC Couples Photography

By the time Casey contacted me I was already booked on their anniversary date. I was photographing a wedding that weekend, but because their schedule was flexible we were going to shoot for a session on the day after on Sunday. While I knew I'd be worn out after 16+ hours of wedding photography two days before, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to be a part of his anniversary surprise!

To celebrate their one year anniversary, Sarah bought Casey tickets to see a Washington Redskins game, one of his favorite teams. So, to step it up, he wanted to surprise her with an anniversary session at the Apple Barn in Valle Crucis where they got married in 2013.

It was a beautiful day before their wedding and it was gorgeous the day after, but they told me it poured on their wedding day, which thwarted their plans for the outdoorsy wedding photos they were hoping for.

Due to the heavy rains they had to do all of their photos under cover. They didn't get to do any by the creek nearby and they weren't able to venture over to the Valle Crucis Community Park to have images done by the Watauga River like they wanted to either.

Even though they have images they love from their wedding, they just didn't get everything that they envisioned. That's where I came to the rescue!

With only 24 hours to go before their photo shoot, I got an email from Casey letting me know that they ran into some issues with their transmission, so they wouldn't be able to make it up to Boone.

Scheduling was a bit tricky, but we managed to get a new date on the calendar after a few emails were exchanged. Casey had to spoil the surprise but I heard that Sarah was still overjoyed to learn about this thoughtful anniversary gift.

After our first rescheduling, we hit a few more snags along the way. Some days got mixed up and then we had to cancel because of the dreadful Boone weather we were experiencing, so there were many delays that tried to get in the way. 34 emails and 1-month later we finally made it happen!

Casey and Sarah were a lot of fun to photograph. I mean, look how smitten they are with one another. They made my job ridiculously easy. I love couples that are playful and don't take themselves too seriously. As you can see, these two lovebirds liked to laugh a lot!

When Casey contacted me about the surprise anniversary photo shoot, he told me that all he wanted was a smile for his wife. Seriously, how sweet is that?!

Here's what I would say to Casey: MISSION ACCOMPLISHED! I think we all had a blast! :-)

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY to Sarah + Casey! I'm so glad that you two were able to make a day trip up here to Boone so that I could photograph you after your first year of marriage. All of the fuss that we've had to endure in order to make this "surprise" a reality was definitely worth it! I hope you love this sneak peek as much as I do. I can't wait to share more!

Friends & Family: Want to see all of Casey + Sarah's anniversary photos when they are ready to be viewed? Please sign-up for the Weekly Wander to be notified » GET NOTIFICATIONS!

Hi! My name is Jessica a.k.a. Wayfaring Wanderer and I reside in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains here in Boone, NC. I'm a free-spirited wedding, engagement, and lifestyle photographer who loves working with couples, families, and individuals who are committed to travel, adventure, and laid-back lifestyles. If you think we might be kindreds, I invite you to join the WW tribe by signing up [ HERE ] for weekly updates & get connected to the [ WW Facebook page ] to join the conversation! | Website www.wayfaringwanderer.com

{ Featured LINKS }
» Choose Your Adventure Portrait Marathon (Oct & Nov ONLY)
» Focusing on the Marriage and Not the Wedding
» Ali + JB's Engagement Adventure at Grandfather Golf
» Logen + Nick's LGBT Engagement in Downtown West Jefferson

Ali + JB's Engagement Adventure at Grandfather Golf & Country Club | Boone NC Photographer

“Hold on now! We wouldn't want you to fall off the golf cart!”, Ali hollered.

Meanwhile, I have a death-grip with my left hand on the cameras and my right was white knuckling it on the—pardon my French—“oh shit!” bar (that’s what it’s called, right?! hahaha) while he whizzed us around the course!

JB was obviously very familiar with the terrain and seemed to know this course like the back of his hand. I wasn't really scared, I knew I was in good hands. I’m just being dramatic for effect. Did it work?

The three of us got cozy right away and sandwiched three-deep on the bench seat of the club car before we set off on our adventure around the golf course for their engagement pictures.

Ali knew she wanted to have their engagement photos made at the Grandfather Golf and Country Club from the very beginning because her and JB both love this beautiful place and have spent a lot of time here together during their four years of dating.

After all, it’s also how they started their relationship, bonding at a ball game over how much they both love the GGCC. It’s one of their favorite places.

We attempted to schedule their engagement photography session back in February during the wintertime because she wanted snow photos but we didn't get any the weekend they came up so we decided to wait since the landscape look so drab. 

The two lovebirds live in Charlotte but come to visit JB’s parents’ mountain house every opportunity they get. The end of the summer was the earliest that we could all get together because of wedding planning craziness, theirs and mine, but I’m so glad I was able to meet Ali and JB before their wedding day.

JB and Ali got engaged in late October of last year on a gorgeous fall day decorated with vibrant colors of autumn and a sprinkling of snow on the ground.

 

He asked her to go for a walk on the fairway of the first hole. She stopped to snap a picture, JB took a knee, and when she turned around he asked her to marry him.

I don’t think there was any doubt in JB’s mind as to whether or not the answer would be “YES!” because Ali had no qualms about letting it be known that she was ready to take things to the next level.


What made this spot even more special was the fact that it was the place where Ali and JB shared their first kiss! Seriously, how romantic is that?! Nice job, JB!

We gallivanted around the golf course and visited different holes based on what had a view of the mountains and the most significance to them as couple and what looked cool! It's a gorgeous golf course, I had no idea how pretty it was back there. 

They are both BIG sports fans and enjoy going to and watching games together, but Ali doesn't play golf like JB does.

In fact, she has no desire to learn and he doesn't have any plans to teach her, which I thought was funny, but couples don’t have to do everything together!

Ali and I were on weather watch that day because clouds were looming and the forecast was calling for rain. But this is Boone so things can change in an instant, so we stayed hopeful and had a back-up plan just in case!

Thankfully, the storm held off and the sun shined brightly for a bit before the clouds quickly rolled in at the very end of our engagement session.

It got dark really fast so we made our way back to the clubhouse as quickly as we could to get some shots on the bridge before the sun set completely.

I really loved Ali’s white Lily Pulitzer dress. She looked adorable in the delicate lace and floral motif paired with her gold peep toe wedges that are also her wedding shoes.

The accessories that she added to the ensemble for some pops of color were super cute as well. I thought that her and JB coordinated their outfits nicely. Did you notice his NC Tar Heel belt?

While Ali loves having pictures taken, JB hates them, although he was willing to do it because he loves her, of course. She told me she just wanted one good picture of the two of them and that they've never had professional pictures taken together so she didn't know what to expect but she was extremely excited!

We had a lot of fun on our engagement adventure, but it also gave them a chance to see how I work before their wedding day and also showed JB that having your pictures made is not all that painful when you’re enjoying yourself! He admitted to having fun afterwards! WIN! ;-)

My goal as an engagement photographer is to ensure that having your engagement pictures made is a fun experience for everyone. That's why I like to focus on creating new memories with an adventure that is made just for you!

Ready to book your exclusive Choose Your Adventure Session?

Simply send me an email at wayfaringwanderer@gmail.com or message me through my website contact form and I'll get you on the schedule ASAP! Availability is limited, only 10, 8, 5, 3 spaces left for engagement photos in 2014!

Hi! My name is Jessica a.k.a. Wayfaring Wanderer and I reside in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains here in Boone, NC. I'm a free-spirited wedding, engagement, and lifestyle photographer who loves working with couples, families, and individuals who are committed to travel, adventure, and laid-back lifestyles. If you think we might be kindreds, I invite you to join the WW tribe by signing up [ HERE ] for weekly updates & get connected to the [ WW Facebook page ] to join the conversation! | Website www.wayfaringwanderer.com

{ Featured LINKS }

» No More Boring Family Photos! | Choose Your Adventure Family Photography
» Pennington Family Adventure at Valle Crucis Community Park
» Hersey Family Reunion Adventure on Lake James, NC
» Scott Family Hiking Adventure on the Blue Ridge Parkway

Logen & Nick's "First Date" Session in Downtown West Jefferson | Boone, NC LGBT Friendly Engagement Photographer

Our loud whispers could be heard throughout the quiet library. The three of us did our best to keep it down to a murmur but the giggles could not be contained. I had so much fun with Logen and Nick while photographing their engagement session. We had a phenomenal time gallivanting around West Jefferson, NC to re-create their first date!

The photography session began at the Ashe County Public Library where they hung out for a while and scanned the selection of comic books they had on hand. They both softly cheered upon finding a stash of “Attack on Titan” graphic novels because it's one of Nick's favorite series!

We even ventured upstairs to catch a quick glimpse at the reference materials because Nick also has a penchant for airplanes and the pilot Amelia Earhart. After spending some time goofing off at the local library, we decided to take a stroll in the historic section of downtown West Jefferson.

It was such a gorgeous day. The sun was shining and a light breeze was gently blowing, so a slow saunter around this small town was rather pleasant on this particular evening.

We walked up and down the main strip, perusing a few different storefronts—and the movie theater since these two are major film fans—along the way before ending up at Good Ole Days Ice Cream Shop. This is another special place where their budding romance began because they stopped in here for some refreshment and a reprieve from the summer heat during their first date.

"Krazy Kolors" was their flavor of choice to share, which I thought was pretty funny because it turns your mouth and teeth bright blue! I jokingly warned them that I wouldn't be photoshopping the color of their kissers later because it's not my fault they picked out that Smurf-colored sweet treat! hahaha

Back in the day when I ate this same creamy concoction it was called Superman and was one of my favorite flavors (along with Bubble Gum that had actual pieces of rainbow-colored bubble gum in it)! The fact that it turned my whole mouth blue was one of the reasons why I loved it as a kid! After the engagement session was over, I went back to the ice cream shop so that I could decompress with a scrumptious scoop of my own. It was too tempting to resist, even if I did have to deal with the aftermath of a blue tongue, teeth, and lips!

Once the two lovebirds were done spoon-feeding one another ice cream, we headed back up to the library so we could visit the nearby park to play for the last bit of time we had together.

I coaxed them into sliding down the super-tall aluminum slide together at the same time, not once but twice! And afterward, Logen happily pushed Nick in the swing for a while. This is where the laughter really let loose!

I loved how playful these two were with one another, it's apparent that they both laugh a lot and have fun together because we did just that during their engagement session! Thank you for checking out this preview of Logen & Nick's engagement session. I hope you enjoyed this re-creation of their fun first date!

What type of adventure did you go on with your sweetheart for your first date?! Share your story in the comment section; I'd love to hear from you!

Hi! My name is Jessica a.k.a. Wayfaring Wanderer and I reside in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains here in Boone, NC. I'm a free-spirited wedding, engagement, and lifestyle photographer who loves working with couples, families, and individuals who are committed to travel, adventure, and laid-back lifestyles. If you think we might be kindreds, I invite you to join the WW tribe by signing up [ HERE ] for somewhat weekly updates & get connected to the [ WW Facebook page ] to join the conversation! | Website www.wayfaringwanderer.com