I was fortunate enough to be able to meet Sarah and her fiance Pat at an open house at London Town Gardens. I’ve shot there plenty of times, and I was hoping that any bride drawn to this beautiful location that I love so much would be a good match for me. In Sarah’s case, I was absolutely right. Sarah and I met over coffee after the open house and got to know each other better.

The first thing that made me fall in love with Sarah was her kindness and gentleness. She has an easy way of talking to others and making them feel comfortable in her presence. Her smile comes naturally, her laughter comes genuinely, and I felt we would become quick friends.

The second thing that made me fall in love with Sarah was her creativity! Sarah told me that she was a self-employed artist, and when I pressed her for more information on what kind of art she creates, I was shocked to hear her tell me she was a paper cutter. I have honestly never seen such a unique and gorgeous talent! You can browse her Etsy Shop here, or read an interview with her here.

But my favorite thing that made me fall in love with Sarah? Her fiance, Pat. These two have been together off and on for the past 17 years! Seventeen years!! They met while Sarah was still in high school, and the closeness, friendship, and experience they share is evident in the way they interact with each other. Pat’s real smile came out most easily whenever I asked him to look at Sarah. He clearly only has eyes for her! One of the best moments of the engagement session for me was when I had Sarah hold the back of Pat’s neck and she said, “Well this is romantic!” in such a sweet, giddy voice and Pat smiled back at her. I was grinning from ear to ear from behind my camera!

We met up on a cloudy fall day at Quiet Waters, a park that these two frequent often. We made sure to photograph near the water at the end of the session, and we caught just the tiniest glimpse of a sunset. I’m hoping my film images capture that better than my digital camera…I will have to update when my scans come back!

Sarah and Pat are planning an intimate wedding ceremony, with only their closest friends and family in attendance, and I truly feel honored to be there to capture it. I just know it’s going to be such a special day! Not to mention, she is working with some of my favorite other vendors!! Including Whipped. Cakes & Confections and Charming Grace Events. Sarah definitely has good taste 😉