Chuck approached me last year with one of the best inquiries ever. He and Julie were guests at Katie & Seth’s wedding, had been engaged for longer than their parents would like, without a venue or wedding date, and just knew that they wanted awesome pictures. I kind of insisted they get a wedding venue and a date so I could be a part of it.
We planned their engagement session at the beach. Though Chuck’s not such a fan of sand, this was something that was particularly important to them since Chuck proposed to Julie on the beach about two years ago. I’m amazed that she was able to take off the ring and keep the proposal a secret for a few days – something for just the two of them to share together.
We met up at the inlet in Ocean City, Maryland for a fantastic session.
They had cruised the boardwalk earlier that day and found a kite especially for the session. I love it when we get to use awesome props like that!
There were some great rocks right at the edge of the beach. We had been warned that we might get a little wet. These two were totally game!
I’m a bit disappointed that I had to explain “canoodling” to them, but they figured it out. (By the way, it means cuddling, kissing, being adorable together, etc. See below.)
A quick change later and we were by the boardwalk for one of those sunsets that are so classically “beach”. (They should know, they had just come back from a pre-honeymoon trip to Hawaii filled with ziplining, snorkeling, surfing, and sunrise walks on the beach – the time change didn’t quite work for them.)
I always say that a beautiful woman in a white dress can get do just about anything. I may have to revise that to simply say ‘two people in love can do just about anything’. I had scoped out a fabulous old carousel (The Trimper Family’s Carousel from 1912) on the boardwalk. As we arrived, the guy there was closing up. He asked what we were up to and was happy to gave us a free ride. We had the whole place to ourselves. It felt like magic.
We ended our evening as the sun was setting behind Ocean City; boardwalk on one side of us, ocean on the other.
Julie and Chuck, see you in September for a wedding that represents another side of things – mountains! I can’t wait!
I love you not only for what you are, but for what I am when I am with you. I love you not only for what you have made of yourself, but for what you are making of me. I love you for the part of me that you bring out.
~ Elizabeth Barrett Browning
