Enjoy People | Ryan + Christina | Glen Echo Engagement Shoot

"i had a dream that I had to drive to madison
to deliver a painting for some silly reason
i took a wrong turn and ended up in michigan
a pallbearer aboard took me to the giant tire swing"
kim dawson

In October I received an e-mail from a woman, asking me to shoot her wedding. Sweet! So far, so normal.  I'm used to that.  "I'm sending you some pictures so you get a feel for us as a couple!"  Wonderful.  I ask for that on my website.  Also normal!  The pictures downloaded.  There was a woman in a floral jacket with a horse head/mask on in a candy store.  Picture number two: A man flailing between the teeth of a giant plastic shark (the kind outside of aquariums or inside SeaWorld where mom's take tourist photos and teenage boys stick their heads inside the mouth and think it's so so funny.)  Ryan didn't just pop his head in and make a scary face... he is curled up inside the mouth of the shark.  His whole body. There was another picture of him sitting on a giant pink hand... of her wearing a blue bicycle helmet... of them smiling in front of a rain forest.  Just to be clear: not normal.

And I loved it.  Our first coffee meet-up was over two hours long.  They told me story after story.  I heard about Cheerio-eating goats, cats named after royalty, monocles. My Little Pony, nerds, Facebook messaging, strawberry lemonade, and moving.  It's rare to come across such fascinating, funny, real and quirky people.  As soon as I was finished with the "meeting" I told Caleb that I was smitten with them.  "They're incredible.  They're hilarious.  They're loud.  They're just so much fun. I had so much fun."   

So, enjoy this pair today.  I don't feel like I can explain them well enough to do them justice.  They're sweet.  They're weird.  They're genuine.  Just... yes.  Just enjoy their faces and love:

(Ah, yes.  The Pity Head Pats.  I've been victim to those one-too-many-times.  "Poor little girl." Pat pat pat.)

 

Evan + Betsy {Glen Echo Wedding}

"so i just lay back and laugh at the sun'cause i'm in shoo-shoo-shoo, shoo-shoo-shoo sugar town."nancy sinatra | sugar townIt was a breezy, but not even slightly chilly sunny day.
And after getting stuck in a VERY creepy parking garage
(turns out I had somehow mananged to park myself in the Valet Parkers garage.
Oops!)
I was ready to see sweet Betsy on her wedding day.
I had only met Betsy once before her wedding,
but I was smitten with her taste from the get-go.
Especially her + Evan's desire to have a "fun, different and authentic wedding.
We want to to feel real to us as individuals and as a couple."
Sold. Signed, sealed, delivered... I'm yours ;)
When I got to the hotel I discovered a very nervous Betsy.
Still so sweet.
But oh-so-nervous.
"I'm not scared about my marriage!
Or my future!
Nothing could be better then marrying Evan.
It's just all this that makes me nervous!"
she said, as she pointed at her dress, hair and hotel room.
Her mom reminisced with her about her childhood,
trying to take Betsy's mind off her nerves.
"Look! You can see your summer camp right down there!"
They made sure she had some saltines and water for the stomach,
TV and magazines for the eyes,
and band-aids for those dang heels ;)
I wanted to give Betsy a little breathing room,
so I headed down a few doors to check on the boys.
Just a minute or so after I got to the groomsmen,
someone yelled "Hey! Evan! It's for you!
It's Betsy.""Hello?
Hey... oh?
Right now?
If you want to! Yes. Sure.
Right now."
Betsy wanted to see him right now.
The original plan was to do a First Look at Glen Echo.
But she needed her comfort and rock.
And she needed it now.
The poor girl was visibly emotional.
Not sad or bothered.
Very confident, very sweet... just dying to see her man.
So with a few final touches...
... as well as tears and "you look beautiful!"'s from dad...
... Betsy was ready to roll.
I asked her if she wanted me to find somewhere to go in the hotel with better light,
or more character then the elevator entrance of the tenth floor.
"No, that's okay!  This is us, I guess. And this will just be the story of how it happened!
On our wedding day, I saw him in the hotel hallway!
Because I just couldn't wait!"
He: Wow.  You are a bride.
Her: I KNOW! Can you believe it?
Her: But it's the same.
I'm a bride.
And you're a groom.
But it's the same.
We're normal, right?
He: Yes, we're normal. We're just the same.
Her: Well, I feel a LOT better! I don't know if this helped you, but I feel SO much better.
Apparently seeing her made the stoic-surgeon-Evan much MORE nervous,
but it was the hugest sigh of relief for Betsy.
Since we had the first look out of the way, there was some time to kill at Glen Echo.
Which was probably good.
Betsy got to sit in a cool, air-conditioned room and talk with her family.
And be photographed by me.
Because she is ridiculously attractive.
"You know what?" she laughed.
"This is all a bit ridiculous!
You go through months of planning,
and working on this event... and then it comes...
and you can't even go to the bathroom by yourself!"
Betsy had a giddy little moment of "gaining perspective" and her mom cracked up.
"You are one of us!"
It was rather cute.

 And before we knew it, it was time for the ceremony,
at my favoritefavorite Glen Echo Park.
(Did I mention Glen Echo is my favorite?)
Here's a theory I have about shooting at this park:
If you get married at Glen Echo, you just have to be a fun couple.
Or at least interesting.
With fun friends and family, to boot.
Because what boring, lame, persnickety couple gets married at a 1920's theme park?

Where artists still create, dances are still held and children still play?None. No lame couples get married at Glen Echo.
At least that's my theory... and so far I'm 5 for 5?

And look! This couple was so nice!
As their guests walked up, they were offered a refreshing glass of water or lemonade.
Glen Echo Couple for the win!
The ceremony was at THE most perfect time of day.
Combined with the colors, murmur of the lively guests and the sweet emotion,
it really was perfection.
Aaaaaaaw ;)
After Betsy's nerves left... they were GONE.
And replaced with smile after smile after smile.
A little shout-out to my favorite company Apple ;) Ow ow!
Part of keeping their wedding "authentic" was having seven guests share a wish for the new couple.
Some were serious, some were funny,
but all were heartfelt and personal.
(love all the groomsmen's faces in that ^ one ;) haha it was a very sweet wish.)

Eh, they're alright ;)

By the way, isn't their huppah fantastic?
But... marriage time!
Vows!
Rings!
Kisses!
And wa-la!
They're married.
She her funny, confident comforter,
and he to his spontaneous, compassionate adventurer.
Forever.
The guests kicked back at the beautiful cocktail hour.
The details were all killer.
(This is what every drink in Heaven tastes like... I think.)
Happy happy wife.
Wonderful wonderful drink.
I ADORED that they had lots of kids in and at their wedding.
I've always wanted to do the same,
and these little people were just SUCH a hoot!
Evan and Betsy first met in college.
They were friends.
That was about it.
I mean, don't get me wrong... they were good friends!
Great friends, even!
But not in "that" sort of way.
Betsy's maid of honor explained it well:
"He was the kind of friend you confide in,
trust everything with,
and the kind of friend if you ever let yourself admit it
might be more then just a friend."
It took them both a while to admit it, I guess.
They were the kind of friends that made a pact with each other
"If we aren't married by _____ age, we'll marry each other."
But all of a sudden everything changed.
Evan realized there was more to this beautiful girl.
"I love that you really think."
He loved how she enjoyed cooking and chilling on the beach,but could also rough it on trips all over the world and make it fun.
She was compassionate and truly dear to him.
Betsy realized just was wonderful Evan was with people,
how he made them feel comfortable and instantly like a friend.
She loved his loyalty and confidence,
humor and smarts.
And before you know it,
Evan was in an OldTime Photobooth proposing to his best friend,
Betsy.
One thing I loved about them as a couple was how they really "stuck to their guns."
Their wedding was exactly what they wanted it to be.
So very fun.
So very special.
So very "them."




And that is how they are with each other.
There is definitley a sense of "take me as I am,
all my faults and failures,
strengths and accomplishments.
We're in this together and I love you for you."

(Haha this made me laugh. Starts young... ;)

The maid of honor gave on of the best toasts I've ever heard.
The room was in tears.
The best man gave one of the funniest toasts I've ever heard.
The room was roaring.
And they all celebrated.
Celebrated where they had come from,
celebrated this very moment of this very day,
and celebrated what was to come for Evan and Betsy.

I'd toast to that, too ;)
Congratulations newlyweds!
Enjoy living in sunny CA and tell it "hello!" for me!

Max + Abby {Glen Echo Engagement Photography}

the first time that i met her,
i couldn't say a word.
she knew what i was thinking
and I'm not sure how it worked.
josh kelley | baby blue eyes

Once upon a time there was Abby.

 Abby was adorable, smart and Texan

Abby was a gymnast.

Abby's hard-work got her a scholarship to University of Maryland.

Abby took Spanish at University of Maryland.

Once upon a very similar time there was Max.
Max was funny, strong and an Ohio-an.
Max was a lacrosse player.
Max's skills got him a scholarship to University of Maryland.Max took Spanish at University of Maryland.

All the way across the room,
on the first day of Spanish Class,Max was...well... quite taken with Abby,all the way on the other side of the room.

Max geared himself up.

He put on his big boy shoes.

And the following Spanish class...

he sat right behind Abby.

Not all the way on the other side of the room.

And they met for the first time.

That chance meeting, in a random class, in a random state,was the hand of God at work.
He brought Max + Abby together just over a year ago.

After their sweet and gushy Disney Channel-esque meeting,
they dated, fell in love and now they are engaged.

"She's just the girl for me.
I don't know how else to say it it.She's it.
She's the girl for me."

Max knew the right when he met her that this girl was different.
He even called his mom and told her
"I found the girl I'm gonna marry."

And let's be honest...
Abby is a catch!
Gorgeous, athletic, smart - she has a lot going for her!
I'd be willing to bet those things intimidate a lot of guys.

And maybe it was that jocky-confidence,
that led Max to be sure he would marry this girl.
Or maybe he was a normal guy,
who was a 6'4 bundle of nerves,
but was not willing to let his fears ruin this. 


He wanted that mini-Texan.
He became friends with her,
and they haven't parted since.
Badda-bing, badda-boom.

One area they both really bonded over was their athletic careers.

Max and Abby are passionate about doing what they are passionate about.
They did not want to miss the chance to play the sport they loved.

And they played HARD.
I love everything about that :D

But I also love how peaceful Abby was with her gymnastics season ending.

"I have Max now.
And a wedding to plan,
and life is moving forward!
It had to come to an end sometime...

... but I have so much to look forward to!"

"When I met Max, I wasn't looking for anyone."

(sidenote: people say that aaaaaalll the time. Noted.)

(other side note: they have the cutest arms!)

"I really loved where I was at,
and I wasn't looking to add anything to my life!
I was so happy!"




"But I didn't realize how much I was missing.
He brings out in me what I didn't know I needed.
It's so complete to have him."

"And I truly didn't know I needed it."

(Another side-note: Abby told me that he was the "cute one",
while she was the "smart one".)

(Don't get me wrong - she is smaaaaaart.
But also pretty ridiculously cute.)

See? Yeah. Hello.



"Hey Ab,
are you Vogue-ing it up or what?""Hahah yeah, I'm Vogue-ing it up, Max."

I love these next shots, mostly because of how they "came to be."
That stone wall is the base of a giant old bridge in Glen Echo.
I wanted Max + Abby to go stand on the rocks while I shot from up high.
"It won't be that hard getting down there!"

Um.  It was that hard getting down there.
The hill was quite steep, but also really soft with new spring ground.
It was a thorny, humid, rocky, bumble-bee-y hot mess.
Abby wore her stiletto's and used them as spikes to secure herself.
Max was sweating through his nice button-up shirt.
I was the brilliant, sneezing, make-up-less, allergy attacked wonder following behind.
Max wanted to carry Abby.
Abby didn't want to be carried because she didn't want them both to fall.
I sneezed.

A crowd gathered on the bridge, watching us participate in such a feat.
Once we made it safely to the bottom a friendly soul called out
"There is an easier way on the other side of the bridge!"
We looked over, and sure enough there was a
smooth, slightly inclined, clear, dirt path.
"We coulda used you five minutes ago!"
and everyone laughed.

But it all worked out.  So well.

And it was a sweet little view into their world.
Max, the kind, brave leader... who wants to protect Abby from all harm.
Abby, the helpful, loving support... who wants to make them both a success, even if risk is involved.
And they happen to be madly in love.



I merrily skipped up the easy path to get the shot I was envisioning on top the bridge.
Love how it came out!


Afterwards Max + Abby came up the easy path too.
They look way too good for how humid, sweaty, pond-wet, thorny and mountain-climby
the last few minutes had been.
Y'all should teach a class.
You'd make mad dough.

Or you could kiss each other.  That is a great idea too.

I had so much fun with you both - lets hang out again?
And I'm so excited that God allowed your lives to intersect,
and that He's taking you on a new road together.

:D