I am so excited to be able to share Michael and Erin’s engagement session with you as well as a little bit more about them! I seriously have the best couples and couldn’t be more thankful for them! Michael and Erin were one of my first sessions when things started to open up last year and it was an absolute joy to spend time with them!

Below you will find a few questions that they so kindly answered. I loved reading about their love story!

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Where did you meet?

Erin and Michael met in college in Virginia. For their first two years, while we dated other people, we had a lot of the same classes together, both as English and journalism majors. We started officially dating during our junior year and have been together since.

When did you know?

We were friends for a long time before we started dating, but when we officially became a couple, our chemistry was natural. There wasn't one particular moment, but we bonded and "clicked" immediately.

Where did you go or what did you do for your first date?

It was a fraternity homecoming dinner.

Tell me all about your proposal

Our proposal happened after we had been dating for more than 7 years, so it was definitely a long time coming. (Blame it on Michael.) Michael surprised Erin with homemade dinner (the same dish they enjoyed on their first date) and a preplanned trip to Boston for a concert (Josh Ritter, one of their favorite musicians), several great meals and other fun activities.

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What was the location for your engagement shoot and how did you choose it?

Olana State Historic Park, which was suggested to us by Kristin and proved to be a wonderful place to visit and have photos taken. We would 100% recommend it to others!

How did you choose what to wear to your engagement session?

Our engagement shoot happened in summer, so we wore warm weather clothes that were a little classier than casual. We also made sure we were comfortable, and it was lucky that the colors matched some of the flowers and scenery pretty nicely!

Were you nervous or anxious about your engagement session? How did it turn out?

To be honest, we were pretty nervous, largely because we are pretty private people and not exactly accustomed to PDA. But we felt instantly comfortable around Kristin, and she did a tremendous job in ensuring we were comfortable but also capturing so many wonderful moments during a fun afternoon. We were very happy to have done it!

When and Where are you getting married and what made you choose that location?

We are getting married at Blenheim Hill Farm in Jefferson, New York. The original date was Oct. 24, 2020, but the pandemic forced a postponement to Oct. 23, 2021. We loved the look/feel of the venue, the ability to have a mixed indoor/outdoor ceremony/reception, the location (near enough to family and friends), and the all-inclusive nature of the food/hospitality that the venue and its operators provide.

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How are you feeling about the wedding planning process? I know this year has been a little different, do you have any advice for other couples planning a wedding?

We definitely took our time in the planning, so we have been largely able to avoid stress and welcome help from friends and relatives who offered it. The pandemic certainly made things stressful in the first half of 2020 until we made the decision (with our venue) to postpone, which was certainly the right decision. We would encourage other couples to take their time and not get too bogged down in what other people want or think you "must do" or "must have."

What are you most excited about on the wedding day?

The ability to celebrate each other with so many friends and family members, especially after a very stressful 2020. We can't wait.