Rachel and Doug's Engagement Session at Minnewaska State Park Preserve

Engagement sessions are one of my favorite kind of sessions. I love being able to get to know couple. We can take our time, walk around, get creative, and have some fun! Rachel and Doug decided to meet me at The Minnewaska State Park Preserve and we have a lovely morning last Spring. I’m looking forward to photographing their wedding this year! Rachel and Doug share a little about their relationship, their dreamy proposal, and have some great advice for other couples.

How did you meet?

We met while attending SUNY Morrisville where we were both pursuing our Bachelor degrees. Doug had noticed Rachel before she did him and made it a point to introduce himself. After meeting each other one day in the dining hall we exchanged numbers and then very quickly grew to enjoy each other’s company and sense of humor. The rest was history.

When did you know... I'm going to marry this lovely human?

Our relationship and feelings for one another grew serious fairly quickly.  Within a year or two we both felt that we had found the perfect life partner.

Tell us about you first date.

Our first date consisted of Doug dragging Rachel through ankle deep mud to the massive windmills a few miles off campus on the rolling hills of Morrisville for an early Spring sunset. After reaching the top, Doug ended up giving Rachel a piggyback ride down the hill after getting stuck in the mud and nearly losing her shoes. This “first date” was when they both realized they had found a great sense of adventure and laughter in one another.

What about your proposal?

October 2018, we were on a vacation with Rachel’s family down in North Carolina where we had rented a beach house. The proposal took place on Shackleford Island where we fortunately had the island to ourselves aside from the wild horses roaming the island. Doug had planned the proposal waiting for the right moment to ask and did so while we were walking the island shoreline. My father and sister were present and “in” on it all and recorded the special moment.

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

We chose Minnewaska State Park near New Paltz, NY. Choosing this location for our engagement photos was simple as after visiting for the first time we knew it was “us” as we live for the outdoors and exploring many of the beautiful state parks. We would 100% recommend this location to others as nature’s beauty is really on display at Minnewaska and the park offers wooded trails, a sky lake, impressive waterfall and breathtaking views of the Catskill mountains in the background. We wouldn’t change a single thing but if you do go, be prepared to do some walking.

What did you wear and why? What is your advice for other couples planning an engagement session to wear?

For an engagement photo shoot we would recommend wearing something you feel great, confident, special in such as an outfit that you love or that symbolizes your relationship. You both should feel like yourselves. Comfortable shoes is a must!!

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

Having never been professionally photographed before we were a tad anxious as we wanted the pictures to come out naturally and beautiful. Having Kristin there to coach us helped immensely not to mention her skills and personality made it easy for us to relax. We had a wonderful session!!

When and Where are you getting married and what made you choose that location? If you haven't chosen a venue, what are you looking for?

In December 2019 Doug and I chose Seven Ponds Farm in Summit NY because we felt that it was “us”. Upon our first visit to the venue, we immediately knew and felt that this was the right place for us to get married. We had visited countless other venues but none of them compared.

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?

Early advice would be to always remember the most important thing this process is that end goal of getting married. A lot of things will “go wrong” or mess up the day but what matters most is that you will be married! Try to have fun throughout this process as you only get the do this once.

What are you most excited about on the wedding day?

Sharing the day with each other surrounded by our family and friends.

Thank you Rachel and Doug for sharing!