I was beyond excited for Monica and Ryan’s engagement session because I was not only meeting the two of them..I was also meeting the biggest blessings in their lives: Jade and Alexis!! We met at Washington Crossing State Park – on the PA side – for their session! It was the perfect location because there were so many historic buildings around, and the sun was just about to set! My absolute FAVORITE!! The weather was also perfect!! Woohoo!! I had never been to the park before – if you’ve never been, go! The park is so beautiful!!

After getting a little misplaced – I ended up on the NJ side of the park (insert face palm) – and finally arriving at the right location, Monica, Ryan, Jade and Alexis were already spending time together down by the Delaware River! It was the sweetest site to see because I already knew that their session was going to be relaxed, BUT fun and filled with so many intimate moments! Don’t worry, you’ll see what I’m talking about below!!! 😀 Jade was even wearing a pink, Batman hair pin because it’s her Daddy’s favorite! So cute!! 😀

This family is so, so beautiful, and I was beyond honored to capture such an exciting time in all their lives!

Usually, I’ll receive the “how they met” and “how he proposed” stories from the Bride-to-Be, but this time the Groom-to-Be, Ryan, wrote both of the stories!! How sweet?!!?!

Ryan and Monica – thank you for allowing me to preserve such special moments between you and your girls! I’m so excited for you all!!

xoxo

As Told By The Groom-to-Be

How They Met

“Monica and I met on Plentyoffish.com. I always enjoy telling our tale because we were truly meant to be. Fate rarely calls upon us at a moment of our choosing. The time may not be right, you may not be ready and you may not have been expecting it. In my case, I didn’t even know that I was looking. I had a friend who was notorious for cancelling plans. My father being an Eagles season ticket holder offered me the tickets for the opening game that season. Said friend had never been to a game so I invited him with the mindset that he would cancel as he always does. Believe it or not he came through. While on our way to the game we were discussing relationships. I told him I wasn’t looking. He suggested an app called POF. I declined the entire way to the stadium, but low and behold he had created an account for me. Him and I enjoyed the game and I would begin using the app in the days to come following the game. A few days later I saw a photo of a charming young blond with blue eyes who appeared to have her act together. Totally not my type. I messaged her and she messaged me back! We instantly hit it off. For our first date we chose a small Italian restaurant in Philadelphia where my friend was the manager at the time.

As for Monica and I, there were no awkward pauses or gaps in our conversations. It was a magical night to say the least. Monica and I will agree with one another and tell anyone that asks us that we knew we were meant to be from the moment we laid eyes on one another. Skipping the years that followed with boring detail, I will jump ahead to how I came to popping the question. Monica found out that she was pregnant in June of 2016. Our precious angel would arrive 9 months later. During those 9 months I became the man that I wanted to be. I found myself putting Monica’s needs before mine and carelessly spending money for every tool or product that I thought would make her experience better. Monica stood by me through my emotional and mental ups and downs throughout our entire relationship. Two weeks after our daughter was born my employer at the time and myself agreed it would be best if we parted ways. Normally a man would feel worthless with a new born and girlfriend at home, but Monica’s response to all of it was “good, now you can spend more time with me and the baby”. From February to May Monica and I spent every moment together with our child and my first born who visited us on the weekends (Alexis). We watched the seasons change and movies at 6pm on winter nights turned into walks around the lake with crisp air entering our lungs and helping our daughters lungs expand as she took in the world visually and physically.”

How He Proposed

“In May I was offered a position in New York City. One night while at work, I looked on to the city lights and listened to the sounds of New York City and thought to myself I am here because Monica believed in me. I texted her sister and said “what kind of engagement ring does your sister want?”. Her sister full of excitement began searching Monica’s Pinterest for ideas. I asked both Monica’s mom and dad for their blessing and they both approved. Without getting into too much detail Monica and I have 4 parents each. Our entire family came together for the proposal. Monica and I do not like to hold onto grudges. We are healers. We live and die by the quote “it’s not who I am underneath, but what I do that defines me”. We aren’t the type the sit back and talk about what we want to happen. Often we are already in the process of making things happen. I note that because at times there was resistance and fear in our parental circle because of their issues with one another, but Monica and I have ironed out those issues and now it is one big happy family. Monica and I aren’t just a couple, we are a unit. If one of us gets pulled off of a task due to our baby or whatever else, I can guarantee you that the other is finishing said task without words or immediate communication. All of that aside we are passionate lovers and I fall in love with her over and over every single day. I’m looking forward to a lifetime of happiness with this woman.”