Est. 2012 | Colorado Springs, Colorado and Charlottesville, Virginia wedding & family photographer

Guys. I’m dying over these photos from Brendan and Caroline’s session!!! 🙂 🙂 🙂 When they wanted to fly me out to Seattle, Washington, to be their engagement photographer, I had NO idea it would look like this. I enjoy photographing couples in a meaningful place, and Seattle is so special to Brendan and Caroline … In fact, that is where they met and currently live! They are getting married at Great Marsh Estate in Virginia next spring, so I’m glad they wanted photos in their favorite city! I can only imagine how stunning that will be next year too!

While planning this destination session, they wanted to do it during their favorite time of the year … July! I understand why they chose the summer season! When I imagine Seattle, I think of a gloomy cloud over the city all year long. HAHA! But it’s actually GORGEOUS during this time of the year!!! It’s sunny, and you can see Mount Rainier, typically hidden behind the fog! I learned from my mom that Seattle people say, “the mountain is out today!”

When I got together with Brendan and Caroline, we met at one of their favorite hang-out spots, Kings Hardware. One of their favorite things to do is play cards and drink a beer at this cute downtown spot! After hanging out, we wandered around Ballard Ave and headed to Discovery Park! It was there when we were heading to the Bluffs when we stumbled across a field of flowers! It was the most magical sight, especially since it was golden hour!! Needless to say, I wished the golden hour was two hours long because I wanted to photograph them all night long. HAH! Also, how adorable are their pups?! Check it out below!!!

BRENDAN & CAROLINE’S LOVE STORY

HOW BRENDAN & CAROLINE MET

In 2019, fate (aka Hinge algorithms) brought us together at Stoup Brewing in Seattle, WA. We quickly connected over our love for mountains, pub trivia, and our doggos – RON! and Barley. In 2020, our relationship grew as we realized being confined to 1,200 square feet with two dogs only brought us closer together. Together, we’ve hiked more than 500 miles, played 127 games of Scrabble (as of this writing Brendan is winning by 3), and driven across the country 12 times. Each day, Brendan challenged Caroline to step out of her comfort zone and take on grand adventures. Caroline not only taught Brendan how to use basic excel formulas but also how to tackle the world with an open and empathetic heart.

HOW BRENDAN PROPOSED TO CAROLINE

In September 2021, Brendan rented a sailboat for an evening ride on the Puget Sound. Naturally, it was pouring rain, but what else would you expect in the PNW? The boat had yet to make it out of the “No Wake Zone” when Brendan got down on one knee and popped the question. Our friends think we are exaggerating when we say the rain cleared minutes after the proposal and we watched the sunset over the horizon, but we promise it was that romantic.

Thank you!!!

Thank you, Brendan and Caroline, for one of the most incredible sessions I’ve photographed! I’m not only honored that you had me be your Seattle, Washington engagement photographer, but your wedding photographer too! I’ll never forget our time together, and now I’m even more excited for your big day next year! IAlso, I especially enjoyed how fun you two were in front of the camera! Hehe! Thank you for trusting me to document this chapter of your love story!!!

Stephanie Messick Photography, LLC is a Northern and Central, Virginia + Colorado Family, Wedding, and Engagement Photographer. Learn more HERE or contact her HERE!!