It started long ago, right around the corner from her house, as the bus would pull up to the stop. A young boy would get on and she would shyly glance his direction, taking note of how cute he was, even in elementary school. He never paid her much attention but even when she moved to another school, she still remembered the cute boy from her bus.

A few years came and went and one day, right around the corner from her house, the bus pulled up and a handsome boy walked on. But this time, he wasn’t just an elementary school boy. He was now turning into a man. And ever more handsome than she remembered. They spent their high school years together and, although they never ran with the same crowd, she always kept him in the back of her mind.

Yet a few more years came and went, as they parted ways after high school, barely knowing each other anyway. But when Nicole decided to relocate back home she wondered where that cute boy might be. She had no idea if he was still in their hometown, or if he had moved on. But one afternoon, Facebook brought them back together in the form of a status that triggered her very heart and soul, so she was compelled to comment. A few exchanged messages, and a good look through each other profile pictures later, Nicole and Austin finally met up. Alone. For the first time in their long history. And it was right there that they realized all these years of school bus rides and high school stories were just the prequel to that one fateful day. That one fateful day when they both realized that while many people search high and low, and worlds apart to find their one true soul mate, for them they had to look no further than right around the corner.

I met up with Nicole and Austin on a chilly November day, Black Friday to be exact, where they cut down their Christmas tree and enjoyed some hot tea and doughnuts with their “firstborn”, Piper. Who was extremely well behaved. And although I liked them right when I first met them, it was during this session that I saw how perfectly they balance each other out, and how they really did complete each other. I am so, so excited for their Black Friday wedding next November and can’t wait to document them promising forever to each other.

Meet Nicole + Austin.

These guys worked hard on styling this session to be one of my favorite Get-to-know-you session EVER! They brought hot tea, apple cider doughnuts, a cute chalkboard, a cozy blanket, and some other fun props. I absolutely LOVE when clients bring props that reflect them and the essence of their relationship. I may be biased, but Piper was my favorite “prop” in this session. I was never able to capture it on camera, but pretty much any time I got focused on Nicole and Austin and talking with them, we would turn around and Piper would have her nose in the doughnut bag. I think she consumed as many, or more, doughnuts than Austin did during our session.

It took us a few tries, but we finally got Piper to stand still with the chalkboard, for their Save-The-Date cards

Nicole, my dear, you are GORGEOUS! Can’t wait to photograph you all dolled up next year.

Austin couldn’t keep a straight face while I was shooting just him because he kept saying he’s gonna catch so much flack from the guys at work. So, calling all guys who work with him….give him flack. But also be jealous. Because he was a total pro in front of the camera.