Gosh I love my couples!! This week I had the HONOR of photographing Christie and Matt for their Long Branch NJ beach engagement session and we had SO much fun together. A few weeks back, when Christie and Matt inquired with me for their wedding, the story of how they found me was enough to make anyone excited.

 

One of my past couples [looking at you Ellen and Joe!] had reviewed their venue on Facebook, and had made one of my pictures from their wedding their profile picture.  Christie saw Ellen’s review of Old Tappan Manor and clicked on Ellen’s profile picture to try and find out who their photographer was! Since I was tagged, it brought them to my FB Business page and then my blog and website.  Just a few minutes after, they inquired and we set up a time to chat.

 

IMMEDIATELY I knew Christie and Matt had to be a Laura Lee couple. We got along so so well and just from our hour long video chat, it already felt like we were old friends! They booked the next day, and we eagerly scheduled their engagement session for a day Christie had off from school. We decided on Long Branch for their session, down at the beach, because that’s where one of their first dates was and the town is so beautiful and beach is so special to their story.

 

Christie and Matt met online a little over 2 years ago, and after just one message from Matt, they were set to go on their first date.

 

Their first date was a meet up for drinks at Blu Alehouse (where I frequent often with Scott!). According to both of them, “It went pretty well except for the fact that Christie showed Matt how clumsy she can be right away when she tried to open the door to the restaurant, overestimated the weight of the door, and swung the door open so hard, it hit a bench and could’ve shattered.” At least she was showing her true colors up front. 😉 This was a running joke at our session, where we got to talk more about their relationship, and share so many laughs together.

 

I just love when I get to be truly invested in my couples stories. I love that Christie and Matt opened up and shared so much of their life with me, it makes me job so easy and so so so fun!

 

The minute they got to the session we were already having a good time, and quickly headed towards the empty beach as the sun was glowing on them.  They wrote their date in the sand, watched the waves wash it away multiple times, ran through the water, skipped rocks, cuddled on a blanket, and strolled along the waves from Tropical Storm Jose, hand in hand.

 

Being at the beach for their session had extra significance because Matt proposed at the beach while on a trip to Cape May!

 

In Christie’s words: “We were away for the weekend in Cape May, NJ and Matt waited all weekend to pop the question because he wanted to ask on the beach and the only day it didn’t rain was the last day of our trip! We walked along Sunset Beach before dinner, taking in the view and enjoying the breeze. Matt asked if I enjoyed our trip to Cape May versus our trip from the previous summer. When I went into a detailed comparing and contrasting of the two trips, Matt cut me off and told me he had something that would make this trip even better. He took the ring out of his pocket and got down on one knee on the sand. He said so many wonderful things next but I was crying and screaming and so overwhelmed that all I could see was his lovable smile and all I could say was, “yes, of course!””

 

Cue my tears of joy.

 

These two literally had me smiling ALL session, and once we watched the sun turn the sky all shades of pink, we went down to Pier Village for gelato so Christie could have a picture with ice cream! =) And, we even came across some palm trees that made it look so so Un-New Jersey like! After we ended on the scrumptious note of Gelato, we all went to dinner together at McLoone’s Pier House!  

 

Christie and Matt, I honestly can’t thank you enough for dinner, and for the wonderful company all evening. I had so much fun with you, and I honestly am so so so so excited about your wedding that I’m already smiling about it.

 

I hope these pictures bring a smile to my face like they do mine! I can’t wait for a double date soon at Blu Ale House!!