Oh man! I love a good high school sweetheart story, and this week I got to photograph two high school sweetheart couples! Sara and Chris met all the way back on October 30, 2008 at a high school dance! Chris was a Senior and Sara was a Junior. At the dance, they were introduced by Sara’s best friend, and Sara said she spotted Chris from across the room because he was wearing a ridiculous sweatshirt with different colored laces all over it that zipped up all the way past his head – not exactly formal dance attire and he caught her eye right away. They shared a dance together and then from there, as they say, the rest is history!

 

After meeting, they had their first date at Nellie’s Place in Waldwick, NJ. According to Sara and Chris, they have some of the best pizza around! Chris admitted that he is a total sucker for pizza. Yum!

 

This love for pizza totally translates into their life now too…

 

When Sara is not at the hospital being an amazing ER Nurse and Chris is not at school being a rockstar 4th-grade teacher, their perfect night at home involves ordering personal pizzas (note, personal :), enjoying a few beers, and lounging in their PJ’s with their dog Sadie! They love to go on hikes together, binge-watch Netflix series, take their dog Sadie to the dog park, watch trashy reality TV shows, and go to Sara’s parent’s shore house!

 

After a decade of adventures and memories together, Chris was ready to pop the question, so…

 

The proposal…

They went for a summer hike at the Ramapo Reservation. They were at the upper lake when Chris told Sara to go stand on the rock so he could take an “artsy” picture of her. When she turned around (frustrated that it was taking too long) he was down on one knee. He proposed right then and there. Sara was completely surprised and of course, said yes!!

 

And that decade-long love story brings us to today.

 

It seemed quite fitting to do their engagement session at Ridgewood High School, where their relationship was born.  I didn’t know what to expect when they said they wanted to do the session at their school, but I can tell you, I was NOT expecting to pull up to the parking lot to a gorgeous building and grounds… to put it lightly, I would not want to photograph a session at my high school, but Ridgewood is gorgeous!! Not only is the main building beautiful, but everything on the grounds was also in bloom.  We walked around the sidewalks, nestled in front of a lilac bush, and walked around the front lawn before going inside to Sara’s locker.

 

I asked them if we could go inside and as soon as Chris got us through the doors (he’s a teacher so he has a scannable ID card!) I asked if they remembered where Sara’s locker was.  They led me upstairs and we took ring shots on her locker and walked the halls. Since one of the classrooms was open, I had them sit inside and pass notes to each other (because that’s how every high school relationship grows, right?) and I’ve gotta be honest, I just LOVE how the indoor shots came out! Whoever said taking pictures in fluorescent lighting sucks, was way wrong! HOW ADORABLEEEE?

 

We ended the session on the front steps and out in one of the front gardens right before a thunderstorm came through. I am so thankful we got the session in before the storm came because we had the most wonderful weather!!

 

All in all, I just loved getting to see these two together.  I had met Sara when she was a bridesmaid in a wedding, and I’m sure I saw Chris on the dance floor at that wedding, but it was amazing getting to see them together and in person, and see the love they have for each other.  Sara absolutely loves taking pictures, while Chris is a little shyer (so naturally I had to tell lots of corny jokes to make things light!) and together they’re a perfect compliment! They’ve been together almost 10 years, and I can’t wait to see what the next 10 hold.

 

Sara and Chris, it was such a pleasure getting to know you better at your session. I loved spending the evening with you roaming the grounds and the halls of your high school, and I can’t wait to be there to document and watch you say I do, starting a new anniversary almost exactly 10 years later. What a special day that will be!! I hope you find these as adorable as I do, and I can’t wait to see you soon for your Rock Island Lake Club Wedding!