It may be fall already but I’ve still got so many summer engagement sessions to share! It’s so hard to keep up with sharing all of them while we’re so busy shooting weddings but as things quiet down this fall and winter, I’m excited to have some time to introduce you to all of our 2019 wedding couples!

Today I’m featuring Patricia and Michael. These two both grew up in beach towns on the Jersey Shore and now work in NYC so they are planning a laid back wedding at Sandy Hook Chapel where they’ll have views of the NYC skyline in the background. This location couldn’t be more perfect for this soon-to-be bride and groom. Trish and Mike are planning a fun, romantic, and relaxed summer night celebrating with their friends and family and they can hardly wait!

For their engagement session, I headed up to Hoboken. We started the session out at their favorite neighborhood spot where they love to walk their dog, Moses. I had never been to this area of Hoboken and it ended up being perfect! I love the cobblestones, light-colored buildings, and welcoming vibe of this spot. Plus Trish and Mike were so at ease with each other; they warmed up to the camera right away with their genuine laughter and excitement over being engaged. I have to say that I really loved meeting their dog Moses, too. {He was so well-behaved! A big thank you to Trish’s Man of Honor for coming to assist with Moses!!) For the second half of their session, we went down to the Hoboken waterfront and had a perfect ending to our time together. Enjoy getting to know these two as they await their June 2019 wedding!

Vendors

Hair & Makeup | Blo It Out Lounge – Hoboken, NJ

Dress | Simply Dresses

Ring | Simone’s Jewelry

Engagement Photos in Hoboken

How they met

Saturday, July 25, 2015 – We both remember it like it was yesterday ….

Michael had just gotten back from traveling in the UK, having been away the majority of July, he let his buddies talk him into going to Donovan’s for a pint.

Trish remembers being easily convinced by her best friend, Dana to go to Donovan’s, as well.

Once there, they ran into each other and the “wait you don’t know Mike? You don’t know Trish?” moment occurred. Turns out we’ve shared mutual friends for the past 10 years. We both spent summers working at Donovan’s, but our paths never crossed, until they were meant to that is…

We spent the rest of that night migrating away from our friends to learn more about each other and gush over our dogs. (Mike was originally saved in my phone as Moses’ Dad) I then not so subtly hinted that Mike should walk me to my car, he finally got the hint, as well as my phone number and our first kiss.

Their first date

We had our first date 4 days later.

Trish will never forget him coming to the door to pick her up and insisting he come in to meet her mother (and say hi to her dog), he even asked for permission to take Trish out and invited her to join, he genuinely meant it. It didn’t take Trish long to realize that this wasn’t a ploy, he’s a true gentleman and knew he was a keeper.

Michael remembers walking her to the door at the end of the night, giving her a goodnight kiss and then walking back to his car. He looked back and thought “there goes the Future Mrs. Catlaw”

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We went to Langosta Lounge in Asbury, Trish remembers Michael suggesting they should split a bottle of red wine, an app, and a pizza, maybe have some room for dessert. Which is EXACTLY what she was hoping he’d want to do!

We walked the boardwalk holding hands after dinner and both felt so comfortable with the other, we knew this was different. 

When they knew they had found the one

Michael: I knew she was special the night we met, and I knew she was the one after our first date.

Trish: I knew he was the one early on, I’d never so comfortable and truly happy before. It was so easy when we first started dating, no games, we knew we had something special.

It is so cliché but it’s really is true, at least in our case, when you know, you know.

The proposal

….after a long day of traveling and 3 minutes after we walked into our hotel room  

We booked a trip to St Lucia for the week before Christmas to “escape the holidays”

We lost my Mom to cancer the previous Christmas, so I wanted to get away the following holiday season.

While I thought we really were just taking a break from reality for a week, Michael had been planning on purposing the whole time and I could not have been more surprised.

We landed in St. Lucia and I should have known something was up because Michael must have had at least 6 (small) beers in the airport lounge before the shuttle for the hotel arrived.

Once we checked into our room, I went to take in the amazing cliffs overlooking the Caribbean Sea, Michael wasted no time dropping to one knee…. Maybe 3 minutes into the room

I thought I saw him out of the corner of my eye, but I didn’t believe him, nor did I turn around right away… I didn’t take him seriously. Until he said “can you please turn around? My knee is F’n killing me” I was in utter shock, he asked me to marry him, I said yes and then I was speechless for the next hour as he divulged what he’s been up to the past couple months and how involved everyone has been.

We were graced with a rainbow shortly after the proposal. We knew my mom approved.

We spent the rest of the day drinking champagne and doing cannon balls in our private pool.

One thing they love about each other

So hard just pick one thing – I love how he’s taught me to love each day like it’s the greatest. GDTBA “Great Day To Be Alive”is his life slogan that I’ve also tried to adapt

She’s my best friend. As a person who acknowledges that I have a larger than life personality, it’s nice to know that I have finally met my match.

All about the ring

I was all over the place with what I wanted! We’ve always talked about getting engaged and married and what we hope the future looks like but had never actually looked at ring togethers.

Michael hacked my Pinterest board! …it was preloaded onto our computer, but I never thought he’d think to use it as a resource! He took my “ICE” board to his family jeweler and they custom designed my ring together.

My favorite feature is how timeless and beautiful it is, like our love.

Michael also included my best friends, my brother Bryan and friend, Dana to “help” design the ring. Knowing that he put so much thought into this and included the most important people means the world.

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