Jill and Justin met in high school during their freshman year. Their class only included about sixty students so most of them were all friends and Jill and Justin started dating at the end of junior year! They’ve known each other for what seems like forever! They tied the knot this past April and couldn’t be more excited to be tying the knot next year.
I met up with Jill and Justin on LBI thanks to my friend Jeanne from Bogath Events who planned and coordinated a styled engagement session for them. From perfect hair and makeup, custom calligraphy, floral accents, and even a tandem bike for some fun shots, every detail was perfect! (Not to mention their cute pup, Rosie, who, by the way, is a celebrity on Instagram – she has 28k followers!) I am loving how styled engagements are becoming a thing this year and look forward to seeing what else couples have up their sleeves for their engagement session! Enjoy this peek at my time with Jill and Justin and be sure to read their love story sprinkled within the images below!
The Creative Team
LBI Engagement Session
“Our first official “date” was a visit to the local movie theater. We saw Iron Man and went to Qdoba. Even though we have moved to Manhattan (and prefer Chipotle now…) we visit the same movie theater, usually to watch a new Marvel movie, and go to the same Qdoba every year on our anniversary. It’s been a decade already!”
When they knew they had found the one
Jill: “I knew Justin was a keeper after we left for college (we went to different schools) and we couldn’t go more than 2 weeks at a time without seeing each other.”
Justin: “I knew Jill was the one on the one year anniversary of our first date when she me made a scrapbook of our relationship. As I flipped through the pages it occurred to me that she was more than just the love of my life, but also my best friend. Jill gives me a scrap book each year, ever since that first anniversary. It is something I look forward to as the years go on.”
The proposal
Justin had just started a new job, so he told Jill they were going on a dinner to celebrate one Friday. Jill thought it was a bit odd Justin didn’t share what restaurant they were going to, even after they left the apartment. They went for a stroll to dinner, and Justin tried to throw Jill off the scent by stopping for a coffee at one of their favorite spots in the Village (they live in NYC). At one point, Justin took Jill to their favorite park, Washington Square. A young woman stopped them just as they stood under the Arch in the park. “I’m an art student, would you mind if I took your picture for my class?”. As they turned to take the photo, Justin got down on one knee and said “I never asked you to be my girlfriend, but will you be my wife?”. A violinist who happened to be under the arch even began playing “here comes the bride”. Jill’s brother and the couple’s best friend were in camouflage in the park, taking photos and celebrating. Afterwards, they enjoyed dinner and came home to a surprise engagement party with a few of the couple’s friends and family members. They celebrations didn’t end until after 3AM that night!
All about the ring
“Justin picked a round cut diamond with a plain rose gold band in a six pronged setting. Jill only wears rose gold, so he wasn’t going to get that detail wrong! He also had a little help with a couple of Jill’s friends on figuring out her size and preferences.”
One thing they love about each other
Jill: “I love that Justin is so easygoing and a genuinely happy person. He balances my type A personality out and makes me a better person for it.”
Justin: “One of the qualities that I love most about Jill is her thoughtful and caring personality. Jill routinely goes out of her way to help others whether it be a friend or loved one that needs some encouragement (or tough love) to improve themselves, a lost or needy dog that needs a home, or a cranky fiancé that needs a cup of coffee.”
“We plan on a beach ceremony on LBI in Beach Haven, followed by a reception at The Gables. Justin and Jill stayed in Beach Haven a few summers with Justin’s family. The beach is one of our favorite spots and it was important to us that our venue was a little bit different, and special to us.”
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