Chesapeake Bay Engagement Session

I have a lovely engagement session from MICHAEL & CARINA PHOTOGRAPHY for you this afternoon. Their work is just dreamy as you can see and I’m thrilled to be able to feature them on the blog.

This is what we think engagement sessions are all about. Pure romance. Kelly and Gary have a secret get-away place on the coast of Maryland: St. Michaels. It’s a sleepy little town that has everything these two want: charm. There is an Inn with an overgrown greenhouse out front and the rustic Maritime Museum right next to it. Both places are simple and yet romantic, perfect for a young couple in love. We explored the gardens and the headed over to the waterfront for sunset. To us, there is nothing prettier than a fluttering skirt on a boat.

From the bride to be; ééòSoon after we were engaged, Gary and I decided on The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum for our engagement shoot. It was an easy decision considering his family history on the Eastern Shore, along with the romantic coastal backdrop of St. Michaels. We planned a mini getaway for OysterFest, held at the Maritime Museum, and invited our photographers Michael and Carina to capture our love story as the sun set over the Chesapeake Bay.

Our first shoot took place on a vintage sailboat, which the museum graciously let us use. Our second location was the Inn at Perry Cabin, walking their perfectly manicured grounds and gardens. They even let us sneak into the green house, which felt so tucked away and exclusively ours.

We didn’t want our outfits to distract from the beautiful locations we chose. For that reason, we decided to keep a soft, neutral color pallet. Also, early fall lends itself nicely to lots of light layers. The most important thing we kept in mind was being comfortable and enjoying the experience. Most of what we wore happened to be outfits we already owned and knew we felt confident in. Especially my skirt, a favorite go-to find from Old Navy!

New York is also special because it is where Gary and I first met. Four years ago, we became friends while working together. Although, long distance (he was based out of Maryland and I was in New York City) we were always emailing each other. Even on the hardest days his notes made me smile. When we finally met in person, we quickly realized what a special connection we had. The rest was history.

We can’t wait to say our vows and begin the rest of our lives together. These photos are the perfect start to our big year (and happily ever after) ahead!ééò