Engagement shoots can be a little contrived sometimes, don't you think?
Especially when they're overly styled, full of props and endless outfit / location changes.
It's really refreshing (and I hope, inspiring for you lovely readers) to see a shoot where the couple is just hanging out, enjoying each other's company at their favourite place.
Queue Cody and Jessica's simple, quirky and beautiful coffee shop engagement shoot captured by Limelife Photography.
Here's what the talented folks at Limelife Photography had to say about the shoot…
Cody (from Arkansas) is a landscape architect. Jessica (from Oklahoma) works for West Elm and also runs an interior design studio, With Love, Design. These two creatives met at Oklahoma State and now live in San Diego. We shot their engagement photos at one of their favorite places, Coffee & Tea Collective in San Diego.
The Proposal…
As told by Jessica because, in her words, ‘I could tell it over and over again'. (So sweet!)
It was a late afternoon and our friends from Dallas were visiting us in San Diego, California. The girls (including myself) were getting ready for dinner at one of our favorite restaurants along the beach in Del Mar. After we arrived, we stopped for wine at the Del Mar Plaza overlooking the view. To my knowledge, Cody wanted to show us the plaza because he “loved it so much”.
After we finished a glass of wine, we walked down to the water where the restaurant is. Cody was rushing us but yet wanted to take a few photos on a cliff to the left of the restaurant. Out of frustration and in heels, I sigh and walk with them to take photos. I notice he won't stop looking at his phone and decides to sit down on a bench as our friends walk away to the distance. I was confused and getting frustrated as Cody asks me to look at this email he just received.
After sitting down and peeking at the email, I notice it's a long blog post of photos of the milestones in our relationship thus far. And before I had a moment to realize what is going on, I am at the last photo and it's Cody kneeling at the exact bench we were sitting on. Cody gets on one knee and could barely get the words out to ask me to marry him.
Ugh, I have chills just thinking about how perfect the moment was.
After I said yes and attempted to grab the ring out of his hand (I was nervous and excited…haha) he walked me over to the edge of the cliff and there was a HUGE congrats sign with some amazing friends holding each letter. After a lot of tears and hugs, we all made our way to a beautiful dinner and celebration!
It was one of the best days of my life. Just like the one photographed above…Jesse and Becky of Limelife Photography are our talented friends. We were so lucky to snag them as our photographers for our engagement shoot and upcoming wedding.
Congratulations Cody and Jessica!
Don't you just love the simplicity of this shoot? It's so ‘real' but uber stylish and beautiful at the same time. Big thanks to Limelife Photography for sharing it with us today.
