Colorful County Fair Engagement Session

Get ready for the sweetest fall engagement shoot! Andrea and Josh wanted a fall look for their photos, so they went just outside of Atlanta to Serenbe, a rustic backdrop that gave them the most beautiful shots! These two are cute as a button. Combine their cuteness with the photos of talented Melissa Schollaert Photography and the scenery of Serenbe, and we’ve got one fantastic engagement session to share with you today!

Alan had us when he snuck frosting from the mixer, and Yasmin could not be any more gorgeous than she is in this amazing engagement shoot by Anne Almasy! This stunning couple donned fabulous retro-inspired outfits while they made cake and cocktails (how on earth did they stay so clean with all that flour and icing?). And because it’s no surprise we’re an animal-loving team here at EAD, it goes without saying that we absolutely LOVE Yasmin and Alan’s kitty! Thanks to Anne Almasy for sharing such a fun shoot today!

Kelly from Spindle Photography is an up and coming photographer who is no stranger to EAD (you can read her about her 2009 nuptials here). She sent over a sweet engagement session in Atlanta’s Piedmont Park. Cassi and Matt are planning a 2011 wedding ceremony.

Sam and Jessica are college sweethearts marrying in Atlanta next May. My favorite part? The shot of the couple holding signs up. I know it’s becoming standard, but I still love seeing the unique ways couples use this as part of their pre-wedding preparations. They chose Our Labor of Love as their photographer.

Engagement sessions are so much fun! It’s a wonderful chance for the bride and groom to get comfortable in front of the camera, as well as to really show off their personalities in a unique and interesting way. Leah and Todd’s Atlanta engagement session, photographed by Hollie of Lytle{foto}, was a wonderful collaboration between the couple and their photographer. Hollie suggested a tea party theme, and Leah was inspired by this shoot from Simply Bloom Photography; put the two together and you have this magical shoot, full of lovely vignettes and captivating images!

My planning process continued in accordance with my first two priorities.  After relatively painlessly hammering out the guest list, I moved on to the huge task of finding a photographer.  I spent hours and hours looking through every Atlanta photographer’s website I could find, searching for a photojournalistic style that would fit into our budget.  One of these nights I was randomly looking through Knot message boards and stumbled upon a link to Blue World Studios.

I. AM. IN. LOVE.  With the Atlanta Braves.  And with Altmix Photography and their engagement session with Amy and Chad at (you guessed it) a Braves game.  Swoon.

“Our wedding day started off with the nikah ceremony at our mosque in the morning, a solemn and sacred social contract between the bride and groom in the Islamic tradition,” says bride Irfana of her wedding to Arif. Afterward, guests headed to Canoe restaurant in Atlanta for cocktail hour and Indian wedding traditions beneath a tent set up in the gardens. For the first ceremony, Irfana wore a beautiful sari from Motifz Signature Collection, changing into a knee-length lace dress by Anna Sui from BHLDN for the reception. Soft, lush florals by Heather Jones of Tulip graced tables; Irfana’s bouquet featured pastel blooms dotted with succulents. We adore the attention to detail here: vintage cigar boxes on tables, elaborate henna tattoos for Irfana and family members, and the floral hair wreath she wore for both ceremonies. Amy Arrington Photography did a magnificent job capturing all of this elegance!

There may be no more appropriate setting for engagement photos than Rome, “the Eternal City”. Zora and Fely wanted to capture the beauty of one of their city at a place that has always fascinated Zora, the Pantheon. Together with Teresa of In Love In Italy Photography, they spent an afternoon strolling from Ara Pacis Augustae across the river Tevere to sit for a cappuccino at Splendor Parthenopes. They then headed to the Pantheon, crossing Ponte Sant’Angelo and watching the sun set behind the castle. Although they arrived at the Pantheon at the most crowded hour of the day, Teresa captured a stunning image of them standing still with people milling all around—Zora says: “It is my absolute favorite, it captures us and our love profoundly.” We love the enchanting city of Rome and these stunning photos from In Love In Italy Photography!

Wes and Olivia’s engagement session is so terribly chic, it’s almost too much to handle! In my next life, I hope to be as stunning as Olivia, who effortlessly rocks a baby blue knit frock, a gold headband, and plum tights. And let’s not forget Wes, whose worn-in ankle boots and skinny striped tie are the perfect laid-back look. Add in absolutely dreamy photos from This Modern Romance at San Juan Capistrano’s Serra Plaza and you have an engagement session that’s pure autumn perfection!

Lisa and Ryan’s date night engagement session is all about their favorite things—first a picnic with their pup and then a dinner date in downtown Wausau, Wisconsin, wandering along the town’s charming cobbstone streets and then visiting one of their favorite patios, the  Back When Cafe!

We are drooling over these heart-stoppingly beautiful Brooklyn Bridge engagement photos from Carmen Santorelli! Chris and Natalie chose a classic NYC theme for their upcoming Central Park wedding and decided that the iconic Brooklyn Bridge would be the perfect backdrop for their engagement session! They strolled the bridge and the Brooklyn Heights Promenade on a gorgeous late-summer day, hand in hand. I just adore how head-over-heels these two are for each other!

We love a casual, fun-loving engagement shoot, and Chris and Cassi’s Coney Island engagement photos by Jen Huang Photography are fabulous! The cute couple spent a day at the Brooklyn boardwalk playing games, trying out carnival rides, and just generally being in love. The result is adorable photos that show off Cassi and Chris’s personalities. We are completely smitten!

The heart of Ellen and Tom’s engagement session with Jordan Brittley—and their dog, Rocky—is a sweet and romantic picnic set in Forest Park in St. Louis. We love the pretty, low-key arrangement of tulips and hydrangeas, purchased at Trader Joe’s and hand-tied by Ellen’s mom. The gold leaf monogram topper by Crosswire Design adds an elegant touch to the Derby Day Pie Ellen made; the first taste of this dessert is what won Tom over in the beginning! We’re big fans of the vintage feel of these photos, aided in part by floral Ralph Lauren china—real plates on a picnic, swoon!—and linens from Cake Vintage Table & Home. Enjoy these lovely images!

We are completely in love with Debbie and Kevin’s fun Huntington Beach engagement session! The California light is simply lovely, and the love that Debbie and Kevin have for each other shines through in every image. We love Debbie’s beautiful cobalt dress paired with Kevin’s dapper navy suit, and their quick change into more relaxed beachy-toned wear, too! Sit back and enjoy all of the beautiful images from Christine Choi Photography!

Connie and Ted’s adorable engagement session is so unexpected for Los Angeles—there’s no trace of the city, just lots of hearty succulents, a little potting soil, and so much love! These two genuinely enjoy playing and hanging out together, and it’s so clear in these fab photos from Caroline Tran. We’re sure that the couple who gardens together, stays together!

Amber’s Prince Charming is literally riding a white horse—how lucky can a girl be? Amber dreamed up the theme of her engagement photos with fiance Josh and Aislinn Kate Photography, and we think these images are so dreamy! The two of them met up in a field, complete with wildflowers and a white Percheron horse, to make this fairytale come to life. We love Josh’s pale pink shirt paired with Amber’s gauzy white dress and pink floral hair wreath by Supposey Wedding Florals to round out the soft, romantic feel. Our favorite part is the image of the two of them riding off into the sunset—stunning!

How fun is this safari-style engagement session from Esther Sun Photography? Jenny and Andrew headed out to Safari Barn in Winchester, California, for a laid-back day with camels, zebras, horses, and goats! We love their chic look against the rustic barns and quiet pastures. Enjoy these unique and lovely pictures from their shoot!

Laura and John—fresh from a flight home to Chicago from Istanbul!—spent a day around the West Loop with Julia Franzosa Photography for their casual but hip engagement photos. Navy and green are crisp and vibrant in their images at The Publican and near Fulton Market; monochromatic outfits on abandoned railroad tracks give off an earthy, laid-back vibe. We especially love the cozy, homey feel of the couple sitting on their front steps. Laura and John look so comfortable in these photos, and we just adore their natural smiles and happy faces!

Hooray for engagement shoots with pets—and we’re especially partial to pups! Kris and Lauren’s lakeside photos in Dallas are the perfect family photos. Their two beautiful babies joined them to celebrate their engagement, and we just love the laid-back, playful photos from Matt and Ivy Photography!