David + Nicole A Downtown Norfolk & Marina Engagement

Oh my gosh! I get to photograph the most beautiful couples, EVER! Seriously, how am I in the midst of such gorgeous people?! It was a perfect Saturday for us to all head down to Downtown Norfolk for David and Nicole’s engagement session.  We finished up at the One Fish Two Fish Docks in Virginia Beach.  Warm weather, a beautiful background and a love story like none other.  Nicole picked the perfect pink dress which she found 3 hours before her shoot for $15 at Francesca’s!! Score!  She bought 5 more in different colors, score again! 🙂

I met Nicole at the Show Bride wedding show in August of 2016.  Her and I hit it off instantly.  We later grabbed coffee at Starbucks and found ourselves chatting for hours.  I was captivated by her amazing life story.  I sat holding tears back as she shared how she had been single and desired to have a child and decided to adopt one from China. Sitting on the edge of my seat as I heard all she went through to get her sweet daughter Chandler and the joy she felt the moment she first met her.  She shared the photos of that day with me and I could literally feel so much joy. She then began to share how David came into her life.  David, a high school teacher at Ocean Lakes, was previously married.  His wife passed away from cancer and he found Nicole a couple years later.  What is so incredible is that David’s previous wife’s family received Nicole with open arms and made her feel so incredibly welcome.  Obviously, she tells this story so much better than me, but I had the greatest time sitting and chatting with her for hours in Starbucks that day.

I think this is one of the greatest rewards of being a wedding photographer.  Besides sharing in the greatest memories of people’s lives, getting to know people on a deeper level than just business.  It is what we strive for.  It is why we do what we do.  Creating relationships that go beyond just being your photographer, but being your friends and rejoicing in your life stories.

David and Nicole will get married this September 30th at the Lesner Inn and we cannot wait to celebrate their beautiful love story.  The cute little girl you see in these later photos is the adorable Chandler that Nicole adopted from China as a little baby who is now a young girl.  She is so beautiful!

To David & Nicole-We have enjoyed getting to know you so much and we are so excited to watch you guys get married.  We are so happy for our new friends and can’t wait to watch your love for each other grow so much deeper.  So many congratulations to you both! x0x0

Locations:  Downtown Norfolk

Upcoming Wedding Location:  Lesner Inn