ENGAGED | April and Ryan

April and Ryan spent their first date getting know each other over coffee followed by a bowling match, where Ryan showed off his stellar bowling moves and "won April over." They capped the night off with a drink in the bowling alley's lounge, where April won over Ryan when she told him she grew up hunting! I've heard that the way to a man's heart was through is stomach but only ever associated that with cooking; in April's case, this cliché is applied to her hunting and cooking skills!

When Ryan proposed in September it came as no surprise other than that it was happening right then!! Both April and Ryan knew from very very early on that they would end up standing together and promising to love no other.  What probably sealed the deal for Ryan was their second date, when April went fishing with Ryan while she was happily wearing Ryan's dad's leaky chest waders! Her ability to surprise Ryan never fails. Ryan took April for a walk along that same river and patiently waited for the right moment to place a ring on April's finger and ask her to be his.  It was dark and it was raining, but it was perfect.

I met April and Ryan the hour before we began shooting their engagement session. They live in Ontario but were out in October to visit April's family and I was so excited to finally meet these two and hear all about their fall 2013 wedding plans!  When we sat down with our pumpkin spiced lattes (me and April; Ryan had good ole black coffee), and I felt as though I was sitting down with good friends. We talked about "How I Met Your Mother" as if all the characters are our personal friends and we laughed, a lot.

These two emit joy, are so comfortable with one another, and bring out the best in each other. When I asked what they love most about each other they both wrote about how the other makes them feel. April wrote that she loves how Ryan is so supportive, caring and unjudgmental; Ryan loves how much April loves his goofy personality!! The way April looks at Ryan with such confidence and trust, and the way Ryan can make April smile and laugh out loud is indicative of the words they wrote. And their engagement photos capture this perfectly, in my humble opinion.

I say this about all my couples, but only because it is true... I can not wait to photograph their wedding. Their vision is a compilation of their love for family, nature, beautiful things and good food. But most importantly, their wedding will be a day when they seal the deal on their love and begin book two of their beautiful story of love!

Love & Sunshine,
Shannon-May