If you haven’t caught on to this by now, Maison is the one that writes all of our wedding blog posts. This is for good reason. But the post on the blog today is so personal to me that we both felt I had to be the one to write it. For those of you that are thinking the handsome guy in the photos looks a LOT like me …. you are correct! It’s because he is my dad! The one + only, Papa Engel!

I often imagine as a wedding photographer that someday, when Maison + I have kids, we will be objectively passionate about the humans our children decide to date! But something I didn’t expect was that I would feel the same way about the woman my dad dated. My dad is probably my biggest role model, + since growing up + living on my own, I have realized the extent of how selfless of a person he is. This man gave up everything for my siblings + I, + has walked through a lot of hardship in the process. I always felt that someday the universe (or I prefer to think God) would send a woman his way that truly cared for his soul in a way I knew he deserved to be cared for. THEN I got to experience his relationship with his now WIFE Andrea + all of my expectations for his future companion were shattered.

If you ask him the story of how they met, he will tell you he first spotted Andrea in a newspaper article about a girl who won a local mountain biking race + he decided right then + there that he had to meet this girl. And … he did just that. They met at a local mountain biking event + after much persuasion, he convinced her to take their dogs for a walk at the bike trails they both loved. Match made in heaven? I think yes.

Their wedding took place at the same trails they shared that first walk + also the proposal! The ceremony was reserved for immediate family + friends. Andrea’s daughter, Laina, was the officiant + I played guitar. She spoke a few words + they exchanged their vows, which were the lyrics to “I Won’t Give Up” by Jason Mraz. As we rounded our way back to the last chorus, they invited us to join in. It was at that moment that I knew that for a fact that these two souls belonged together:

When I look into your eyes
It’s like watching the night skies
Or a beautiful sunrise
There’s so much they hold
And just like them old stars
I see that you’ve come so far
To be right where you are
How old is your soul?

I won’t give up on us, even if the skies get rough
I’m giving you all my love, I’m still looking up

Beautiful.
As the ceremony ended, friends showed up to join these two for a celebratory bike ride + chili potluck, including all of the craft beer you could possibly drink (I was in heaven!). They spent the rest of the night chatting with close friends + family, telling stories, laughing, + building a beautiful first day of the rest of their lives together! It was a great night : )

Congrats you two — we COULDN’T be happier for you!!! We can’t wait to see what this beautiful relationship has in store for you! We love you!!