The engagement session on the blog today is SO special to us. When we launched our new website this past winter, we wanted to do a huge giveaway along with the launch because, after all, we would NOT be where we are today without the support of those who follow our journey, send clients our way, leave encouraging messages, and the list goes on! Our hope was to give one lucky couple a session that would tell their love story both authentically and beautifully … and that it would be a session where they would feel absolutely pampered and spoiled! We called it the “Your Love Story, Styled” session : )

Last week, after much planning (and I have to admit, all the planning was done by the incredible Cherry Blossom Events and John and Marissa themselves!) we had the giveaway session and I am SOOOO excited to share it with you today on the blog!

John and Marissa were the winners of the session and after briefly getting to know them, one of the first things we learned was that they are friends with some of our friends and I freaked out because I LOVE these kind of connections! It made the fact that these two got selected even THAT much more special!

In our initial consultation with these two and Cherry Blossom Events to cast vision and plan for the session, we immediately fell in love with them. It wasn’t hard ; ) John and Marissa are as sweet as they come and the PERFECT duo. It is so obvious that they are the best of friends and that they compliment one another’s personalities so, so well!! Marissa is beautiful, organized, poised and gracious. John is also beautiful (hehe), easy-going, welcoming and respectful. After getting to know their story more, we planned the session that you are about to see and I’m excited to share some of the details with you as we move throughout the post!

I have to give a special shout out to the INCREDIBLY talented vendors who made this shoot possible for us and for John and Marissa — THANK YOU to Cherry Blossom Events, A La Crate Vintage Rentals, Flora by Jamae, Saffron Avenue, Kenzie’s Kuts and Fromagination for your time and talent! We are so grateful for your friendship!!

And to John and Marissa — we LOVE you guys and cannot wait to keep getting to know you! If this session is even a sliver of what we get to capture on your wedding day … boy are we in for a treat!! Enjoy our favorites and here’s to the soon-to-be Mr. and Mrs. Ehrlinger!!!

John and Marissa chose Pewit’s Nest in Baraboo as their destination of choice for this session because of its nods to the landscape where they got engaged. John is originally from Lido Island, California and on a trip to visit his family, the two took a day trip to Catalina Island to ride bikes, explore, and spend time together. At the top of the cliff that overlooks the harbor, John proposed to Marissa and their lives changed forever!!!

John and Marissa met at work — on her first day at the company to be exact : )  It wasn’t until over a year later, however, that they first spoke to one another at a work event. After really connecting at the event, John started to write Marissa little letters and notes. He would leave them on her desk, next to her gym bag, or at her computer. Eventually, one of those notes asked her to dinner and at their first date (where they ate more sushi than they thought two people could handle!!) both knew they were falling hard and fast for the other : ) At the session, we had them continue this tradition and write letters to one another that they will open and read a month before their wedding day next July!

Marissa loves calligraphy and the art of wax seals — how appropriate for their letter writing! : )

The floral choices for the session are reflective of the colors John and Marissa will also have on their wedding day! Greens and whites will represent their love for nature and the outdoors at their celebration : )

Wisconsin … cheese … a literal CHEESE cake … need I say more?! ; )

Lastly, both growing up on the water, it was very important for us to incorporate this into the session! John and Marissa spend so much of their time together hiking, traveling, and soaking up every last drop of Wisconsin summer sunshine on the pontoon boat with their family and friends. This is one of my favorite shots of them in a place that truly encompasses their love for one another, the life they are building together, and the incredible outdoors that they enjoy so much : )