If you have never been to Sedona you are truly missing out on one of the most scenic places in the United States.   Deanne and James contacted us about photographing their engagement session while they vacationed in Sedona.  They both had never been to Sedona but were amazed by the red rocks and beauty they had seen in photographs.  During my phone conversations with Deanne we decided that Merry Go Round Rock would be a perfect location for them to showcase their love and the amazing beauty of Sedona.  Melissa and I met Deanne and James at the top of Schnebly Hill before the bumpy dirt road down to the Merry Go Round Rock viewpoint.  As we were in the car together we got to learn about this amazing couple from San Mateo, California.  Deanne and James met at work and have been dating for about three years.  James said he knew as soon as they started dating Deanne was the woman for him.  Their first date was in the city of San Francisco so they have decided to wed in the city next summer at the beautiful Fairmont Hotel.  When we asked James about the proposal he had a huge smile on his face and said it was quite the story.    He was very sweet to write the special story down for us so we can share with you.

“Within a few months of dating, I knew Deanne was the one for me.  Although I was challenged with the when and where, I knew that the magical moment would present itself when the time was right.  I just needed to make sure I was prepared, hence the ring. We had talked about taking a trip to meet my younger brother in Manchester, New Hampshire for Thanksgiving.  Because we were flying into Boston, the idea of spending the weekend in Manhattan sounded very attractive.  Ideas and locations for proposing began to pop into my head.  I narrowed my choice down to the Statue of Liberty or Empire State Building. About a month before our trip, I purchased Deanne’s engagement ring.  My jeweler, a friend of a friend, asked me where I was planning to propose and I told him my intentions. He did make one additional recommendation; horse and carriage ride in Central Park.

The most stressful point of the proposal was not the actual proposal but getting the ring through airport security in my carry-on luggage without Deanne seeing it.  I also did not want to propose in front of TSA security at the airport. In addition, Hurricane Sandy had just ripped through New York City and I didn’t know what to expect.  We arrived in Manhattan Thursday November 15^th 2012.  I immediately checked on the status of the Statue of Liberty visiting and it was closed due to the Hurricane Sandy. On Friday Nov 16^th 2012, the journey of proposing began. With the Statue of Liberty off the list, my next choice was the Empire State Building but I found it had too many people and wasn’t very romantic.  Down to my last choice, the horse and carriage ride through Central Park appeared to be ideal until I noticed the horse taking a poop and falling into a bag with a smell to follow. This was not the lasting memory of our proposal that I wanted to remember so I decided to wait.  After the ride, we proceeded to take some more pictures in Central Park and I noticed a gazebo up on a little hill. When we got to the top, I saw a newlywed couple taking pictures and I knew this was the spot.  I noticed a guy taking pictures and I walked over to ask if he would take our picture.  Additionally, I informed the guy that I was going to propose to Deanne and to please take some additional pictures. After the first shot, I dropped to a knee and asked Deanne for her hand in marriage. I knew for sure she was surprised and she was so excited she was screaming with joy.”

Deanne and James, we are thrilled that we got a chance to get to know you and capture this special time in your life.  Best wishes and we look forward to working with you again!  ~Kristen

Melissa and I just love photographing engagement sessions.  It is such a special time in a couples relationship, they are so in love and there is so much excitement leading up to the wedding.  An engagement session also lets us get to know our clients better before their big day.  We had a blast working with Caity and Jason and getting to know them as a couple.  Caity and Jason will be getting married at the beautiful Sedona Golf Resort in August.  To stick with the Sedona theme they decided to use Tlaquepaque and Los Abrigados for the engagement session location.   Caity and Jason also included their special little lady, Emma, in the shoot.  The entire family was a pleasure to work with.  Jason is so sweet to Caity and Emma, they all giggled the entire shoot.  Congratulations to Caity and Jason!  We can’t wait for your August wedding! ~Kristen

This Thursday morning, Kristen and I are headed down South to New Orleans, or to those of you who know the city well, “Nawlins” and we’re very, very excited!  I photographed Jules’s brother’s wedding back in 2009 and we were very excited when we heard that Jules and Thomas were engaged!   The couple has chosen New Orleans as the backdrop for their wedding because of the many ties they have to the Crescent City and we’re beyond excited to be able to join them there to document their day.   I’ve spent a lot of time in that area, and I’m looking forward to eating myself into a new size of pants, hearing great jazz music and appreciating the passion of the city.  As we approach the wedding, we thought it would be nice to post their engagement photos from last summer.  Jules and Thomas chose family property off of Hart Prairie and downtown Flagstaff for their engagement photos and we had a lot of fun hanging out with them.  Congrats you two!  We’ll see you in a few days! ~ Melissa

Planning a wedding can be stressful, but what better way to unwind after your big day than by going on a relaxing getaway with your groom!?  Sounds like you’re ready to go on a mini-moon. What is a mini-moon you ask? A mini-moon is a shorter trip a couple takes after their wedding day, with the intention of going on a honeymoon at a later date.  A mini-moon is perfect for couples on a tight budget (planning a wedding can be expensive, we know) because the trip is usually shorter and closer to home, saving you time and money on traveling expenses.  Timing is also another factor that makes the mini-moon so great; sometimes it is hard for a couple to take a lot of days off from work, especially when they might have already taken days off leading up to their wedding.  Does a mini-moon sound like the perfect romantic getaway for you? Here are some trips that are close (but not so close to home) that are perfect for newlyweds.

-Napa Valley

Many hotels and resorts offer honeymoon packages like the one at  River Terrace Inn which includes private wine tours and an awesome two night stay in the River Deluxe Jacuzzi  Room with Balcony. Other hotels like the Marriott offer other exciting experiences like Balloons Above the Valley, a hot air balloon tour above the valley!

Photos taken from Melissa’s honeymoon in Napa Valley

-Las Vegas

With so much going on, Las Vegas has something to offer for everyone.  There is more to the city than it’s wild and crazy nightlife; mini-mooners can experience a plethora of entertaining shows such as The Blue Man Group or Cirque du Soleil or stroll the strip and shop in one of the many stores and malls they have to offer. Looking for a more relaxing trip to Sin City? Nearly all the hotels offer spa packages, and who could resist a romantic gondola ride at The Venetian?

Photo courtesy of The Venetian and Cirque de Soleil

-San Diego

For couples looking for a relaxing stay on the beach, San Diego is the perfect mini-moon hot spot with it’s warm weather year round. San Diego offers everything a beach-goer looks for, from waterskiing to sunset sail boat tours, to simply sitting back and relaxing on the long stretches of sandy beach.  Hotels such as the La Jolla Shores Hotel are situated right on the beach – who could ask for more?

Photo courtesy of (Left to Right) Lajollabythesea.com, Estancia La Jolla Hotel and Spa, and Dreamlajolla.com

-Telluride

Nestled in southwestern Colorado, Telluride is known for by ski-enthusiasts for its awesome slopes. Telluride is the perfect mini-moon spot for those looking to hit the slopes on their get-away, but even during off season Telluride has much to offer newlyweds. Hiking, fishing, and other outdoor activities are very popular for Telluride tourists, and the town holds many popular festivals throughout the year like the Jazz Festival  in August or the Blues and Brews Festival held in September. Telluride has lots of cozy resorts for couples, such as The Mountain Lodge at Telluride and The Hotel Telluride .

Photo courtesy of Telluride.com (upper left and right) and The Hotel Telluride (lower left)

-Sedona

Hidden between the gorgeous red rocks, Sedona is a perfect get away for couples wanting to escape for a weekend without having to ever leave the state! Couples can choose between tons of fabulous hiking trails in the area, take a tour of the beautiful red rock country with a Pink Jeep Tour or enjoy the day relaxing  in one of the many spas resorts have to offer. Resorts such as L’Auberge and  Enchantment Resort are great for a romantic vacation in Sedona.

Photo courtesy of (Left to Right) Melissa Dunstan, Enchantment Resort and Pink Jeep Tours

Check out this other article on mini-honeymoons!

Thank you to Stephanie at Fab You Bliss for this amazing feature on Meghan & Drew’s winter engagement session downtown Flagstaff.  Even though it was extremely cold this day Meghan & Drew kept the shoot fun and each other warm!

Thank you to the fabulous Sarah at A Paper Proposal for featuring Amy & Rick’s gorgeous fall engagement session in Sedona!  We love being Sedona Wedding Photographers and capturing newly engaged couples love!

xoxo, Melissa and Kristen