With its sandstone Corinthian columns, forestland filled with flowering dogwood and azaleas, and hidden away trellises, the United States National Arboretum may be the most romantic place to have your engagement session. Just take a look at these gorgeous photos from Jacqui Cole Photography for the proof—plus more pretty in the full gallery right here!
From Jacqui Cole Photography… I love when my couples choose to have their engagement session in a meaningful location. Sarah Beth and Josh will be hosting their 2016 wedding in the brides’ home town of Tampa, FL at the Tampa Yacht and Country Club. However, they both currently live and reside in DC. Since I love to travel for my clients, I was thrilled to be able to capture their engagement in the city where their story begins. We spent most of the morning hours at the US National Arboretum which was the perfect romantic backdrop! I couldn’t be more excited to capture Sarah Beth and Josh’s wedding day next March!
From the Bride-to-be… Josh and I met during our first year of law school in Washington, DC in the Spring of 2011. After graduating and settling into jobs in DC, Josh proposed in March while we were on vacation in London. On the last night of our trip, we went to the Shard for one final toast to a great vacation, and he took me by total surprise when he dropped down on one knee! We had already planned to fly to Tampa (my hometown) the next weekend, and Josh’s parents were also visiting there from the Midwest, so we were so lucky to be able to celebrate with both of our families just a few days later.
We decided to have our wedding where I grew up in Tampa, but DC has become our home, so we wanted to have our engagement photos taken here. On the morning Jacqui came up to DC for our shoot, we woke up early to catch the sunrise and started taking photos on the waterfront near where we currently live. We then drove to the National Arboretum, which is one of our favorite places in DC. Josh first took me there for a surprise picnic a few years ago, and we love visiting whenever we have the chance. We used the old columns from the Capitol building and the beautiful gardens of the Arboretum as a backdrop for our photos. We were a little worried about waking up so early, but it was completely worth it to get the best light and avoid crowds (which is nearly impossible in DC). Now we just can’t wait until next March for our wedding!
Photography: Jacqui Cole Photography | Dress: BCBGMAXAZRIA | Venue: National Arboretum