This engagement session everything (and then some). Celebrating their new status with the sweetest at home e-session, Abby Jiu Photography captured every cozy chic moment to share. Graced with major interior design moments, the cutest couple ever, and a few puppy kisses, we’ve got all that and more waiting in The Vault!
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From The Bride…Originally I didn’t want to do an engagement photo session. I generally don’t love pictures of myself, and I thought the whole process would be kind of uncomfortable. However, after talking to our photographer, the amazing Abby Jiu, she convinced me that doing an engagement session would be the best thing, precisely because of those reasons. She said that the engagement session would give both my fiance, Doug, and me a chance to get comfortable with her, and with being photographed in general. Also, we would get the opportunity to see professional photos of ourselves before the wedding day.
Everything she said made complete sense, but I still wasn’t sure. After talking about it with Doug, and pretty much anyone else who would listen, I decided we should trust the expert, and just go for it. And I will tell you honestly, I am SO SO happy I did!! Everything Abby said was true. The experience of the photo session was beyond helpful, and then seeing the beautiful photographs that came from it, just made us more excited for what our wedding photos would look like. And for a couple who doesn’t like how they look in most photographs–that in and of itself was amazing!
Once we decided that the engagement session was a go, Doug and I thought long and hard about where we should do the shoot. I searched Pinterest, magazines, and of course Style Me Pretty for ideas, but I was having a really hard time deciding. Engagement sessions on the beach, or in a park under the trees, or in a garden, always look so beautiful, but that type of location just didn’t really feel like “us.”
Around the same time we were trying to decide on a location for the session, Doug and I closed on our first house. We bought a beautiful home in Capitol Hill, in Washington D.C. And after that happened, the location of our photo session seemed like a no brainer. What could be more “us” than our own home? Plus, if we did the shoot in our new house, we not only would be documenting the engagement, but also our first home together. I couldn’t think of anything more perfect.
Well…that isn’t entirely true. I thought of one more thing– our 150 lb English Mastiff, Buffy! She is our baby, and there is no way the engagement photos would be complete without her. Besides, Buffy has been part of our the wedding journey from the very beginning.
The night that Doug proposed, he told me we were meeting friends at the Four Seasons Hotel in Georgetown for drinks. I was almost finished getting ready, when Doug called me into the living room and there he was, down on one knee, with the most gorgeous ring, and beside him sat Buffy, tongue out, with a beautiful sign tied around her neck that said “Will You Marry My Daddy?” It was absolutely perfect! After the actual proposal, I assumed we were still meeting our friends for drinks to celebrate, but in reality Doug had arranged a surprise engagement party at the Four Seasons, with our families and close friends. The whole night was beyond amazing, but involving Buffy made it extra extra special.
Buffy was an integral part of the proposal, and she would be there the day of the wedding, so we decided she definitely needed to be in our engagement photos.
The day of the photo session came, and thankfully our new house came together. I was worried we wouldn’t have furniture to sit on, a dining room table, or curtains, (the curtains went up literally the day before the shoot) but thankfully it all came together. We took most of the photographs in our living room and dining room and a few right in front of our house. Doug and I felt very comfortable and relaxed because we were in our own space.
In terms of wardrobe, Doug and I just wanted to look like ourselves. I wore my favorite Equipment blouse, Rag and Bone Jeans, and a pair of old Prada flats. Doug wore his favorite blue J. Mclaughlin sweater and khakis. Obviously, the most important accessory was our beloved baby, Buffy, and she looks perfect wearing nothing at all!
In closing, I would tell a bride who may be hesitant about doing an engagement session that I was beyond happy that we decided to do it. Not only do I have photographs documenting that exciting time in our lives, but we also have pictures of our first home together! And I have to say, it absolutely helped in terms of being comfortable with Abby the day of our wedding.
So, the bottom line is, if you have the opportunity to do engagement photos, don’t pass it up. Oh- and definitely include your pup if you have one!
Photography: Abby Jiu Photography | Shoes: Prada | Hair + Makeup: Georgetown Bride | Blue Sweater: J. McLaughlin | Jeans: Rag & Bone | Location: At Home | White Blouse: Equipment
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