Carina & Tyler — My OWN Engagement Photos

It’s a time in your life you’ll never get back — being engaged. And it’s so so so interesting being on this side of it all…. I have a whole new understanding of the excitement & planning that comes with it. I will say, being a client in your own industry is so strange. People always told me too “Oh, you must know exactly what you want for your wedding having seen so many,”…and the truth is, I know what I DON’T want. I’ve seen brides get stressed out, battle venue clocks, and robot their way through a day based around old traditions and the standard that you must do this, then this, then this. Not me. Not us. I don’t know the entire plan yet, but I know it’s happening on Vashon Island, one of my favorite places to be, with a small group. And it will be well documented — every nook and cranny of the day. Relaxed, slow, eat for 4 hours, drink wine, tell stories, bonfires, and most of all, celebrate the fact we’ll be exchanging vows in front of those nearest and dearest to us.

That brings me to these images. While vacationing in Costa Rica, we had the amazing Tyson French take some photos for us. If there one thing to invest in — it’s photographs. Even if it sounds crazy to bring someone down for a vacation to take your engagement photos….the fact of the matter is, you’re going to have these forever. I realize I may be extremely bias to this, but documenting seasons and times in your life is irreplaceable. You won’t ever get that time back — the way you felt, where you were at mentally, emotionally, the stage of your relationship, the excitement for what’s next. To hold onto something tangible is everything to me, especially when it involves the man I’m so crazy in love with. So to say I’ve looked through these photos 200 times is an understatement. It’s the first time we’ve actually spent time together just the two of us (sans work, friends, family, weddings etc.) and the first time we’ve truly got to focus on just us…and the first time I’ve truly been on the receiving end of getting photos back. Man, the feeling is killer. I hope & pray I create this same sense of awe when I send my emails to clients. Tyson knocked it out of the park. I know we will look back at these in 5 years, 10 years, 50 years and relive these 2 weeks — we’ll show our kids and our grandkids how cool we used to be. And most of all, they’re a reminder that I get to spend a lifetime with him. That makes me the happiest.

So, a small snippet of our new keepsakes. And a huge thank you to Tyson for coming to brave the humidity, howler monkeys, and coons (definitely pictured below) with us. Thank you, thank you.