Ruthie & Jonah's Snowy Canterbury Shaker Village Engagement Session

Imagine. You wake up, look out the window, and see white in every direction. The ground is covered in a fresh blanket of snow, the air is full of fluffy white snowflakes floating down to the ground, and the sky is completely covered with snow-filled clouds. The only sounds you hear are the soft pit pat of snowflakes landing on the roof and the humming kshhhh of plow trucks clearing the roads. This was the winter wonderland we woke up to on the day of Ruthie & Jonah’s Engagement session!

It was quite the opposite of the day he proposed! Jonah actually gave me the honor of being present to capture their surprise proposal in Camden, ME! Click here to check our their proposal blog post! 

The day of their engagement session was the perfect day! The air was crisp and quiet as the world snuggled under the covers of white fluffy snow. Although the temperature was brisk, my heart warmed right up as soon as Jonah & Ruthie rolled into the parking lot of Canterbury Shaker Village with big youthful grins and hardy spirits ready to brave the elements!

These two have that best friend kind of love. The sparkle that fills her eyes when her eyes meet his. The childish excitement in their voices as they talk about getting married. Their playful banter. The tenderness of his hand on her back. These are the little ways their love shines through. 

Congratulations again, Jonah & Ruthie! I can’t wait for your wedding in July!

Ruthie & Jonah's Camden, ME Proposal

Anticipation and the smell of salt water wafted through the air on the dock. Their families waited with baited breath to congratulate them. Suddenly in a moment of release, the sound of cheering filled the cove as the happy couple came into view. After exchanging hugs, a few tears, and many gawking gazes at her sparkling diamond, everyone boarded the Perwinkle and leisurely laughed their way through the ocean waves to celebrate the future Mr. & Mrs.

Ruthie grew up in Camden with her family before moving to NH. So, it was fitting that Jonah surprised her here, on the very beach where she used to take elementary school trips. She thought he was at work, but he was in Camden, waiting on a quaint, idyllic beach overlooking the cove, with a blanket inscribed with their names & the date, a few framed photos of them through the years, shaking hands, sweaty palms, a boyish grin, and a glistening diamond. While I, not so gracefully, hid behind a thorn bush to capture the moment when he dropped to one knee. :)

How they chose to celebrate their engagement tells you a lot about them. Since they are at the center of two close-knit families, they spent the evening cruising the coast and eating their way through Camden with their parents and siblings. They probably would have invited all their family & friends if they could have. Because that’s just who they are- kind & loyal friends.

Ellie & Trevor's Fall Alton Bay Engagement Session

They say opposites attract, right? Ellie will soon take an oath to help and not harm, while Trevor has a license to kill! Don’t worry, he’s only after fish & game! They both love being outside taking in God’s creation, which fuels Trevor’s love for fishing, hunting, and anything else outdoors! Ellie has an interest in photography, so we decided that once they are married, she can become a wildlife photographer while going along on all Trevor’s hunting trips! Sounds like a perfect combo to me!!

Ellie would make the perfect Disney Princess with a kind nature, a quick wit, and a sense of grace to match. In fact, she reminded me a little of Kristen Bell, in the best way possible! Although I didn’t ask her to sing “Do You Wanna Build a Snowman” (all you Frozen lovers now just what I’m talking about), I’m hopeful maybe she’ll break it out at their wedding reception! 

We could’ve walked around Alton Bay talking all evening. They are both the kind of people who just love people and have a heart to help others! After our son was born, Kaelyn & I gained a MUCH greater appreciation for nurses (more on that when we share Cal’s birth story). And, Ellie definitely seems like the type of person you want in the room when things go south! Ellie, whether you decide on labor & delivery, surgery or another specialty, the world is going to be a better place with you serving in our health care system!

Trevor, likewise, has a heart for serving people. He is currently working in sales for his future father-in-law’s business, Chapell Tractor. What I loved about his perspective on sales, is that he sees it as a way to genuinely help people. He’s not in it for the commission and you won’t see him sliding into your DM’s with a “Hey bro, how’s life,” sales-baiting message. No, he’s focused on building relationships with people, and being ready to jump in when he’s needed!

If you didn’t already pick up on it from his stylish watch, Trevor is a classy dresser. Naturally, he & I bonded over our love for JCrew (after all, half my outfit that day was JCrew), and Ellie & I bonded over photography and all the shades of blue they will have at the wedding! I mean, if you know me, you know that my blood is basically blue, so a wedding with lots of blue is definitely right up my alley!

Ellie & Trevor, thanks so much for an incredible session! I can’t wait to serve you on your wedding day at Timber Hill Farm in June!