Devin + Emily {Engagement}

They're my first couple for 2012, and I couldn't have had a better start!  I was giddy...absolutely giddy, when Emily and Devin asked me to shoot their wedding.  I know I'm really excited when I dance a mental irish jig.  But I'm Japanese so of course, it was very proper. :)  As I was standing there talking to them, I was already taking pictures in my mind, because I knew that like those two are as a couple, we were going to be a great match.  I just knew it.

 I've known Emily since she was a baby girl as she grew up in the same small town that my Mom did.  Having been friends with her sisters and sharing a lot of mutual friends, I watched her grow up from a distance.  A few years ago, I discovered her blog, and if I were tell "our story", I'd tell you that that's when we became friends. :)

 Back in the fall, shortly after Emily and Devin started dating, a small group of us went to Grand Rapid, MI's ArtPrize show.  I started chatting with Devin, and when I heard Devin's major had been English and he was a writer, I remember thinking, "Hmm, I kind of really want to be his friend."  I'm really mature like that.  I'm a bit mesmerized by writers...I find that they're usually people who I want to listen to when they speak, because they have an understanding, whether it's conscious or not, of the weight that words carry.  I love that quality in someone.

 It only seems fitting that Devin, being who he is, thought to propose in a way that only someone like he could.  Emily told the whole story on her blog (Click Here to Read). I think my favorite part of the story was when she said that he wore a sweater when they first met even though it was 80 degree weather, and she later found out that he didn't like the t-shirt he was wearing, so he'd rather be hot and uncomfortable over letting her see him in something he didn't like!

She said, "I was looking at him, his face turned from me as he said something about the coffee shop we were standing in, and I was watching his mouth move and feeling that already I was drawn to him, just by how he spoke. I thought it a bit quirky that he was wearing a sweater in 80 degree humidity, but even quirkiness was endearing on him." 

 They're having a very small wedding with just their immediate family and attendance...I just love that.  I am SO excited and honored to get to be there as the one who gets to capture it through pictures!

 Emily...I LOVE this one of you.  There's something about it that makes me remember you as you were when you were a little girl.

 Devin...I'm at a loss for words to say how much I love this shot of you.

 Emily leaned forward and hugged Devin like this and said, "I do this a lot!"...those are my favorite poses...the familiar ones.

 Gorge-ous...both of you.

I may have a small obsession with Emily's boots...I'll admit it.

 We shot the indoor pictures at Devin's cousin's loft...we were lucky to get to shoot there as it was a perfect place for indoor space.  Emily said to me, "We can shoot in Troy's apartment if we want...there's a lot of space and lets in a lot of natural light" Ahhhh, I love it when my brides know just what I want!

Trust me, they've every bit as awesome as they appear to be.  Can't wait for the wedding!!