031019-011 031019-013 Oh my word, I had so much fun capturing Clayton and Ashley's engagement session!  We started the afternoon at Mt. Mercy's Graduate Center, which was a perfect location for them, as that is where they met.  What a beautiful way to add more meaning to their engagement portraits by tying them them into their love story.  Love it!! 031019-016 Ashley shared about how they first met, "Clayton and I both attended Mt. Mercy Graduate school, but did not meet until our final class at the end of 2014. I came into class late so I had to sit in the front of the room and all I remember is this loud guy in the back laughing and cracking jokes (nothing has changed). In January 2015 our capstone class took a trip to Belize and that is where our friendship grew. Over the next 2 years we would get together with mutual friends for happy hours and Clayton also dog sat for me a few times (we have 2 bichon-shihtzu boys). We always joked we were surprised we never met sooner based on all of the mutual friends we have. One of them including a close family friend of mine and a co-worker of his who kept laying the groundwork to both of us that we should go out on a date!" 031019-025 031019-034 For their first date, Ashley was with friends tubing down the river up by Elkader, but knew she just had to get back to Cedar Rapids for this date he asked her on!  She drove an hour back home got ready and he picked her up.  They sat on the outdoor patio at Black Sheep and it felt like they were the only ones there.  They enjoyed Moscow mules, a lovely dinner and excellent conversation for nearly 3 hours!  As Ashley said, "Time flies when you enjoy the company." 031019-044 The weather wasn't very cooperative for their session, so we were unable to head out to Palisades as we had originally planned, but thankfully the Cedar Rapids Double Tree turned out to be a fantastic location for them.  I love all the gorgeous natural light and little nooks there. 031019-051 031019-054 031019-065 Ashley shared their moments of when they knew that this was the one, "I knew during that first date at Black Sheep, something completely clicked for me there and it was nothing I had ever felt before but always dreamed of. For Clayton, it was when I surprised him with a trip and tickets to Dallas to see the Dallas Cowboys play in their home stadium, it was also our first trip together." 031019-072 031019-084 031019-086 031019-098 031019-101 Their proposal story is pretty epic!  Ashley told the story, "Clayton made a 14 minute video telling our love story. He had our "matchmaker" (a family friend of mine and a co-worker of his), my mom, and 3 of my best friends do the voice over for the words he wrote out. He asked the rest of my management team at work and my director to be in on the surprise. During our staff meeting on August 8th my director played the video, Clayton and my closest family and friends were outside of my work waiting for me to come out. It was the absolute best day of our lives thus far. The time, love, and energy spent was indescribable."  How amazing is that?! 031019-105 031019-109 Clayton is not a big fan of PDA (reference the images above), but he was a great sport and Ashley was loving all the snuggles! 031019-117 031019-122 The thing they love most about each other is for Ashley, "I love his selflessness and how he teaches me patience (its a work in progress)" and for Clayton, "I love her ambition and go-getter attitude." 031019-135 031019-140 031019-148 I absolutely loved working with this fun, sweet couple!  I cannot wait for their wedding this October! 

Are you planning a wedding and looking for timeless, authentic photography for your big day? Contact us here to see if we are available for your wedding day. Limited 2019 dates remain! 2020 dates are filling quickly!