The Setting
When I asked Cat to take our engagement photos last month, I told her we were having a winter wedding and wanted some photos that fit the rustic look. She sent me this inspiration photo and asked if this is what I had in mind.
Source: everythingfab.com via Cat on Pinterest
It was perfect.
We found a weekend that worked for us and I began the search for a wooded park/ trail that would work as an ideal location. Thanks to twitter, I found Lettuce Lake Park near USF. The location was perfect with a great wooded area, open trails, and plenty of spots to choose from for photos. We planned to meet an hour before sunset for ideal lighting.
When we arrived, Cat was setting up. She brought in a table, chairs, and other various props for the whimsical romantic shoot.
We took a few photos at the table, laying in the trees, and walking the park.
In the end, the setting was perfect. I loved the moss on the trees and how the light from the sun setting hit everything with just the right hue of golden yellow rays. Gorgeous.
The Hair
Thanks to all of your wonderful advice on what to do with my hair for the photos, I decided to get a blow out the morning of the engagement photo shoot.
I have a tendency to over schedule myself (Saturday’s schedule: 7:00am – Run, 9:00am – Yoga, 11:30am – family arrives in town, 12:00pm – lunch with friends and family, 2:00pm – appointment to try on wedding dresses, 4:30pm – photos) and knew the only free time I had would be in between my yoga class (9:00am) and when my family arrived (11:30am) to have it done. My friend Mary recommended her salon (Level2 in Hyde Park – if you’re a local!), which just happened to be across the street from the Lululemon Store I had my yoga class at. Perfect.
After class I ran across the street to see if they could squeeze me in for a quick styling. As luck would have it, they had ONE free appointment. I only had to wait 10 minutes before Stephanie introduced herself as my stylist and asked what I had in mind. Until that point I really had no idea, but as soon as I saw her long soft curls I asked if there was anyway she could replicate them with my hair. She told me no problem and worked her magic.
The finished hair was amazing. At first I was afraid of my hair looking too big, too overdone, or just unnatural for the photos (some of the comments from the previous post had scared me just a bit), but when I looked in the mirror I thought it was just perfect. It’s exactly how I always want my hair to be, I just have no clue how to do it for myself.
When she finished, I gave Stephanie a big hug, a big tip, and booked another appointment to have my hair cut in two weeks (it needs it!). I think she just earned a lifelong customer.
I’m not sure 100% what Stephanie did, but those were magic curls. They were light, flowy, and lasted all day. They survived the heat, humidity, wind, 2 hours of trying on wedding dresses, eitc and still looked perfect for the 4:30pm photo shoot. I’m telling you – magic curls!
The Clothes
A few weeks ago I found a set of engagement photos on Facebook that featured a girl in a lace dress. I LOVED the look of the lace dress in the photos and knew I wanted something similar for my own photos.
Source: facebook.com via Meghann on Pinterest
And so the search for a lace dress began. I shopped the mall, I shopped online, and I put out a plea across all social media platforms looking for ‘the dress.’ Within the week I had an email from a sweet reader named Lacey who told me she had a similar dress and offered to let me borrow it for the photo shoot. The dress looked GORGEOUS on her in the photos. I crossed every finger, toe, arm, and leg that it would fit when it arrived.
I tried it on almost as soon as it landed on my doorstep. It was perfect.
I owe Lacey times a million. Times a million and one. 😉
We had two outfit changes. For the first look I wore the ivory lace dress and Derek wore my favorite argyle sweater with jeans. This was our ‘fancy’ look.
The second set was a bit more casual. The day before I found a plain white cotton dress at Target. I paired the dress with cowboy boots and my favorite jean jacket. Derek wore a navy (one of our wedding colors) polo with jeans.
The After
Cat is fast! On Monday I received an email with our proofs and we’re currently going through and selecting our favorites. I can’t wait to share them when I get the final photos!
Psstt.. all the above photos (minus the Pinterest photos) were taken by my mom. Her and my dad just happened to be in town this past weekend and wanted to tag along for the photo shoot. They had a little fun with the camera while we were having our photos taken.
Love it. 🙂
I love that pic of your mom and dad, so sweet.
I am excited to see how your pics turned out and that dress really was the perfect match!!!!
Krissy @ Shiawase Life recently posted..WE DID IT!
I can’t wait to see how they turn out!!
Loveee that lace dress and was looking one for my rehearsal dinner. Any word where Lindsay got it?
Love. Love. Love the lace dress. What’s the brand/where did she buy it?
Daniella recently posted..Stepping Out on a Wedge
i LOVE that dress!! and you look absolutely gorgeous! love the hair!
Ashley @ My Food ‘N’ Fitness Diaries recently posted..WIAW {What I Ate Wednesday} #24: My Favorite GREEN Meals
So beautiful! I can’t wait to see the final photos. You look great!
Jessica @ Sushi and Sit-Ups recently posted..Funky Monkey Wine Co.
Your hair came out beautiful and the dress fit you perfectly, I can’t believe it worked out so well. Can’t wait to see the official pics!
Dori recently posted..Bringing Me Right Back
Oh, Meghann. The setting is gorgeous, and you look radiant. Can’t wait to see the final product!
Hillary recently posted..(Green) Apple Pie Smoothie & Oatmeal Graham “Crust” Cookies
I love the set-up for the photo shoot, I love your hair, and I love your outfits! Gorgeous! 🙂
Kristen @ notsodomesticated recently posted..Slow Cooker BBQ Beer Chicken
You look great in the pics and your parents are adorable!
Sana recently posted..Trop 50 Red Orange Dessert
So glad yall had a great time taking the pictures! Can’t wait to see them.
Your parents are so cute 🙂
Christina recently posted..I’m Walking on Sunshine
You look absolutely gorgeous!!!! That dress is perfect in that setting…and I really want your hair. 🙂
Alaina recently posted..Keeping it Up
Beautiful pictures, thanks for sharing!
Lindsay @ Running the Windy City recently posted..WIAW {03-07-2012}
You look beautiful – and these pictures are amazing! Seriously, my heart is smiling 🙂
Yellow Haired Girl recently posted..Oh Hello, WIAW
Gorgeous! I love your hair and the outfits and the setting. Your engagement photos are going to be amazing!!
April B recently posted..Get Back Your Sparkle
I bet your photos turned out gorgeous!!! I love the white dresses!
Katie @ Peace Love & Oats recently posted..Craving Veggies – WIAW
You look gorgeous! So amazingly beautiful and you can tell that you are genuinely happy and so in love. Congrats girl!
Katie recently posted..Wedding Dress Inspiration
The shoot looks so sweet and whimsical! I love that you finally got your perfect LACE dress from LACEY – that just seems meant to be! 🙂
Julie @ There and Back Again recently posted..Goodbye, Chch Cathedral
you look beautiful…and such a beautiful couple 😀 love the lace dress and the backdrop for your photos!
Joss recently posted..The Positive Affirmation Project Wrap Up
Can’t wait to see the pictures! I’m glad Lettuce Lake Park worked out for you! We love going there.
You look amazing! I’m beyond words obsessed with weddings! I think this post made my day 🙂 Thanks!
Karla @ Foodologie recently posted..Some Meal Inspiration… or What You Should Be Making ASAP
Wow! Gorgeous photos! And I love how you reached out to the social media world to get tips, info and inspiration. Great idea!
Congrats on your engagement! You’ll make a beautiful bride!
Kristina
I wish we would’ve used props in our engagement pictures. I love these and can’t wait to see how they turn out.
Maria recently posted..Mom to Be Monday (on Tuesday): Week 15-Birthing Class
I love the one of your bottom halves and the one of you leaning in toward each other. I kind of wish I had engagement pictures now!
The pics are great but I love the one of your dad and mommy the most. Too cute!!
MrsSwan recently posted..Request
Love the dress and your air!
That dress is BEAUTIFUL! <3
Love the outfits and setting. Plus the photo of you two leaning in
Yay!!! The dress looks AMAZING on you!! I’m so, so, so happy that this worked out so well, and that I could help in this way. All of the other details look perfect- those are going to be some really great photos!!
Navy was one of our colors too, so obviously a big fan. Everything looks beautiful and romantic, and I hope the finished pictures turn out just as beautiful!
Emily recently posted..My Bad Habits Catch Up
Love the lacey dress idea. It looked perfect on you! 🙂
Jessica recently posted..WW
You look really pretty Meghann
Gorgeous! I love the set up! In that last photo, your sister looks exactly like your mom from the side. 😀
Anne @strawberryjampackedlife recently posted..Kettlebell Pinterest
I adore that dress too! It looks like your photographer knows exactly what she’s doing! 🙂 I can’t wait to see more of the finished pics!
Yay! I can’t wait to see the results of the shoot. The ones your parents took are beautiful!
Katie @ Talk Less, Say More recently posted..The Santa Barbara Day-Cation (Stay-cation)
You looked amazing in both outfits! That blowout looks perfect on you, I want one now 🙂 And the dress is gorgeous….If Lacey knows where she got it and it’s still in stock, I would buy it in one hot second. So cute.
Can’t wait to see the final photos!
Samantha recently posted..Workout Windup: Need for Speed
hey, do not mean to be rude but just thought I could give you a trick that would help you when using “she” and “her” and the like. “her and my dad were in town” is not correct grammar and am surprised that it doesn’t sound like nails on a chalkboard to you. the trick is to say just “her” was in town (and leave out the the other person. you know what i mean? you would never say her was in town so it makes it easy to know which to use. hope i explained this right.
Love the pic of you two sitting at the table! You look like Kate Middleton!
Awesome pics! You look beautiful and I can’t wait to see the official pictures 🙂
Jules recently posted..Shins & Smoking…
The dress looks adorable on you. Great pics of you and Derek….funny pic of your Daddy! HA! 🙂
I was wondering if your knew where Lacey got that dress from I am looking for one for an event I am going too and that one is goregous…
Can I add another plea for where Lacey got the dress/what brand it was? It seems a lot of people asked the same question, but remember how badly you wanted to find it?? That’s how we feel (or at least how I feel…) Please take pity on us!!!
Ahhh… I’m soooo sorry! I emailed Lacey over the weekend to see where she got it from, but haven’t heard back yet. I *think* it was Belk. The tag says AGB Dress. I also think she bought it last summer – just don’t quote me on that one. 😉
I love how everything just fell into place for your photos – even the hair styling! I think I commented on another post about it, but I’ll say it again – I loved the curls! So pretty.
I also love that lace dress. I have no idea what I’ll wear for our engagement photos. I guess I better start thinking about that considering we’re meeting with our photographer tomorrow. 🙂
Brittany recently posted..Cinnamon Vanilla Coconut Peanut Butter and Balls