Alyson’s Orchard Engagement Session
It’s no secret that I love shooting at Alyson’s Orchard in the fall! I do tend to shoot there a lot, and there is a good reason for that! It’s gorgeous! LOL
Alyson’s Orchard has everything most couples are looking for when it comes to their engagement photos! Views, Lakes, Flowers, fields, and the Orchard of course! You really can’t go wrong.
Catherine and Michael chose to have their engagement session at Alyson’s Orchard for the very same reasons I mentioned above. But each time I shoot at the orchard I see more beauty than the time before! And This Couple really brought so much FUN to the session!!
Let’s Meet Catherine & Michael!
These two are so much fun! I know I say that a lot, but I really do have the most awesome couples! And Catherine and Michael are no exception. I asked them to tell us a little bit more about themselves! And So get a glass of wine… and continue reading!
Where did you guys meet?
We met in 2016 at a mutual friend’s lake house. Catherine wasn’t available at the time but our paths crossed again in 2017. I asked Catherine to grab a drink but she didn’t know whether I was asking her on a date or not. At least she figured it out by the second date!
Tell us about your first date!
When our first date depended on who you talk to. I’d say our first date was when we got drinks at J.m. Curley’s in downtown Boston. But Catherine would say it was about a week later when we met for pizza at Area Four in the South End. I was definitely nervous for the first few dates because I had been instantly attracted to Catherine since we first met in 2016 and I was finally getting a chance to go out with her.
When did you guys know they were. . . “The One”?
I started to think she might be the one when we went on a whirlwind vacation bookended by two weddings. The first was in Scottsdale and the second was in Cartagena, Colombia. In between, we drove through the southwest, visiting Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, Zion National Park, and Las Vegas before flying to Colombia. It was the most amazing trip and we spent a lot of time just the two of us and I was ready to do it all again.
Tell us all about the proposal!!
We were locked in a 700 square foot apartment nearly all day together during the early days of the pandemic. Among other challenges that brought, it’s already hard to surprise Catherine but I had absolutely zero chance to plan any surprises or even buy a ring. Finally, restrictions loosened up a bit and Catherine rented a house on the beach with a couple of friends and I made my move. For a month, I stashed the ring in our tiny apartment, hoping she wouldn’t accidentally find it. Finally, our trip to NH was happening. I had let Catherine pick the trail we were hiking the first day so she wouldn’t be mad at me for picking a hard trail when we got to the top and I booked my sister’s friend Morgan to shoot the proposal at the top of Mount Willard. (I also set up my phone to take a video and rested it on my backpack which had Catherine’s phone in it. As I got down on one knee, Catherine’s mom butt-dialed her so you can hear the phone buzzing loudly in the video). After the hike, I made a “wrong turn” into the Mount Washington Omni Hotel and surprised Catherine with upgraded accommodations (likely the only time I will ever truly surprise her).
Other than the proposal- tell us about your 1st Date!
This is a tough one because our best memories aren’t just a night out, they’re weekends away or at friends’ weddings (oftentimes those are the same thing). And there’s a lot to choose from. We had a blast in DC for a wedding where we knew nobody but the groom, Catherine surprised me with a birthday trip to Toronto to hang off the CN Tower and take in a Red Sox game, we’ve done some incredible hikes such as Grinnell Glacier in Glacier National Park. We’ve also had some incredible meals in our travels like at a 2 Michelin star restaurant in Lisbon and a ceviche place in Cartagena.
What do you guys like to do for fun?
During the week, I like to cook and Catherine will help if I’m not too bossy. We’ll watch Wheel and Jeopardy for me before we turn on Catherine’s shows at 8. On the weekends we’ll often golf when it’s warm out and we’re trying to get out skiing more this winter. Traveling is our favorite thing to do together! So oftentimes we’ll be planning our next trip. The planning can be almost as fun as the trip sometimes! We set aside a Friday night to make a couple of cocktails while we plan. Food, beer, and challenging hikes make for a good trip for me. Catherine is usually supportive of those things even though those are not her favorite parts of any trip.
Can you offer any advice to other couples starting to plan a wedding?
Figure out what the biggest, most important aspects are and work on those first. Once you get through those, don’t let the details bog you down too much. If anything is stressing you out, try to ground yourself. Ask yourself whether you’ve noticed that thing at anyone else’s wedding. And think about how big of a deal it was to you. Usually, the answer is not, and hopefully, you can take a deep breath.
One Last Question- What are you looking forward to on your wedding day?
Seeing Catherine walk down the aisle and trying to keep it together up there! Hands down!
