I am so happy to have had the opportunity to get Alyssa and Brandon’s Summer session at Alyson’s Orchard done while they were up here on a mini get-a-way!
A few months back, they were going to be coming up here for her Bridal shower, but then, plans got uprooted. (Thanks COVID!). So when they wrote letting me know they were heading up a few months later… I was stoked! We finally get to meet in person!
Alyssa and Brandon
These two are awesome. I met them at Spencer’s in Walpole, for a few drinks and easy-going conversation. It turns out that Alyssa and I have quite a bit in common. And I loved hearing how Brandon loves brewing Craft beer. When he spoke of it, I can see how he just lit up. (Exactly how I do when I talk about photography!)
Alyssa and Brandon are getting married next year, and I am so excited that I get the opportunity to be a part of their day. Every time I spend time with one of my new couples I’m amazed at how lucky I am to keep getting such sweet people into my life.
How did you meet?
We actually met using the dating app “Tinder”. Alyssa had only made a Tinder profile at the instance of a friend and didn’t take it very seriously, swiping left and right while out for Friday drinks with friends. The tag line on her profile said, “marry me?” totally as a joke. Brandon’s first message to Alyssa said, “yes”. And the rest is history. It was the only “Tinder date” that either of us ever went on.
Tell us about your first date!
Despite not taking Tinder very seriously, we texted for a few days and decided we should meet for dinner. We were both pretty nervous to go on a date with a total stranger.
We were supposed to meet up on a Wednesday, but Brandon ended up having a work dinner and we decided to meet on Friday of that same week. April 25, 2014. The pub that Alyssa chose had a 45-minute wait and Brandon was super hungry, so we went to the Thai place next door. They didn’t serve alcohol, but it turned out that we didn’t need it to break the ice. We both felt strangely comfortable with each other from the beginning. We got along so well that we decided to go to a bar for a drink after.
Alyssa was being very cautious, and possibly uncool, and had her best friends meet us at the bar towards the end of the evening (because…stranger danger!), and they ended up driving us back to our cars. We held hands in the back seat like middle school kids after a date at the movies.
Tell us about the Proposal!
On May 11, 2019, Brandon, Alyssa, and her sister Maddie, hiked Mt. Olga in Marlboro, VT. On the way up, Alyssa was giving Brandon a hard time about how all of her friends were getting married and having kids except for her…hint hint. At the top, we climbed the fire tower to get the best view and Maddie asked Alyssa what her Tinder tagline said. When Alyssa replied, “marry me?” Brandon got down on one knee and opened a ring box. Alyssa was completely surprised and responded with quite a few expletives, but finally managed to get the word, “yes” out.
What sort of things do you do for fun together?
Brandon and I like to go on little day trip adventures. We call it “galooping”, a term Alyssa’s grandmother used to use to describe going for a ride with no real purpose. Often, we go for short hikes and then “galoop” in the area that we find ourselves in. 99% of the time we end up at a brewery, winery, or farmers market.
How about some individual hobbies?
Alyssa likes to bake, anything really, but lately she’s been perfecting her homemade bread recipe. She’s also recently taken up knitting, thanks to COVID-19, and she has a lot of house plants. She’s also slowly but surely learning how to grow a successful vegetable garden. Brandon loves to make beer and he’s pretty good at it too, adding fruit or chocolate or other crazy ingredients into his concoctions. He also loves to cook and lately has been perfecting some Asian style recipes. Yum!
Funny Quirks and Habits!! (That you may find adorable or annoying) in your finance!?
Alyssa has a tendency to not put things away after she uses them, especially if she thinks she’ll need them again soon (i.e shoes, bills, receipts, etc.) So Brandon will tidy up after her. We both get a little annoyed with each other at this. Alyssa because her stuff is never where she left it, and Brandon because the house wouldn’t need to be cleaned so hard every Sunday if things were just put away where they belong.
How Are the Wedding Plans coming along?
Our wedding was supposed to be July 11, 2020. We had to postpone due to the coronavirus. So we have most of it planned already, and now we have plenty of time to work out the remaining details, like table decorations and music playlists.
As a couple who is currently planning a wedding, What advice do you have for other couples?
It’s super hard to stay on budget. You have no idea how much a wedding costs until you start planning one. At the beginning of planning, we felt rushed into making decisions quickly so that some of our vendors wouldn’t book up. When you do it that way, things start to add up fast. In hindsight, I wish I had gotten quotes from several vendors and venues and taken a deep breath before making final decisions. I don’t regret a single choice I made, and I’m so pleased with all of our vendors. But it would’ve been easier to make a budget and stick to it if I had done it that way.
Describe your wedding visions!
We really want our wedding to be simple and elegant. We’re purposely asking family and friends to help us with DIY projects, like table decorations so that our wedding is unique and our guests feel like they have a hand in making it special. A lot of our family members haven’t met before and we’re really looking forward to dancing the night away together.
Would you like to share what you both do for a living?
Would you like to share what you both do for a living? Alyssa is a 5th-grade teacher and Brandon works for Virginia Farm Bureau selling insurance.
Congratulations!!
I’m already counting down the days until your Alyson’s Orchard wedding next July when I get to be at your side when you say, “I do.” Between now and then, I hope these images make you feel excited about what’s ahead.
