Both of them list the same moment of knowing they were forever going to be together. In the spring of 2013, they had been together for nearly a year and decided to get their dog, Ellie, together. “I can pinpoint a moment a moment when we were out hiking around Scales Bend on the reservoir and wandered off the beaten path and ended up finding a beach that was completely private and so serene,” she says. “It was almost sunset and the view of that combined with being on the water was absolutely breathtaking. My emotions of our relationship and how close we had grown in the past year just all came to me. He understood me and accepted me, for all the good things, but more important, for all my flaws and not so bright moments as well. Ellie was with us on this hike and it just was a moment we had like this is our family and this is what life is all about; about the connections and relationships you make and the way those people make your heart happy.”

And truly, in every way, it is evident how they make each other so happy. I spent the evening with them earlier this week and their love, their laughter, and their genuinely kind spirits made for a truly amazing time. Andalsoplus, they’re gorgeous together. We met at Wilson’s Apple Orchard for the beginning of their engagement shoot and then spent the rest of the time over at Sugar Bottom Recreation Campground. Stephanie and Matthew had scoped the trails out over the prior weekend and it was so relaxing and peaceful to be out in nature photographing love. Well, except for getting swarmed by mosquitos. But a trip to the store later got me all stocked up on bug bite/anti-itch potion. 🙂

I adore how he makes her smile.
I mean, seriously, this light!!!
Matt proposed this past spring while they vacationed in Colorado. “I have always enjoyed going to Colorado in the past with my family and I knew Stephanie would love it too. I had the ring with me on our first full day there when we were checking out some parks before we checked into our vacation rental. As we were walking around a park pond near downtown Denver, we came to a pier & gazebo with the mountains in the background. We talked about how this was going to be a good vacation and all the cool things we were going to do. I told her that I wanted it to be not just a ‘good’ vacation, but a great and unforgettable one as well. That’s when I got down on a knee on the pier and told Stephanie how much she meant to me and that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with her and asked her to marry me.”

She adds, “I told myself I wouldn’t cry when he proposed because I felt like it was going to come sometime soon, but sure enough, I broke down and cried! Whatever else Matt said, I have no idea.” But she did say yes and they are planning a gorgeous wedding for next year.