One of my favorite things is when couples choose a place for their engagement session that has personal meaning. In Shelby and Dave’s case, we didn’t have to go far: right to their backyard! Some of their favorite times are spent there with their dog, Rory, and their 6 chickens and it was an immediate yes from me when she mentioned that as an idea. (“We love spending time in our backyard with Rory and the chickens; it brings us a lot of joy!”)

To be fair, they also wanted some beautiful scenery spots so we drove across town to Wanatee Park to finish out their engagement session (and the sun came out just for us!), but some of my absolute favorites are them in their back yard with their animals.

Shelby and Dave met at a wedding. They spotted each other on the dance floor and then started chatting in the snack line. Or, that’s how Shelby remembered it. Dave said he noticed her earlier in the day when he was sent on an errand for the groom to where the ladies were getting hair and makeup done. It wasn’t too long before they went on their first date. 

They’ve spent some of their relationship long distance, but Dave said that it was during that time when he knew she was the one. “Halloween was on a school night and she drove to Ames dressed as a Minion to spend time with me and hand out candy to the trick-or-treaters.” That’s when he knew. 

For Shelby, it was when she adopted Rory. “It wasn’t an easy transition because she was a rescue dog and had some things to work through. Dave supported me through that and he showed her so much love and spoiled her rotten! I think that’s when it clicked for me that he was the one because I saw how much he cared about both of us and it was so apparent that we were trying to build a life together.” 

“Dave really thought of everything (per usual)!” Shelby said about the proposal. “He is not a very good liar so I knew something was up, but the how and where were a total shock!”

“I told Shelby that we were going to Des Moines for a concert and weekend away. We went to a concert Friday night. On Saturday, I told her that we were going to a brewery and a steakhouse that night. As we walked past the Sculpture Garden, I pulled her inside the Nomade sculpture and proposed, hardly able to get the words out. After she said yes, I pointed to the photographer who had captured the moment. This was followed by calling everyone to let them know. Leading up to dinner Shelby asked to go to Bubba’s—where we had our first date—but I told her we had to go to the steakhouse. She had no idea that we had a reservation at Bubba’s with her two best friends followed by going to the bars with my buddies and ending at a speakeasy in the basement of our hotel.”