It’s been a while since I’ve done a session inside the Old Capitol and I was absolutely thrilled when Jackie and Ryan wanted to do their engagement session there. It’s winter in Iowa and we just got through our false spring of 50- and 60-degree days and are back to cold weather so an indoor session was necessary (and also prettier, obviously). 

Jackie and Ryan met here in Iowa City five and a half years ago while they were both in school—her in orthodontic residency and him in med school—so it felt especially fitting to do their engagement session in places special on campus. We started the session with lots of old, historical vibes at the Old Capitol and then finished it with a modern, contemporary feel at the Voxman School of Music. 

Ryan proposed over Christmas and, though they had gone ring shopping beforehand and she knew a proposal was on the horizon, she didn’t know when it would happen. “He coordinated the proposal with my whole family over Christmas and proposed in a botanical garden that had been decorated with Christmas lights. We were taking photos together in front of a beautifully lit tree and he signaled to my niece, Merritt, to bring him something. She brought him the ring box and he got down on a knee and cue my tears! It was truly so special and thoughtful that he included my two sisters, nieces, nephew, and my parents. I couldn’t have designed it more perfectly.”

Did you know that Iowa City was the first state capital of Iowa? Construction on this building began in 1840 and Iowa’s first governor was inaugurated here in 1846. The capital was moved from Iowa City to Des Moines in 1857 and, when that happened, the capitol building became the first permanent building of the University of Iowa, housing the entire University until 1863. The entire university. (For reference, Iowa now has over thirty-one thousand students.) Once the University started spreading out, the Old Capitol became home to The Iowa Law School for decades and it wasn’t until 1970 that it was announced the building would be restored as a historic monument.  (It is now a free-admissions museum where you can visit the Supreme Court chamber, the Senate and House chambers, the governor’s office, the rotundas and stunning staircase, and, honestly, so much more!) Most people are familiar with the outside facade of the building—the golden dome and the stairs and pillars and the stonework—but, truly, the inside is so special and beautiful.

We walked from the Old Capitol Museum to the Voxman and stopped along our route for a few quick outdoor photos around the Pentacrest area.

Their joy is absolutely contagious and my cheeks actually hurt right now from smiling so much as I’ve been editing their photos. I’m so excited to celebrate with them at their wedding in May!!!