A coffee shop engagement session was the perfect idea for this couple who spends their weekend mornings hanging out at local beaneries. Jillian and Kieran wanted something cozy, intimate, and casual. So the pair headed to their favorite “watering hole” with Sky’s the Limit Photography for a session that was romantic and sweet. Add in a couple of cups of joe and I’m totally smitten. After their latte-fueled pics, Jillian and Kieran took in some colors and sights of the season. Gorgeous yellow leaves paired with a marsala colored wrapped dress that fit Jillian like a glove and the second half of this shoot will give you all the heart eyes. If their November 25th wedding day is as gorgeous as their engagement photos, we’re all in for a real doozy.
From the bride…
When and how did you two meet?
My friends and I headed to Rumfish Grille in Bridgeville in the summer of 2014 for a girls’ night out. As fate would have it, Kieran and his friends also headed to Rumfish that night. One of the guys approached me and delivered a ridiculously cheesy pickup line, which broke the ice and got our two groups to start talking. I noticed that Kieran was a bit more reserved than the other guys, and I was instantly intrigued by him. We began our own conversation that was so natural it seemed like we’d known each other forever. With butterflies in our bellies and huge smiles on our faces, we parted ways that night knowing that something very special had just happened. We became official a few months later, and it didn’t take long for us to realize we would be together forever.
Juicy details on the proposal, please! Where, when, how?
On May 22, 2016, while we were on a weekend trip together, Kieran devised a clever plan to propose to me at the hotel we were staying at. My room key suddenly stopped working, so I went down to the front desk to get it reactivated. After fixing my room key, the hotel manager said, “Don’t leave just yet, Jillian – there’s something here for you.” He handed me an envelope with my full name on it, and I was beyond confused. I hesitantly opened the envelope and saw that it was a love letter written in Kieran’s handwriting. When the hotel manager said, “He’s waiting for you upstairs,” with a huge smile on his face, I knew exactly what was about to happen. I immediately started crying in the middle of the hotel lobby and thanked him for his help. I continued to read the love letter through my tears as I walked back to our room. My room key worked this time, and I opened the door to find Kieran inside surrounded by dozens of candles and roses. It looked like something out of a movie! Kieran promised to love me forever, got down on one knee, and popped the big question. With tears streaming down my face and without hesitation, I said YES. Turns out Kieran and the hotel manager had planned the entire thing (even the part where my room key stopped working!), and I had absolutely no idea!
Describe the engagement session.
Kieran and I definitely wanted to take some formal, traditional engagement photos in a beautiful outdoor location, but we also loved the idea of taking some relaxed, casual photos in a more unique setting that felt more personal to us. We saw that Krystle from Sweet Juniper Photography had taken another couple’s engagement photos in a coffee shop, and we loved how intimate and romantic the photos turned out. We also love spending our weekend mornings in neighborhood coffee shops, so it seemed like a coffee shop would be the perfect unique setting to make our engagement session feel very “us.” Krystle was totally on board, and she turned our dreams into a reality!
This was one of the best sessions I have ever had! I photograph couples all the time and it’s so refreshing and amazing to be able to capture a love like theirs. They are just so naturally perfect together. I cannot wait for the big day! It’s almost here! Eeek!!
One of the cutest sessions I’ve had the pleasure of showing off! Jillian is gorgeous and you did a great job capturing their love!