One cold night in January, Carina and Ryan went on a double date to the Melting Pot in downtown Pittsburgh, with her sister and brother in law, Bethany and Chad.
They had been dating for a few years and were high school sweet hearts. They always took a photo together after each date night, and so after they finished their delicious fondue, they went outside where the city lights were glowing. Carina asked Bethany to take their picture, and as she was just clicking into the photo app, Ryan dropped to one knee, surprising Carina with the most gorgeous engagement ring and the question of spending their forever together! Bethany was almost as surprised as Carina was. She took as many photos as she could and captured their engagement!
A few weeks later, Carina sent me the sweetest message that started with “I don’t know if you remember me. We were neighbors a very long time ago.” I have such fond memories of my childhood, with Carina and her older sisters, Ashley and Bethany, who were my best friends. Carina was the baby in their family, and our families both moved when I was 9. So I didn’t know Carina as well as I did her sisters, but I had captured Bethany and Chad’s maternity photos, last year, and Carina was certain she wanted me to be her wedding photographer!
I would’ve said yes to that right then and there, but then she told me she was getting married in Deep Creek! I was so over the moon excited! Ryan’s family has a house at the lake just like my family! Carina and Ryan have spent their weekends at the lake each year, for many summers. It’s as much a way of life for them as it has been for my family and me. We can’t imagine life without Deep Creek Lake!
Since their wedding venue isn’t on the lake, Carina wanted to make sure their engagement photos were there! We started at Swallow Falls State Park, and ended with them jumping into the lake off of their boat! It was so much fun! At one point, Ryan sped up the boat to get a nice wake behind them, and then ran to the back of the boat with Carina. I put a lot of trust in him that we weren’t going to crash since I had my back turned to where we were going, in order to take their pictures! Clearly we survived. Haha
Carina & Ryan, I had so much fun capturing these photos for you! I can’t wait for your wedding next year at Sang Hill Farms!
Enjoy their beautiful engagement session at Swallow Falls and Deep Creek Lake!
