Andrea + Mark Engagements || Dominon Arboretum, Ottawa
Andrea + Mark
Who isn’t a fan of a sweet love story? As an Ottawa wedding photographer, I am regularly blown away by the incredible love stories that I get to witness and photograph on a weekly basis! My couples tend to have the most romantic love stories, and so many have been together for years. I loved having the chance to tell a part of Andrea and Mark’s love story with their dreamy Dominion Arboretum engagement session last summer!
This pair of high school sweethearts met way back in 2012, and from their first date, she was smitten. Andrea describes it this way: “as cliche as it sounds, I knew it was him from the start!” After dating for seven years, Mark surprised her with an unexpected proposal back in 2019 on a Caribbean cruise. Both sides of their families booked a trip together and had the best time, but little did Andrea know that it was just going to get better! On Christmas Day, the whole group decided to meet up just the two of them for a little photo session before the formal dinner night, and when Andrea arrived, it was just the two of them. He got down on one knee and asked for her hand, and she was speechless in surprise. Until the quick and obvious “yes” of course!
The night was made even better when they were able to celebrate in a relaxing atmosphere with their most loved family members. Immediately following the proposal, Andrea asked who else knew, and Mark pointed up at his sister and brother-in-law who had been recording and photographing the whole thing! Both families celebrating the newly engaged couple all evening.
Despite all of the uncertainty with the pandemic, Mark and Andrea were eager to start planning their Ontario wedding and wanted to move forward with the first step— engagement photos!
These Dominion Arboretum engagement photos have added meaning. The location is not only stunning with its natural and lush backdrop in the summer, but there is a personal connection as well. Andrea’s parents had their wedding photos taken there decades ago, so she wanted to carry on the legacy! This was such a sentimental added touch to their engagement session. We had the perfect evening together, walking through the fields and soaking in the dreamiest golden hour light. I love the carefree and romantic energy of these photos. Andrea’s flowing, dusty blue dress fit the “summer Ottawa engagement session vibe” perfectly!
