Strolling through the fall colors at Prospect Ponds and snuggling on the roof at sunset are the makings of an unforgettable date night. For Annika and John, it was also a joyful evening celebrating their engagement.

When we met up with Annika and John, the two had just come from a day of tastings and walk-throughs for their big day. Not living in Colorado, meant checking A LOT of things off of their list while they were here.

Honestly, destination weddings can be tricky to plan in general; add Covid restrictions and military assignments and you’ve got quite the endeavor. But as a Logistics Officer, Annika is a PRO at getting things done. So when they had a window to come to Colorado for a visit, we just had to squeeze in their engagement photos too.

I mean, if a day of tasting cake, eating yummy food and going on a date night is “getting things done,” sign me up. And the reality is, your engagement session should feel like an amazing date night, not something on your list of “to do’s.”

Annika and John’s love story began during their senior year at the Air Force Academy. Annika was John’s Boss’ Boss, doing a routine check-in. And after a conversation that was much longer than most, the two of them felt an instant connection and began dating shortly after.

In true 2020 fashion, sadly John’s proposal didn’t go as planned. With a hurricane destroying the French Garden’s he had in mind, he had to come up with a plan B. Now uncertain of when the perfect moment would arise, he carried the ring with him just incase. And as the two went walking around an old colonial town, they wandered upon a cute little garden with a gazebo. And it was there that John asked Annika to be his wife.

One thing I love to ask our couples is what they love most about each other. Here’s just a few things that the two of them said:

” The things I love most about Annika are almost endless, but I will list a few of the most important ones in my mind. First, the way she follows Christ with her whole heart and is constantly growing in her faith and relationship with God always amazes me. The value she places on family and friendships and the way she unconditionally shows Christ’s love to others is another way that she blesses those around her. I am truly excited to spend the rest of my life with her and know that she will continue to amaze me every day.” – John

“His heart for the Lord and that he is always seeking to deepen his relationship with Christ. John is always demonstrating Christ’s love and self-sacrificing servanthood in our relationship and that reminds me of the beauty of the gospel and the Lord’s love for me. He is so attentive and always thinking of others and their needs, he deeply values family and friendships, he is supportive and encouraging, and I know I can count on him for anything. The list never ends!” – Annika

These words that they shared, were magnified as we began our session at Prospect Ponds in Fort Collins, and almost immediately we felt their joy. The fall leaves all around us created a stunning canopy of color, as we wandered down trails beside the river. Constantly laughing, they knew how to quickly put each other at ease and melt into one another’s arms.

Eventually we made our way to Old Town Fort Collins, where we found ourselves on the roof of a building taking in a gorgeous sunset. With the wildfires and smoke, it had been days since we got to experience clear blue skies or even see the mountains to the west. But, the slight haze in the sky that night created gorgeous cotton candy skies and we felt so lucky to be there to experience it.

Now, when you get engaged, one of the best parts is getting to share the news with your loved ones. But when you receive roaring cheers from hundred’s of strangers, it’s something very unexpected. So when Annika and John snuggled up on the roof of a building in Old Town, they never imagined hundred’s of onlookers would be cheering for them as they shared a kiss. It was one of the funniest things I’ve heard, as the sound bounced off the walls of the buildings, creating a stadium sound of cheers. Jeremy and I were floored by the response, and with embarrassed laughter, Annika gave the crowd a wave and melted into John’s arms. It was certainly a moment none of us will forget.

We are so looking forward to your December wedding at The Manor House and can’t wait to celebrate with you both. Enjoy this wonderful season and we will see you very soon!

Are you looking for a romantic film to tell your engagement story, capture your proposal or even use to tell friends to “Save the Date”? We would love to help you share your love story! Engagement Film‘s are an easy add-on to any of our engagement sessions! And incase you didn’t know, engagement sessions are complimentary with all our Wedding Collection Bookings!

Want to see more engagement films? Check out our engagement session with Shahnoza and Dmitriy at Horsetooth Reservoir.

So what are you waiting for? Let’s connect and start planning your engagement or wedding!