What a joy it is to share an engagement session in one of my favorite places in Virginia with a former student and her fiance! Hayley is a former student of mine from my decade at Liberty High School. She is a very special woman with a heart for God and others and a love of all things fun, bright and Disney! I was so thrilled to meet her future husband, Sam at the end of the winter in March as well. And last year, I had the chance to sit down with Hayley and her two best friends in my living room to chat all things wedding, marriage and their college experience for the past four years. Hearing all of Hayley’s plans and her desire to have a wonderful marriage was a privilege for me.

Hayley and Sam have known each other for a while and as they became friends, they both realized that they really wanted to spend life together. They are happily planning their summer Brandy Hill Farm wedding in Culpeper so they can be close to family as well.

So how about their love and friendship story?! In Hayley’s words, “Sam and I have known each other for years through our home church. One day we began talking until it became an everyday habit. We started getting to really know one another inside and out. When we hung out it seemed like we knew each other our whole lives. He is, to this day, my best friend and I cannot imagine my life without him!”

And the proposal!

“Sam and a bunch of my friends came down to school to visit me for my birthday. We went out to dinner at one of my favorite restaurants. On our way back from dinner Sam suggested we stop for dessert. We decide to go to Sweetfrog – a very special place for us. We had our first date here and it has become a special tradition for us. As we are in line to check out, Sam asks, ‘Don’t you want the special topping?’. I begin looking around for a flyer to explain what he’s talking about. ‘Strawberry sauce?’ I asked. ‘No, the secret topping.’ At this point i’m looking around confused and glance at the cashier to see if she has any idea what he is talking about. ‘I guess not?’ I said. To which he replied, ‘It’s a good thing I brought it with me.’ He kneeled down and pulled out the ring. He proceeded to ask me and I began crying like a baby. I was glad it was at a spot that was so special to us and in front of our closest friends!”

I am so excited about their upcoming wedding! We are only a month away!

(and no…those last photos were not taken on the set of Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom…

Michelle Lieb with Lieb Photographic is a Charlottesville Wedding Photographer, Culpeper Wedding Photographer, Fredericksburg Wedding Photographer, Alexandria Wedding Photographer, Washington DC Wedding Photographer, Phoenix Wedding Photographer, High Country Wedding Photographer and a wedding photographer in the surrounding areas.