Early Autumn Northern Virginia Engagement Photos
Dylan and Sam’s Northern Virginia engagement photos are what every photographer dreams of. We couldn’t have asked for better weather—a warm fall afternoon with clear blue skies, golden sunlight spilling through the trees, and the most stunning natural backdrops at every turn. I’m excited to feature their engagement session the blog today and feature more of their love story!
How They Met
from Sam’s perspective:
In 2017, Dylan and I both played on the same club rugby team, which brought together kids from various high schools and middle schools across the county. Dylan had been on the team for five years, while my sisters and I joined that year. Although we were teammates, we didn’t really interact much since the boys and girls were separated during practices.
One day, I decided to add Dylan on Snapchat and try to start a conversation, but he barely responded (LOL). I told my sister, Alyssa, that he was cute and should talk to him, but I kept trying myself. Eventually, I asked if he had a date for homecoming, and he replied that he “kind of” did. I was confused, so I jokingly texted that I’d go with him. He took me seriously, and about a week later, we ended up going to homecoming together!
How He Proposed
from Dylan’s perspective:
In May, after work one day, I told my mom that Samantha was the person I wanted to spend my life with. She had the perfect idea: she pulled out family heirloom diamonds that had been passed down for generations and had been taken off old earrings. She gave me the diamonds, suggesting I use them for Samantha’s engagement ring.
After getting the ring size and visiting the jeweler, it was time to plan the proposal. I wasn’t exactly the best planner, but I had one thing set: I wanted to propose on the 4th of July at Angola Lake, a place my family had been visiting for years to enjoy bonfires, fireworks, and time together. The details would come later. Two weeks before our trip, I also received Samantha’s parents’ blessing, which meant a lot to me.
On the morning of the 4th, the excitement was building. We were all ready to enjoy the day—fireworks, s’mores, drinks, and family time. We’d spent the past few days gathering driftwood for the bonfire, which gave me the idea to create a large heart in the sand for the proposal. That morning, I spent time with Samantha and my brother Stephen, trying to convince her to take some nice photos on the beach later, but she wasn’t having it. Her response was basically, “I don’t want to dress up; I’d rather stay comfy.” I played it cool, not wanting to raise any suspicion.
As the sun started to set, I knew it was time. To keep her from guessing what was happening, I told Samantha I was “going to the restroom” and snuck out the front door. My mom then distracted her, and I got to work on the heart. After a few minutes, I texted my mom to let her know I was almost done, but I mistakenly wrote, “I am ready” instead of “I will text you when I’m ready.” Panicked, I quickly started hauling logs and sticks into place and even asked a nearby family if I could borrow some of their wood. They were surprisingly happy to help, and soon the heart was taking shape.
Just as I was finishing, I turned around to find my mom, brother, Samantha, and our friend Eddy standing just a few yards away, watching the whole thing. Fortunately, I played it off as if I hadn’t been planning, shared a few heartfelt words, and proposed to Samantha—both of us still in bathing suits and T-shirts. After the proposal, we got a few claps from the small crowd, and we all pitched in to return the borrowed wood. To wrap up the night, we enjoyed s’mores, drinks, and fireworks that lit up the sky for an hour straight.
Scroll for more of their beautiful engagement photos!
Alexis El Massih is a wedding and portrait photographer serving Washington DC, Maryland, Virginia, and Greece Destination Weddings
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