As much as we love (and endlessly repin) destination weddings and engagements, it doesn’t always take a passport and plane ticket to deliver a session with that destination feel. With enough location scouting, you can often find that classic, fairytale look in your own hometown! Surrounded by the topiaries and Medditeranean-inspired architecture of Adriatica Village in McKinney, TX, Anna and Jacob documented their engagement in that timeless, European style. But what makes the photos from their engagement session truly magical is the overflowing, unrestrained joy they have when they are together.
Can’t you just feel the love radiating out of their gallery? It’s such powerful stuff, and during the session their joy was so infectious that it made it impossible to keep a smile off MY face!
But I know where your eyes immediately went after taking in their cheerful faces and that stunning scenery: those outfits! I always advise my couples to choose one more casual outfit and one formal outfit for photos, and these two absolutely nailed it. Anna’s flowing, floral dress is not only perfect for a spring-themed session, but it brings exactly the perfect degree of pattern to the photos. Choosing busy prints can easily overwhelm a photo, but the soft pastel hues and large print brought just the right amount of interest and beauty. And Jacob’s blue button down was the perfect casual-but-not-too-casual option.
As the sun began to set and the golden light transformed into something more moody and romantic, I knew it was time for an outfit change. And holy moly their formal look! Jacob’s jeans and coat combo brought the class without making the photos feel stuffy, and can we just heart eyes forever over Anna’s blue maxi? The color combined with the elegant details made it the ideal dress for photos, and it perfectly illustrates how important it is to think about how a dress will photograph both up close and from a distance. It also allowed us to play with movement, as the pair dipped and swirled by Adriatica Village’s breathtaking stone bridge.
I am so delighted that I got to spend an evening with this unbelievably gorgeous, fun couple, and I can’t wait to get to know them better on our journey to their wedding day. Congratulations on your engagement, Anna and Jacob, and I’m counting down the days until our next laughter-filled session!
