Ashley & Pat’s Secret Garden Maryland Engagement Session

Welcome back from Labor Day everyone ~ I always love three day weekends (especially ones spent at the beach). But between this rain, and a lack of sleep over the long weekend, I find myself less rested and more restless for the weekend ahead, already (pathetic I know). Hopefully a nice little Maryland engagement shoot from Washington, DC lifestyle photographer, Helen John Photography will ease us back into the week …. here goes …

Most of you know, I am a sucker for couples that are high-school sweethearts. I married my own high-school sweetheart, so that is probably where the favoritism comes from!

A little bit more on the adorable Ashley & Pat, including their Christmas-time proposal story:

Meeting each other in High School and becoming best friends, Ashley and Pat fell in love during their senior year. Ashley says “well, of course I fell in love, he was the star football player!” When Pat went away to college on a football scholarship and Ashley stayed home, they were determined to find a way to make their relationship work. After two years, Ashley followed Pat and transferred to the same college because that is where her heart truly was, and they both graduated from Slippery Rock University with bachelors degrees. Pat got a job in Maryland soon after, and Ashley followed her heart once again, moving out here with him, fresh out of college.

Their six year anniversary was coming up December 17, 2010, and Ashley made them an Italian spaghetti dinner with his mom’s recipe for homemade sauce. She also bought him a turtledove ornament for their first Christmas tree, since it symbolizes love. All of their other ornaments were hand-me-downs from their parents and grandparents. Pat hung the turtledove on the tree as Ashley cleaned up their anniversary dinner. He told her to come look at the tree, and that there was something new for her. She walked over to the tree, clueless, and there was a box sitting in the tree. Pat grabbed the box, got down on one knee, and asked her to marry him. She said “YES!”

They’re looking forward to their wedding date, March 3rd, 2012.

Click inside for the rest of this adorable Maryland engagement session from Washington, DC lifestyle & engagement photographer ~ Helen John Photography.

Congratulations Ashley & Pat!! Best of luck with the rest of your wedding planning ~ a special thank you again to Helen John Photography for sharing her images with us!