Melanie & Justin’s Retro Amusement Park Engagement in Maryland

Its barely 9:30am and I am already having one of “those” days. It started with the rain, thus making it nearly impossible to get out of bed. It was followed by a near-accident on my commute to work, as a bald-tired car thought it could take a 35mph turn at about 65mph [he was wrong, as I watched him do a 360 across two lanes of traffic in front of me]. It continued with arriving at work to my badge having expired. I don’t know where it will go next.

BUT I do know that it will at least have ONE shining moment in this otherwise frustrating Monday – this gorgeous retro Maryland engagement session from Live It Out Photography.

Melanie & Justin were actually the winner’s of the Photography Session Giveaway that we hosted at Borrowed Event with Live It Out Photography! I couldn’t have been happier that they won – as their December wedding sounds absolutely amazing and they are two of the CUTEST people I have ever met. I love their style and laid-back vibe and the love they have for each other is just intoxicating.

Thanks so much to Amber, one of my fav alternative wedding photographers in the DC, MD, VA area, for sharing these awesome retro engagement pictures!

It’s not a feature from Live It Out without some visually impressive Polaroids – courtesy of the Impossible Project Film. If you like Polaroids – and the intoxicating influence that these pictures portray, check out Amber’s The Present Company Project – a look at meeting strangers, asking simple questions, and capturing it on film.

How did you guys meet?

Melanie: I walked into a friend from high school’s apartment in college and had two bags of baking supplies on both arms and the book Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World already creased to my favorite recipes. Up three flights of stairs and I knocked on the door and went in. The first person I saw was a handsome man with a big red beard sitting on the sofa. I can’t remember if I said hello because I am pretty shy when it comes to good facial hair. I’m sure I buried the bottom half of my face into my scarf and unloaded my soymilk bottles and flour bags onto the kitchen table.

Justin: I was visiting my friend’s apartment and I saw this girl come into the apartment with her arms loaded with baking supplies.  The thing I remember thinking was, “Wow, she’s cute, how can I talk to her?”  I tried not to stare while she unpacked her things, but I took a quick glance or two. I just sat listening and hoping.  Then the moment came- was teaching her to make Vegan cupcakes-so I spoke up and said, “Can you make mine with extra egg, lard icing and top it with bacon bits, please?”  I don’t even think she looked at me, but I think I remember her giggling.  I look back and think, “Hm, I am lucky that I even got a first date when I used the word ‘lard’ in my opening statement and made fun of her.” What a great first impression!

I have some serious hair-envy over Melanie’s gorgeous soft curls. Also – don’t forget that if you want to rock a bow tie like Justin – we are giving a handmade bow tie away!

For our first date, Justin invited me to meet him at the library on a beautiful march morning. I already had breakfast plans so I told him I’d try to stop by later in the morning. I walked up and saw him, sitting on the bench outside, head back, eyes closed, in the sun. I thought, “what great timing, he’s just leaving!” I didn’t know until later, but he had waited for me for two hours, just to see if I would come. We fell in love through half a year of long distance while I was in England.

Click inside for the rest of Melanie & Justin’s adorable retro Amusement Park engagement session by Live It Out Photography and to read the details of the adorable proposal – with flamingos!

I really REALLY love these  purple stars. It’s making me really want purple stars tattooed on my wrist.

The proposal:

Justin had been holding on to the engagement ring for 6 months before asking me. The ring, by the way, is a vintage ring from the 1940’s and the one that I had admired since i was in 7^th grade from a teeny estate jeweler in the town where my grandparents lived.

We had one mutual day off in a long stretch of work so we planned a trip to the Philadelphia Zoo. He asked me to marry him in front of the flamingos- which I think are such awkward and romantic animals. It was lovely. He worked so hard to give our engagement a sweet story that we love to retell.

We love saying to each other- we’re going to get married! I think we’re still a little in shock that it’s real, in that fuzzy, perfect, dreamlike state of happy. We can’t wait for December!

This next sequence is just WAY. TOO. ADORABLE.

We had a wonderful time with Amber and Jon from Live it Out Photography!

They captured so many of our signature expressions- they definitely captured us- our relationship and how much we like each other!

Ok well, if this engagement shoot can help turn MY day around – it can certainly turn yours around too! A special thanks to Live It Out Photography for sharing her beautiful images. Congrats Justin & Melanie – cannot wait to see how your wedding comes together!