Completely necessary & absolutely ridiculous.
Don't get me wrong - I'm the first person to insist that you need to have engagement pictures and I love looking at other people's when they post them. But I'm also judging them because, c'mon, they're a little bit ridiculous because most of the time they're entirely unrealistic.
I don't know about you, but I don't put on a fancy dress and frolic in a field with my fiancé on a regular basis {because hello, snakes}. Nor do we climb up into trees with low branches that swing out over a marshy area with a gorgeous sunset behind us. There are so many things that could go wrong with that scenario that I don't even know where to start.
I wanted to pick something that was completely normal for Patrick and I to do for our pictures so that we could try to capture who we really are rather than a Pinterest-approved version of us. I also wanted absolutely nothing to do with taking pictures in Columbia at the State House/Main Street/River Front Park so getting out of Columbia was a must.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipL91tTtAsBnzoOFDhNQ7n7uDd6dlMs9pIbDTW0Ef_GyJPK4UIQpKc9Ot-DZRv9_4ZL-PDq_NyQVa_jOYTrA6q2ApOoPwAz-1l8js5y-wHqeH5Sg3thkbM8EJEYLJuwEtl9bCjJPd2Omv_/s640/Engagement_10.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipL91tTtAsBnzoOFDhNQ7n7uDd6dlMs9pIbDTW0Ef_GyJPK4UIQpKc9Ot-DZRv9_4ZL-PDq_NyQVa_jOYTrA6q2ApOoPwAz-1l8js5y-wHqeH5Sg3thkbM8EJEYLJuwEtl9bCjJPd2Omv_/s640/Engagement_10.jpg)
& you know what? Not only did we enjoy taking these pictures {yes, Patrick too!} but these pictures look like a little snapshot of our life right now. Some of my very favorites ended up being behind the brewery in front of their "Take a Pitcher It'll Last Longer" sign.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjPle8QmqR53yxlz6iDzbTx8Jx999MhAaq9dDuZlJoX9UH2QGiowp8RR5sTdfUPDhd3bG4gy1HdgE3ors2seW6qvLiCraIj4hlTQFtHqRmE9ChM2RLUu3hYoL5M1XHgTWEl4ymMK0PqjM2/s640/Engagement_2.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZG3VHBe83C5G-TcZ19XbLGxtTrJ3k7OsakJ0mgmkhMHrZ6FvuiHtaHtTs9CRMrACV_MctWcIUHhLchXmjQpXhaubZE8wzOQjWeJ4Vrv6YVNF5ZCp7508DWc9Qkoqmqp007dlJ0YBmvRl5/s640/Engagement_3.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9qVgRO6Newmy5uDyUM5KsWwfT3kHeNB4f3614woq0E8Qz-GOORZ3IzhyAEQPL-rJyTpKpZPXt2AxHM36qbXX9lAmDrOaXkPi2evONHSiOV5720hdxQeqpqz3zqFZCVQcI8Ok_seM1EKVx/s640/Engagement_4.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieG6wRE90td3IdsBP78QEtX1xjDkrc_89f5R8rYwXxNwGj8GB60K5rO4w3JE_tziGLEMztlfuQcHSd-d3RwBseXFUfScx5uWog1PjBQBzjdLdBX0xHkYHMBn1-ePPPNz0JGwGevTVmuogn/s640/Engagement_5.jpg)
But don't worry, we did venture outside of the brewery to Romare Bearden Park and we took a few photos without the beers.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMXqNQp7SWEK5EtKksR17O98mxzdCgmZzn6uQPUhFTQKD8_F7ZQh_kcJJ2nMstUFinZkuZGIDK5kxcti9X-IO1km1KtChdTtvYiAXymF9Uz44u7EmsEW5snkTew86WvaHiWoHhriMmJBKS/s640/Engagement_7.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXeT_-padS_9fy3rRcC75OhMsgd4hgzeIwgfMQd5pPfHSMCJuCkHlVSuxoH0AMlxZrG41LjIGLy2jXki4Crvi_MAL3jWMt71fOwVZT49AlTyH1YdWzbFL-qZ2SYyU55Etmf3J7sEWqvlBC/s640/Engagement_8.jpg)
MAJOR credit to Jessica Roberts of Jessica Roberts Photography for these gorgeous pictures! She did an excellent job dealing with two very awkward-in-front-of-a-camera people, took a million pictures {which I loved}, and had them ready for us in no time. If you need a photographer, look her up!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivzXPSLNkJS5Xi5RBLo4gv3WTPCBe0cQmvoeztBAw8enl16KIQJ-B6SRqNeU7umQRlEfQf6BEs33SMxcsLDGIWtiNTnzzWIl4202wzAAA5D97SuY3ZwXgFyGsn6hM1StaLpQX3noMqq6lj/s640/Engagement_12.jpg)
Also, special thanks to Sycamore Brewing for allowing us to come in before they opened to take pictures & for the free beers
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjPle8QmqR53yxlz6iDzbTx8Jx999MhAaq9dDuZlJoX9UH2QGiowp8RR5sTdfUPDhd3bG4gy1HdgE3ors2seW6qvLiCraIj4hlTQFtHqRmE9ChM2RLUu3hYoL5M1XHgTWEl4ymMK0PqjM2/s640/Engagement_2.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZG3VHBe83C5G-TcZ19XbLGxtTrJ3k7OsakJ0mgmkhMHrZ6FvuiHtaHtTs9CRMrACV_MctWcIUHhLchXmjQpXhaubZE8wzOQjWeJ4Vrv6YVNF5ZCp7508DWc9Qkoqmqp007dlJ0YBmvRl5/s640/Engagement_3.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9qVgRO6Newmy5uDyUM5KsWwfT3kHeNB4f3614woq0E8Qz-GOORZ3IzhyAEQPL-rJyTpKpZPXt2AxHM36qbXX9lAmDrOaXkPi2evONHSiOV5720hdxQeqpqz3zqFZCVQcI8Ok_seM1EKVx/s640/Engagement_4.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieG6wRE90td3IdsBP78QEtX1xjDkrc_89f5R8rYwXxNwGj8GB60K5rO4w3JE_tziGLEMztlfuQcHSd-d3RwBseXFUfScx5uWog1PjBQBzjdLdBX0xHkYHMBn1-ePPPNz0JGwGevTVmuogn/s640/Engagement_5.jpg)
But don't worry, we did venture outside of the brewery to Romare Bearden Park and we took a few photos without the beers.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMXqNQp7SWEK5EtKksR17O98mxzdCgmZzn6uQPUhFTQKD8_F7ZQh_kcJJ2nMstUFinZkuZGIDK5kxcti9X-IO1km1KtChdTtvYiAXymF9Uz44u7EmsEW5snkTew86WvaHiWoHhriMmJBKS/s640/Engagement_7.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXeT_-padS_9fy3rRcC75OhMsgd4hgzeIwgfMQd5pPfHSMCJuCkHlVSuxoH0AMlxZrG41LjIGLy2jXki4Crvi_MAL3jWMt71fOwVZT49AlTyH1YdWzbFL-qZ2SYyU55Etmf3J7sEWqvlBC/s640/Engagement_8.jpg)
MAJOR credit to Jessica Roberts of Jessica Roberts Photography for these gorgeous pictures! She did an excellent job dealing with two very awkward-in-front-of-a-camera people, took a million pictures {which I loved}, and had them ready for us in no time. If you need a photographer, look her up!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivzXPSLNkJS5Xi5RBLo4gv3WTPCBe0cQmvoeztBAw8enl16KIQJ-B6SRqNeU7umQRlEfQf6BEs33SMxcsLDGIWtiNTnzzWIl4202wzAAA5D97SuY3ZwXgFyGsn6hM1StaLpQX3noMqq6lj/s640/Engagement_12.jpg)
Also, special thanks to Sycamore Brewing for allowing us to come in before they opened to take pictures & for the free beers
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9aN3R-9GE_7f43ngmtdEiUCmwyAxkhsC717if0s984PPHxGh_4PH87ziQHnL4o7ilxvf96USuYzczTVYglJwDfkbFaRfIG0rIWb5bsdYyJWZr4qEYr1UiQyb4CZkZ59KqfZNpPnbgwsHh/s640/Engagement_14.jpg)
As for my favorite picture from the engagement session? You'll have to wait for the Save the Date reveal next week to see that one!
GORGEOUS! I agree that the locations of engagement photos can be forced. I love that y'all picked a place that represents you!
ReplyDeleteThese turned out gorgeous! I love the two beers with your ring, so creative! <3, Pamela Sequins & Sea Breezes
ReplyDeleteAwe I love these! especially the last one with him holding you while y'all are kissing, love that you did it at a brewery!
ReplyDeleteLove, love these! Y'all both look like naturals. Can't wait to see the Save the Date!
ReplyDeleteThese are so perfect!! I think that 2nd to last one might be my favorite!! xo, Biana
ReplyDeleteI LOVE that you did them at a taproom! Such a creative idea!
ReplyDeleteThese are so cute! I love the one of y'all taking a selfie, but the second to last one is my favorite.
ReplyDeleteThese are so adorable!!! The brewery ones are definitely unique and I love the one of him picking you up in the park. Doesn't this get you excited for wedding photos?!?
ReplyDeletexo, Kristina
Medicine & Manicures
Seriously, your photos came out so beautifully!! You both look so happy and excited to be together!
ReplyDeleteyour photos are adorable, and i love that you made them a little more you - the 'take a pitcher it'll last longer' is fabulous!
ReplyDeleteSeriously loving your engagement pictures! So awesome that you embraced what y'all love as a couple and were able to capture that in your pictures! XO
ReplyDeleteThe pictures are adorable and your ring is gorgeous! Wow!
ReplyDeleteI absolutely love these!! They are all so good - love that yall took a few at the brewery!
ReplyDeleteI love the brewery pictures! We're getting anniversary pictures this summer and now I want to have a few taken at one of our favorites breweries :)
ReplyDelete