It’s that end-of-summer, new-school-year-about-to-begin ride of emotions- you’re bummed the long days of doing whatever you please are over, but you can’t wait to get back down to school to see all your college friends. The groans of moving into a new apartment with new roommates, the joy of once again having daily access to your favorite on-campus coffee shop. These are the conditions under which Chris & Chrissy met- it was a week before their junior year at JMU was due to begin and they’d both headed down a bit early to get settled in and reconnect with friends.  A mutual friend of theirs was the cause for them meeting that first night, and as Chris later noted, “it was pretty obvious from day one that she’s something special.” He was only too right, because a few years later it was only too clear that THIS was something special. So on a Thursday night in October, they took a walk to one of their favorite haunts, and it was on the steps of the Masonic Temple in Alexandria that he presented Chrissy with his grandmother’s diamond in a ring he designed just for Chrissy, and a promise to love her now and forever.

Chris & Chrissy, I feel like I’ve known you both for years and years! Thank you for letting your guards down in front of me for the  morning and for the opportunity to document your love in such an organic way. It was such a joy spending the morning in Alexandria with you both, and you have me SO excited for September!

THIS is why I love sunrise.

Happy Wednesday!