It began in 2009 at a beach shack in Ocean City, MD on an adventure- a very special mission trip called “Summer Project.” Tyler & Ashley lived alongside each other with 30 other college kids from around the US, spending their days working at hamburger shacks and water parks, and their evenings worshipping and serving with one another. That summer didn’t give birth to a romance just yet, but it set the foundations of their friendship that would later yield greater fruit.

It wasn’t until March of 2011 that things took a turn toward something more than friendship. And then, as it were, Ashley was due to leave a short five months later on another great adventure; the World Race, an 11-month journey to 11 different countries to serve those is some of the most desolate of conditions. They could write, email, and occasionally Skype when the internet connection was strong enough, but that was it.

And so he waited for her. But she wasn’t completely gone- before departing, Ashley filled 11 notebooks, one for each month of her absence, with love letters. One letter per day, 335 love notes altogether. And she left the opposite side of each page blank so that he could write back. Notes of well-wishes, notes of laughter, notes of prayer for the other. And as they wrote their love grew, so that by the day she returned last July, even though a mere 1/3 of their relationship had been spent together, they knew that this? This love was it. It was no surprise to anyone, therefore, that Tyler presented Ashley with a sparkly diamond ring and a promise of forever a few months later.

For their engagement session, we took it back to where everything began in Ocean City, Maryland and began at sunrise on the beach…

Dawn at the beach is my new favorite time and place to shoot.

Favorite!

The 3 Jacks, the house where they stayed during Summer Project! (This particular mission trip has a special place in my heart- Matt & I started dating while on Hampton Beach Summer Project)

Ashley, you are so, so beautiful in love.

Tyler & Ashley, it is such an encouragement to watch you two together. The way your love and serve one another is such a reflection of Christ’s love, and I feel lucky to call you both friends. I’m thrilled we got the chance to photograph your session in a place that meant so much to you both. Thank you, a hundred times over, for allowing me into your lives to document your love- I cannot WAIT until June!

Happy Tuesday!