Summertime in Orange County is perfect for blue skies, the beach, pizza and a love story! Recently I had the great honor of meeting up with Phil & Melissa for a fun and playful engagement session at one of my favorite spots in Laguna Beach. The truth is as an Orange County wedding photographer I can come up with endless suggestions for where we should shoot an engagement session but there’s something about Laguna Beach that always brings a smile to my face and of course, having a fun couple like Phil & Melissa certainly helps. At the end of the engagement session, Melissa asked me how they did and I told her that they were great. I don’t think Melissa or Phil believed me but let’s see what you think after looking at their pictures and hearing their engagement story. As always the shoot started off a little easy but then we finally got Phil & Melissa to start to joke around more and that is always fun. I love when a couple can be so natural and genuine in their playfulness and that’s totally these two lovebirds!
When I heard about their proposal story, I was not surprised at all that the beach would be a perfect setting for a fun engagement session. Here’s how the proposal went down:
We went to Santa Barbara for the weekend. We went camping on the first night. On the first day of camping, we went on a hike. Phil had been waiting for the right moment and thought he might find it on the hike. Melissa fell and twisted her ankle two minutes into the hike while still on flat ground. Although hurt she refused to stop hiking. She had no idea the ring was in Phil’s pocket… Phil realized it was not the right time.
The next day we went to Santa Barbara and were staying in a hotel for the night. We hung out and walked around the area. We stopped and grabbed some food. Then we walked down the pier…
While on the pier, Phil asked a couple of ladies to take our pictures. They said they were about to ask the same thing of us, so Phil took theirs first. Then it was our turn. Melissa was trying to fix her hair and pose for the picture and went to grab Phil’s waist while still looking forward. But he was facing her, not the camera. So Melissa looked at Phil and realized that he was dropping down to one knee. Phil proposed and Melissa, in COMPLETE shock, said “yes, of course.”
Melissa found out later that all the parents knew. Phil had asked her parents for permission and Phil’s parents helped him figure out what kind of ring to get. Melissa had had no idea Phil had been up to so much planning. She had NO idea!!!!!
I love surprises and though many of you ladies try to guess when the big question is coming, I get so happy when I hear you had no idea. We had such a great afternoon shooting Phil & Melissa’s Laguna Beach engagement session and of course grabbing pizza and getting to know them better after the shoot. If you know these two then you truly are blessed to have some great friends! We can’t wait to be a part of their Orange County wedding this summer at The Red Horse Barn in Huntington Beach!
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About the Author:
Jerrick O’Connor is the owner of Three16 Photography and has 15 years of experience in the world of photography. He specializes in Weddings, Engagements, Family and Corporate photography and loves connecting small business owners with other small business owners in hopes they can benefit each other’s production. When he’s not working, you can find him spending time with his wife Josie, playing board games or just spending time with his many friends.
