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Samantha and Ben ‘s love story began with an app, continued through a love of books sent from miles away, and will be sealed with vows spoken this coming October. We met in Washington Square Park for their engagement session.

The session continued in Central Park.

Samantha shares, “Ben and I are a dating app miracle – we matched on Tinder when he was visiting NYC from Kansas City in June 2014. Since he was an out-of-towner, and rumor has it Tinder users don’t always have the best intentions, I decided not to meet up.”

This story is best, continued through the point of view of their dog, Oliver (written by Ben)…

“According to Tinder’s internal data, 9 billion matches have been created between users since its inception. That means each day, 26 million pairs are matched out of an approximate 1.4 billion swipes, left to right. Despite that stark statistical disadvantage, Ben and Samantha, at some God forsaken hour of the early morning, matched and at once began the correspondence that would lead to their 100% genuine, Grade A, true love.

Before even laying eyes on one another, Ben and Sam became acquainted through the words of writers much more esteemed than this one. What started as a brief sharing of Haruki Murakami’s short story, “On Seeing the 100% Perfect Girl One Beautiful April Morning,” became a full-fledged, cross-country, tastefully flirtatious book club.

Words and pages were read, weighty discussions shared. In an effort to distinguish Ben from the catfish and serial killers lurking in the online depths, FaceTimes were scheduled. Plane tickets purchased. NYC explored. Central Park strolls. Holding hands. Pumpkin patch visits. New Year’s Eve kiss. Museums observed and I love yous shared.
It was all falling into place, and Ben and Sam knew it was the real thing.

Upon receiving consent from myself (the true man of the house), Ben packed all he owned into a rented Chrysler Town & Country and started the journey from Kansas City to our apartment on the Upper West Side. He’s been here awhile now, and we are all enjoying life together so much that Ben and Sam are getting married. A Susan Sontag line I read once on my favorite blog, brainpickings, says, “Being in love means being willing to ruin yourself for the other person.” I remembered that line because that’s how I know Sam and Ben love each other. The bond they have together is more important than any of their individual wants and conditions.

And they don’t give bad belly rubs either.

Yours truly,
0LiveR w0Lf”

Samantha shares, “I had a feeling he was going to be my person from the minute we started talking. I know it sounds crazy, but as soon as we met, I knew I was right. September kicked off a cross-country romance, in December we picked out a place together on the Upper West Side, and I left my Greenwich Village address of nearly six years. In March, he locked in a job and Memorial Day weekend of 2015, he moved from Kansas to New York.

Every day I feel lucky that by some stroke of fate we sort of met on his visit to New York City. ”

They are getting married on October 22, 2016 in Union Square. Happy engagement Samantha and Ben!

Judy and Mike are one of those awesome couples you see laughing at each other in a bar and think, wow they are so happy in love.

I met them in the Lower East Side for their engagement session, but first we stopped by some fun street art on Mott Street by JGoldcrown.

Mike wasn’t lying about the coffee, coffee, coffee…

Judy shares, “Our wedding will be on Friday, September 16th, at MyMoon in Williamsburg. The ceremony will be held on the outdoor patio, followed by dinner and dancing inside. The venue has lots of dark wood, exposed brick, and amber lighting. The party will continue at Drexler’s on the Lower East Side.”

Happy Engagement Judy and Mike!

Credits:
Bleeding Hearts street art by JGoldcrown
Photographer Terry Richardson street art by Bradley Theodore
Mike’s Clothing:
Jacket: Burberry, Shirt: Uniqlo, Beanies: Urban Outfitters, Jeans: DSTLD, Boots: Timberland
Judy’s Clothing:
Coat: TNA, Shirt: J.Crew, Necklace: J.Crew, Cream beanie: Pinkyotto, Gray beanie: Urban Outfitters, Boots: Timberland

Valentine’s Day is coming up this weekend and what is more romantic than a walk in Central Park in the snow? Samantha and Ben just got engaged during the holiday season and are in the midst of planning their NYC wedding this October. Just after the blizzard of snow fell over Manhattan, they grabbed their coats and enjoyed the beautiful snowy scenery.

They enjoyed very classic New York treats of City Bakery hot chocolate and Magnolia Bakery cupcakes and then exchanged some very sweet Valentines. Petals & Roots created a perfect seasonal bouquet filled with sweet smelling roses, fern and lamb’s ear.

This is the first and only Valentine’s Day they will celebrate as an engaged couple!

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Jena and Rahul wanted a really unique venue for their wedding that also had a classic NYC feel. The Natural History Museum and Planetarium was the perfect pick! They love it so much they decided to have their engagement session there as well.

We wandered through some of their favorite spots in the museum, starting with the amazing Hayden Planetarium. The building features a six-story high glass cube enclosing the 87-foot Hayden Sphere, which appears to float like a “cosmic cathedral.” A pathway circles around the sphere making for some wonderful photo ops!

Rahul shares, “I first met Jena when she came into the office for a final round interview. I was actually scheduled to be Jena’s first interview at Wharton’s campus a few weeks earlier but, after having one too many drinks the previous night, ended up oversleeping that morning and missed my train to Philly. Fortunately, one of my best friends and groomsmen, Bill, who worked with me at the time, ended up interviewing Jena and told me that we had found the perfect analyst for our group! Who knew at that time that I had also found the perfect person for life?”

Jena says in jest, “I like to remind Rahul about how the tables have turned! He was my boss for the first eighteen months and I’ve been his ever since!”

We also took a walk through North American Mammals and the dinosaur exhibits.

Rahul continues, “We got engaged in Beaune in the Burgundy region of France last July. I wanted a romantic spot but one where it would be intimate. We both love France and Jena loves wine so a Burgundy vineyard proposal seemed perfect. After a day of visiting various vineyards and wineries, I was ready to propose as the sun set and it was just Jena and I alone on the vineyard slopes. The day went perfectly, just as planned. As I was about to get down on one knee, a random Mercedes rolled up, even though there were literally no other cars for miles and miles. The driver asked us to help him reverse his car on the narrow dirt road. After five awkward minutes, we were finally alone and I was able to propose. Even with the delay, it was the most beautiful moment!”

Jena adds, “A few days after we got engaged, we started talking about when and where we wanted to get married and both of us really wanted to have our reception at the Natural History Museum. So when we got back to New York, we called and they said that the minimum number of guests for the iconic “Whale Room” would be 300. Given that we were keen to have a small wedding, we sadly started the search around Manhattan. We looked at many (many!) venues but nothing felt quite right so we decided to see if there were any other spaces within the museum that could work. That’s when we found the Powerhouse. It was exactly what we wanted! A beautiful space with a gorgeous view of the planetarium!”

They will be getting married this spring in the Power House at the Natural History Museum.

Happy Engagement Jena and Rahul!

Allison and Brady once lived in Greenwich Village and love its historic NYC charm. On a warm December day, we strolled through the golden leaf-filled streets and found some great photo ops among the stoops and brightly painted doors.

Allison shares, “Brady and I met on St. Patrick’s Day while out with friends, and after what I describe as a few weeks of begging and he describes as a couple of texts we went on our first date. We went to supper in the East Village and did not stop talking for 3 hours, and anyone who knows Brady knows that is a lot of talking. We instantly felt a strong connection, and soon became inseparable.

The next 3 years were spent enjoying each other, New York City, and our mutual love for travel. We have been to Buenos Aires, Nice, Barcelona, and Costa Rica together to name a few. Brady and I really do make the best travel team, and I always joke we need to be on “The Amazing Race.”  I am best at making OCD-type plans and Brady is best at finding adventures for us and pushing me past my comfort zone.”

Allison continues, “Our proposal was in Central Park this August and will always be one of the best days of my life. Brady had suggested we go to brunch that day, but I was slightly annoyed and confused on why we had to go at 10:45 a.m.  Nevertheless, he got me there and even hinted it was a nice place and I should wear a dress (thanks J). We ate a delicious brunch at Tavern on the Green and talked about our upcoming travel plans. Then he suggested we take a walk in the park, as it was a beautiful day. We walked up the west side of the park where he led us to the Ladies Pavilion, which overlooks The Lake. He got down on one knee and people in the vicinity began to clap. Although I have no real recollection of what he said, the moment was perfect.

We walked to the other side of the lake in shock just enjoying the moment. All of a sudden I noticed my Mom first, then my dad, and then Brady’s parents greeting us with exuberant faces. My parents live in Florida and his live in Colorado so it was a lot of planning on Brady’s part, but I am so thankful because it was such a special time to celebrate with those closest to us.

Just when I thought all of the surprises were over, about a week after the proposal I came home to a big envelope and bottle of wine. I looked inside and found paparazzi style pictures of the proposal. He had hired someone to secretly capture the most important moment of our relationship and they were gorgeous photos. When I asked him why he didn’t tell me right away, he says that he knew I would stress about them and he wanted to make sure they were great first. It’s times like that when I know I am so lucky because I am marrying my best friend who understands and loves me for all of my strengths and weaknesses.”

The couple will be getting married this October at the W Hotel Union Square. Happy engagement Allison and Brady!