Engagement | Love Story | Charlottesville, Virginia

This love story is a little bit different, Kristen is one of my best friends and I have known her for 12 years. Kristen and I went to college together and are sorority sisters, although we are far from the typical sorority girls. Kristen stood by my side as I said “I do” and she has always been the best Auntie Kristen to Grayson (and now Emory). We’ve remained close even through multiple moves to many different states, so of course when I first met Pat I was going to scrutinize everything because Kristen deserves only the best!

I remember the first time I met Pat, Grayson and I had come up to Virginia Beach for a weekend visit and Pat had suggested we all went to a beer festival. That was a win right off the bat! Pat was so great with Grayson (I mean he is a pretty fun kid haha) and didn’t just dismiss his presence but interacted with him, played with him. You could tell there was something special about Pat, he didn’t pretend to be a good person, he is a good person. Seeing Kristen and Pat together made it instantly clear they were made for each other. Their personalities compliment each other so well and I immediately saw they were such a great match. Pat is incredibly smart, kind, laid back, down for a good time and from the beginning has always been a supportive partner for Kristen. I may have scrutinized Pat with a fine tooth comb but in the end I think Pat is perfect for Kristen!

I have loved getting to know Pat over the years and was so incredibly excited when he popped the question, on my birthday no less! Pat planned a weekend trip to Boston where they explored the city, tasted lots of great beer and saw the sights. At the end of their trip they went to see a Boston Red Sox game at Fenway Park, even though Pat is a die-hard Yankees fan. Now Kristen is a HUGE Red Sox fan but had never been to Fenway Park so she was thrilled to say the least. Pat, the rascal he is, knew Kristen didn’t want to be the center of attention so he set it up to propose on the jumbotron! The premise was they were going to do a trivia game to be “fans of the game” where the prize was to be featured on the jumbotron for a wave but little did Kristen know Pat was going to ask her the question of a lifetime…in front of thousands of people! She said yes (well more shook her head yes and accepted the ring) and we literally started planning their wedding the next day!

Weddings like this are so special to me, I get to be a part of their love story and wedding in more than just paper. Not only do I get to design their wedding, create their paper and be a bridesmaid, but I get to witness one of my best friends marry her best friend! And I couldn’t be more excited for these two to start the next chapter of their lives as husband and wife next weekend! And yes I will be bawling, that’s inevitable!

Here’s to a beautiful wedding for Kristen + Pat, surrounded by their friends, family and great beer (see a trend here! just wait!) and a start to an even more beautiful marriage!

Photography | Amy Nicole Photography