The newest addition to the NOLA BASH family comes to us in the form of Erika + Keith {quite possibly the most adorable couple you've ever seen}. They had an engagement session at the Topsfield Fair in Massachusetts, and I was so inspired by the results that I had to share!
There's something inherently romantic {and certainly uber Americana} about the fair. Don't argue with that statement, there is! I envision first dates, tunnels of love, brawny gents securing the hearts of their ladies with giant stuffed bears, and the sharing of opposite ends of corndogs until lips meet in the middle {ok- maybe I got that last bit wrong}. However, if you still doubt the romance aspect, you'll quickly convert to my side once you view the photos below. There's nothing more romantic than a couple so obviously in love.
There's something inherently romantic {and certainly uber Americana} about the fair. Don't argue with that statement, there is! I envision first dates, tunnels of love, brawny gents securing the hearts of their ladies with giant stuffed bears, and the sharing of opposite ends of corndogs until lips meet in the middle {ok- maybe I got that last bit wrong}. However, if you still doubt the romance aspect, you'll quickly convert to my side once you view the photos below. There's nothing more romantic than a couple so obviously in love.
Laura of Ruby Shoes Photography is a childhood friend of the groom and also the couple's wedding photographer. She very sweetly gave Erika + Keith this super fun engagement session as a wedding gift.
Without further ado, I present, in Laura's words, "Love amidst funnel cake + ponies!"
Without further ado, I present, in Laura's words, "Love amidst funnel cake + ponies!"
Erika: Keith and I met in Boston through match.com. I was in my first year of law school (Boston College Law School), and Keith was well into his PhD at that point (PhD in microbiology at Harvard). We just kind of clicked from the start, and we started dating seriously soon after our first meeting. We are both very active, so we bonded that first summer over training and competing in triathlons together. We were pretty much inseparable from the start. It was not long after our first year together that we began to make plans. Law school is only three years, and Keith was nearing the end of his PhD, so we began to talk about the future. We both wanted to spend our lives together. In July of 2010, Keith proposed to me during a weekend away in western Massachusetts. Now, I am finishing up my last year in law school, and Keith is currently writing his thesis for his PhD.
Erika: I wish we had some romantic story to explain the engagement photo shoot at the fair, but it really was just a fun opportunity for photos. Laura suggested the location, and we immediately agreed that it would be a fun time. Keith and I both love cider donuts, funnel cake, and caramel apples, and who doesn't love a petting zoo? So, to the Topsfield Fair we went.
Laura {photographer} and Erika {bride-to-be} share some deets about the couple and the shoot:
Laura: I thought it would be a fun place photographically (I haven't seen many sessions at a fair, especially at night), and I also knew it would pair so well with the fun-loving nature of Keith + Erika (they also love funnel cake, haha!). They are so laid back and easy to be around, and they just ooze love for each other. It's so sweet. The fair reflects their youthful personalities. And I like quirky, unusual or unexpected, so why not ring toss with Tweety Bird? I bet no one saw that one coming! And you can't help but smile at the fair, which doesn't hurt for photo opps.
Erika: I really liked just goofing around with Keith and Laura. They have been friends since middle school, so it was really nice to get to know her personally and her photography style. I think my favorite aspect of the photo shoot is that it didn't feel like a photo shoot or very contrived. She was just able to capture moments of us being us.
My favorite moment of the day was feeding the camel with Keith. I had never fed a camel before -- it was kind of gross -- but it was just a fun, memorable moment.
Erika + Keith will have a Jackson Square ceremony to celebrate their love on April 6, 2013, followed by a BASH at the Napolean House in the FQ.
I hope y'all enjoyed seeing these photos as much as I loved sharing them {and this beautiful couple} with you.
Cheers!
Melissa
