New Orleans – dubbed as the most unique city in the United States, it’s no brainer why this couple chose this as their location for their engagement shoot and the place where they will reside. The culture, the history, and the festivals are what made NO infamous and although we didn’t actually see a huge chunk of it in this session, there are still some snippets of what this city has to offer. Besides, with this beautiful couple being the subject of the pictures, you can’t really help it but the background all becomes a blur. Still, it was such a charming and lovely day for an engagement session. Congratulations Elizabeth & Jason! And happy Valentine’s Day to you or Elegant Wedding readers…
Bride
Every love story is beautiful, but ours is my favorite.
Most people would naturally assume from our Auburn educational background that’s where we met. Alas, our love story isn’t that simple. As I was graduating from LSU in 2010, Jason was doing the same over at Auburn. And while he was returning home to begin his big boy job, I was packing up to head across enemy lines to further my education at the loveliest village on the plains. Yes, that’s right. We switched places. But fate was on our side.
After my first semester of grad school wrapped, a few of us Auburn gals planned to ring in the New Year in the Big Easy. On December 31, 2010, we arrived in New Orleans at 9:30 am and, naturally, headed straight for Bourbon Street (after stopping for brunch, of course). My Uncle Jim has this saying “You can’t drink all day unless you start early in the morning.” In his honor, we pranced into Pat O’s at 11 am as the first patrons of the day and raised our hurricanes to kickoff New Years Eve.
In the meantime, my friend Courtney is texting this New Orleans boy she went to undergrad at Auburn with to meet us at the bar. His response, “No one goes to Pat O’s at 11 am.” Lightweight. Needless to say, around noon this kid wearing a VBS style wooden cross necklace and an atrocious Saints cap with flowing locks of gorgeous hair peaking underneath came walking into the piano bar, sat in the chair next to me and said in this Brooklyn-esque accent, “How you doin’, I’m Jason Piper.”
From that night forward New Years became my favorite holiday.
We survived 2 very long emotional years of being in a long distance relationship, and I am often asked how we made it through. All credit belongs to my stud of a fiancé. He went above and beyond to make me feel like we were in a “normal” relationship. Never missing a weekend, anniversary, special event or traumatic experience. He would surprise me during the middle of the week and cook dinner when I was overwhelmed with school work. Or when Tim Tyler was playing at Sky Bar. Always keeping our relationship fresh and spontaneous, he has never stopped courting me. The fact that I get to be his wife is surreal – a true honor. Until then, I hope my hungry spells don’t drive him away.
Photographer
What did you want to portray in your engagement shoot?
The love of this couple in the city they met and will reside, New Orleans.
Why did you choose the location?
The couple met, got engaged, will marry and will live here.
What inspired your outfits for the engagement session?
Elegant and timeless in the city was the look.
Do the photos give a hint on what will happen on their wedding day? How so?
It will be on St. Charles Street in a lovely cathedral and then a grand reception in a mansion just steps away.
How did you tell the couple to feel at ease with all the posed shootings?
My goal is to leave an engagement session with the couple feeling more in love than before we got there. I wanted the couple to have fun and but be very loving. So I would ask questions about their relationship, ask them to do sweet nothings, or make jokes.
Vendors
Photographer: Southern Shutter Photography, LLC