From the Photographers
Tatum & CJ’s engagement session at Mauch Chunk Lake in Jim Thorpe, PA, was an absolute blast! We couldn’t have asked for a more perfect summer day. These two were all smiles from the start, sharing laughs and soaking in the sunshine. The best part? They ended the session by jumping into the lake and splashing around! Their fun-loving spirit has us even more excited to capture their wedding later this year at The Barn at Graver’s Tree Farm.
How they Met & Proposal Story
We were first introduced to each other in the summer of 2019 at a local bar. It wasn't until the end of January where we began communicating on a regular basis and started to learn more about each other. Then he asked me to meet up for drinks on February 14th, 2020 at that same bar where we first met. After a long night of enjoying each others company, we said goodbye outside in the cold and ended our night with our first kiss. The rest is history.
We got engaged on August 31st, 2024 outside of Helena, Montana. We were on vacation to visit the capital of Montana and Yellowstone. It was a Saturday afternoon and we had a boat tour scheduled called The Gates of the Mountains which was located on the Missouri River. It was a warm and sunny day. While we were on the boat tour, there was one stop where we could walk around a little for about 5-10 minutes. I followed CJ and his parents to an area to take pictures right along the river with an incredible view with mountains all around us. CJ's parents took photos of us and kept their phones in their hands and started smiling at me and that's when I had a feeling CJ was going to propose. Then immediately after that, he got down on one knee and I started to tear up. Even though I was expecting the proposal on the trip, I didn't know exactly when he was going to propose. It was one of the best days of our lives.
Favorite Part of being Engaged + Some Advice
Our favorite part about being engaged is planning our future together and being able to call each other husband and wife. It's such an exciting time in our lives and we have a lot to look forward to in the future.
Planning a wedding can be super stressful. Do not be afraid to reach out to your bridal party, family, or friends for help or to delegate tasks so you don't get too overwhelmed. It's also helpful to make a checklist and cross off things as you do them. Time will fly by and you have to try to be present in the moment.
