From The Photographers
We enjoyed capturing Harrison & Katie’s engagement session around Center City Philadelphia last week! From iconic cityscapes to the bustling charm of Reading Terminal Market, we explored some of their favorite spots that tell their love story. Can’t wait to share more of their beautiful journey!
How they met
Harrison's Side:
Katie and I interviewed on the same day for the same job in Feb 2019. From the moment I saw her I was blown away. She commanded the room with so much confidence and she was easy on the eyes. After we both interviewed, I knew she would get the job, but to my surprise I got the call and was starting a new job the next month. On my first day I asked the wonderful front desk lady, “Did any of the other 12 candidates get the job?”. To my surprise she said, “Yes, we opened up an extra position because we wanted you and one other person, her name is Katie.” Two months after I started, Katie joined the team. On her first day my manager made me her onboarding mentor, but by the end of the first week Katie and I were already great friends with inside jokes. After a few months of us being friends and chatting every day, I asked her to go out on our first date. Boy was I nervous!!! She even asked me on our first date, “Are you ok?”, because I was acting so differently than normal due to the nerves. Lucky for me, she saw the date through and didn’t judge me for it. After a few more dates, I took to one of her favorite activities and had my plan set. I set up an eight clue scavenger hunt, sending her across the town we both lived in, to her apt, to my apt, and even involved her roommate. The hunt led her to one final stop, with one last question to answer. “Will you be my girlfriend?”
Five years later, we are on our way to getting married and I can honestly say I am getting to marry the love of my life, my best friend and the person I can’t live without.
Katie's Side:
I was a nervous, yet excited, college senior who showed up to that interview incredibly determined to impress and get the job. As there were many other people interviewing for the same position, I did what any other normal person would do and looked to suss out the competition. I looked for people who had accolades that I didn’t or anything that would set them above the rest and most importantly me. While doing introductions around the room and giving a fun fact about ourselves, one of the competitors said that he had his masters - something I did not have. First I rolled my eyes at this lack of a fun fact, but then clocked him as “masters guy” and made sure to keep tabs on him. Fortunately for me, I got the job! On my first day, who was there to greet me as my onboarding mentor but “masters guy” himself who also got the job. He introduced himself as Harrison, and we immediately became good friends. I felt so fortunate to have such an incredible new friend as a young professional in a new city. A tale as old as time, an amazing friendship blossomed into a young romance that grew and grew to where we are today! I will always be incredibly thankful for that first job that brought us together.
The Proposal
If it weren’t for Katie's push for us to wait a bit before getting married I would have asked her on day one. However, as patient as I am, the moment we passed three years together I started planning. December of 2022 I asked one of my best friends for advice, as he had just gotten married that year. Questions like: “What kind of ring should I get?”, “How did you propose?”, “What’s wrong with my golf swing?”. Unfortunately for me, he was only able to answer two of those questions. Now that the ball was rolling, it was onto phase two: Find the perfect ring. My silly mind thought that I could get away with a full on surprise proposal without any insight from the “planner” of the friend group. After spending months looking, and deciding on a ring that I thought Katie would love, I had to ask for advice, I reached out to her best friend and boy was she hype! I had to spend the first 30 mins calming her down before I got any good pointers on the ring design. Lucky for me, she had only one, unlucky for me it was to ask Katie what she would want. In April/May of 2023 I sat Katie down and first presented her with the “concept of a plan” that sometime in the next year I would propose and I needed her input on the ring. Not to toot my own horn or anything, but I had picked out almost the exact ring she ended up getting, the only difference was six prongs instead of four. Fast forward to Mid July, I had one final task to accomplish before I could propose: Asking the parents. I thought I had the perfect plan figured out, and speech in mind for this, but as we all learn, sometimes you gotta do it on the fly! Katie was outside of her house studying French for our Paris trip, and the moment struck. Both of her parents happened to be in the downstairs family room, and I saw my opportunity. I quickly grabbed their attention, and damn near lost my voice instantly. With my heart racing, I told them how much I loved Katie and how thankful I was for their hospitality over the years. Her parents are amazing people, and graciously welcomed me to become a part of the family. I came prepared and gave her father a bottle of scotch, and her mother a bottle of Rose, which may or may not have helped my cause. Now the final step was just around the corner: The day of the proposal, Aug 26th, 2023. The plan was set, I would take Katie to the dam on the lake, and we would have a picnic with some French cheese to prep our trip to Paris the following weekend. On the dam I had planned Christman Photography to have an undercover photographer to capture the moment and all that was left was to get down on one knee. Sure enough, like on our first date, I was so nervous I couldn't eat any of the charcuterie. Katie, as suspicious as she was, was already on high alert as I had previously asked her to “Wear something nice so we can take pictures at the dam.” This was later confirmed as she messaged all of her friends that morning stating "I just would like it to be known, that I am suspicious." No one tells you how hard it is to tell your GF to wear something nice without sounding like an asshole, or without giving away that you're about to propose. Once we started finishing up the cheese and meats I made the statement that we should get a photo, and asked her to stand up, afterwards I made one final sly comment to her, “Are you ready?”. I got the ring out of the bag, got down on one knee and… well I’ll save what I said for just me and her. With a huge smile on her face, and a weight lifted off my shoulders, we embraced each other as Fiancé's and couldn’t have been happier in that moment. With the stress of hiding that secret over, and with one more on the way, Katie and I took a moment to collect ourselves before the next surprise hit. Some of Katie’s first questions to me were “Do my parents know?”, and “Do my friends know?”. To which I laughed and said “Of course.” Little did she know though that her parents, extended family, closest friends and my family had all traveled up to the house while we were gone on our picnic and were waiting back there for one final surprise and celebration. As we pulled up to the house, cheers rained down from the deck and Katie’s face said it all. It was, and still is, one of my favorite memories to date and I can’t wait to add another similar memory to the bank next year when we get married.
Best part of being Engaged + Some Advice
OUR FAVORITE PART is being able to enjoy every new experience as Fiancé's. Going back to our favorite restaurant, seeing friends or family for the first time since the engagement. It's amazing being able to relive and be reminded daily by even the little things that you are engaged to be married. Embracing each moment as a new experience, even if we've already done it before, but this time we are engaged. That's our favorite part.
THE ADVICE: The wedding process can be very overwhelming and stressful, but it is important to take time to really enjoy and appreciate the process as well as that time in your life. Make sure to break up tasks and have frequent check-ins on the planning process. It helps alleviate stress and pressure that many people feel (especially brides) and also helps share the experience. This was extremely difficult for me at first as I am incredibly type A and lead engineering projects for a living, but he has been so incredibly helpful and has done a great job on everything. For example, Harrison was in charge of the photographer and we all know that was a huge success :) As far as enjoying the little moments, one of our favorite things we have done to really enjoy this time is to celebrate each month anniversary as we lead up to the wedding. So on the 21st of each month, we make sure to set time aside to reflect on the wedding planning process and the wedding in general which a special dinner or event.
