Adriana and Ariel are a crazy gorgeous couple that are taking over today’s post to tell you all about their engagement photos shot by the ever talented Blackbird Foto.
How the couple met:
We met while attending the Tax Masters Program at Florida International University. We have seen each other in school in the past, but we never talked (even though we both graduated from our bachelors on the same day and have graduation pictures together). Once we were in the masters, we started to get to know each other through common friends and by collaborating on class projects. This led us to become good friends. We enjoyed spending endless hours together talking just about anything and enjoying our morning coffee together before the class. Very quickly our Starbucks library trips became a tradition and often a subject of jokes for our classmates. Ariel would call me few times a week with questions about material from our tax classes…but after few months he admitted that he did that just to be able to talk to me. He was very persistent and patient. With the passing of time, I started to realize that our friendship became something more. We genuinely cared for each other. We would spend hours studying until late on school campus. Ariel would never want to leave, because waiting until the next morning to see me was too long for him :). Whenever we would be together we would just look at each other and say: Happy Times! It was our inside couple motto.
The proposal story:
Ariel proposed almost two and half years since we started dating. He chose the same place where we first kissed as the location where he professed his love to me.”
Ariel on the proposal:
“It was hard to convince her to go to celebrate our two and a half year anniversary…after all who does that?! Ultimately I persuaded her and we went for a late lunch and romantic walk on the beach. I started telling her with a shaky voice how much she meant to me and finally got on one knee to ask the love of my life to be my wife. Her first words were: Is this really happening? I remember tears in her eyes saying yes and making me feel the luckiest men in the world. There are no words that could really describe what I felt once she said yes. I just can say that I really look forward everyday to be married to the most amazing woman in the entire universe, the love of my life, my best friend, my everything.”
About the photoshoot:
Ariel and I want to memorialize our engagement in a timeless manner. We strongly felt that whatever location and theme we choose, it should truly represent us: where we live and what we often do during our weekends. We wanted a beautiful backdrop to create amazing memories for us, our families and future kids, but not necessarily in very traditional way. As a former model I knew that beautiful wardrobe and make up would truly bring my vision together. It took couple of weeks to create everything. Finding the clothes and right props was challenging. I also did not want my pictures to have a feeling of being too “sweet” or too “cute”. I wanted to express our love through Alisa’s camera lens with certain level of maturity and simple natural beauty with minimal make up.
For the beach shoot, we wanted to have a feeling of a morning after an amazing evening… a couple on the beach enjoying sunrise. I opted for a beautiful sequin Badgley Mishka gown and Ariel a slim fit Banana Republic navy suit. Ariel is Cuban and his entire family would spend every year their vacation in beautiful beaches of Varadero. Beach is very close to Ariel’s heart and so it was a very obvious choice for us. Also, Ariel did propose on the beach, so it will be actually always a special place for both of us.
Walks and picnics in the park is something that I really enjoy; hence, the idea for a fall picnic. Since I started planning the wedding I spend a lot of time browsing through pictures. A lot of the ideas were inspired by the photos shared by the Pinterest community, for example, the monogrammed bottle. Other props were more spontaneous finds, for example the Anthropologie’s monogrammed notebook or love poems book.
The walk in the park look was inspired by the verses from Antoine de Saint-Exupery’s poetic tale “The Little Prince”. It a romantic story that reflects on human nature and relationships. The story emphasizes the importance of listening to our heart and carying for each other are beautifully captured through quotes like “One sees clearly only with the heart. What is essential is invisible to the eye.” and “You become responsible, forever, for what you have tamed.” Ariel is my prince and I am his one and only rose :) I translated the idea through the Matheson Hammock park backdrop and a rose printed silk jumpsuit by Stone Cold Fox. My make up and hair were driven by the Ellie Saab models look. Very soft and romantic…almost angelic. My vision was executed by incredible Miami fashion make up artist Angel Gabriel.
Vendors: Photography: Blackbird Foto // Make up: Angel Gabriel // Monogrammed bottle: The Printing Guy Inc.