Lori and Austin’s Engagement | Arbor Hills Nature Preserve

Engagement Session

October 30, 2020

I am super excited to share Lori and Austin’s Engagement at Arbor Hills Nature Preserve on the blog! These two were so much fun to work with and I even got to meet their fur baby Rocky!

After rescheduling due to a cold front that brought chilling rain, we were all super excited that it finally started to warm up for their session.

Here are a few of my favorites from Lori and Austin’s engagement session at Arbor Hills Preserve!

About the couple

How did you two meet?

Austin and I met in college at the University of South Florida. Freshman year (2014) we lived on the same floor, just a few doors down from each other. That year, we developed our friendship. We were then apart for that summer since I went back to my parents in Illinois and he went back to his in Florida. We would talk basically everyday that summer and have calls until 3 or 4am. Not long after we got back to school for sophomore year, we started dating.

 Lori and Austin's Engagement  ARBOR HILLS

What was it about your significant other that first attracted you to them?

Austin is very outgoing and always trying to be the funniest person in the room. He could always make me smile and laugh. I felt very comfortable around him; he became my best friend before we even started dating. Austin made me feel so special and important to him from the moment we started dating. We bring out the best in each other. Both of us were able to open up to each other early on and be respectful and understanding of our pasts.

 Lori and Austin's Engagement

Tell us your engagement story!

I grew up in a suburb outside of Chicago. Every year around the holidays, Austin would come up there to visit me and my family and we would always plan to spend a day or 2 in Chicago. The last time we were there for the holidays (December 2019) , we had again planned on going to the city. We took the train downtown and got lunch. After that, we headed to the Shedd Aquarium, which is located right on the lake. After leaving the Shedd, we walked along the sidewalk next to the lake. Once we got to a secluded spot, Austin proposed – first with giving me a speech then getting down on one knee. He also had some of my friends hiding out so they got to take some pictures of us.

 Lori and Austin's Engagement
 Lori and Austin's Engagement

What has you most excited when you think about your wedding day?

I am excited to marry my best friend and to share these special moments with him like our first look and first dance. I want it to be a fun day that we’ll look back on with plenty of stories to tell. I’m excited to celebrate our love with our friends and family. We already have a little family with us and our dog, Rocky, and I cannot wait to keep expanding our family, whether it be more dogs or kids.

 Lori and Austin's Engagement
 Lori and Austin's Engagement

Do you have any advice for other couples planning their wedding?

Include your significant other in as many of the wedding decisions as you can. Trying to decide everything on your own can be very overwhelming and stressful. It’s extremely helpful to have their input, especially if you’re conflicted on a decision.

 Lori and Austin's Engagement

How was your overall session experience?

We really enjoyed the session! You were very nice and helpful in showing us how to pose. We love that we were able to bring our dog. We also loved how you were able to incorporate our props (champagne bottle and glasses and blanket) into the session! Also, loved that you showed us some of the photos right after we took them.

 Lori and Austin's Engagement

Share something interesting about your significant other!

Austin had to get his spleen removed. A couple years ago, Austin’s blood count was very low and he had to get blood transfusions, which ended up damaging his spleen so he had to get it removed. This was a scary time we had to go through, but I was with him every day through it and our relationship became even stronger from that.

 Lori and Austin's Engagement

I hope you enjoyed Lori and Austin’s Engagement session at Arbor Hills Nature Preserve as much as I do! If you’re planning your own engagement be sure to check out this blog post on tips for choosing outfits for your engagement session!

  1. […] first met this duo at their engagement session at Arbor Hills Nature preserve. It was so nice getting to know them and their fur baby! I […]

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