North Texas Engagement | Lindsay and Ray | Murrell Park

North Texas Wedding Photographer | North Texas Engagement Session

I had so much fun at Lindsay and Ray’s North Texas engagement session. We met up at Murrell Park in Flower Mound, one of my favorite locations for engagement pictures. Even better, trees were blooming so there was a lot of foliage.

Next year, Lindsay and Ray will be getting married at St. Ann’s Catholic Church in Coppell, TX. I am excited to see these two embark on this next chapter of their lives – hand in hand.

Please enjoy some of my favorites from Lindsay and Ray’s North Texas engagement session at Murrell Park.

More About the Couple

How did you two meet?

Ray grew up in Tulsa, Oklahoma, but moved to Coppell, TX in 6th grade. In January of 2005, Ray was beginning his first day of class at Mary Immaculate School in Farmers Branch, and walked into the classroom wearing his new khaki pants and button up Oxford shirt. Little did he know, his parents had accidentally bought him the girl’s Oxford shirt. Sadly, the middle schoolers in Ray’s classroom were not very nice to the new kid with the girl’s blouse. This included Lindsay and this is when we first met.

Lindsay and Ray grew up together and went on to high school- Ursuline and Jesuit, sister and brother Catholic College Prep schools in Dallas, TX. We went to the same football games, school dances, movie nights, and even went on one “date” to a movie, but sadly it wasn’t meant to be at this time. When it came time for college, Ray was determined to head back to Oklahoma to be an OSU Cowboy.

Lindsay also decided to leave Texas and try out Oklahoma State. Even though there were 25,000 other students on campus, we reconnected in our freshman Math class. By the end of the first semester, Lindsay had asked Ray to go to her Tri Delta Christmas Party. The night ended with spaghetti and a kiss! Ray thought this meant he had a girlfriend, but Lindsay wanted to get back to Texas, so she left the next semester to become a Fightin’ Texas Aggie. Third time’s a charm right? We crossed paths again in the young adult bar scene near Uptown and began talking again. Lindsay was in Physical Therapy school at UT Southwestern and was focused on her future career. Once Lindsay was graduated from PT school, Ray decided to make his move again and this time. the stars aligned.

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

Lindsay was first attracted to Ray’s openness, honesty, and humor. He has a way of talking to you like you are the only person in the room and isn’t afraid to tell you what he thinks.

Ray was most attracted to Lindsay’s love of animals, intelligence, and shared Catholic faith. Through their walks (with Bailey) they learned about each others passions and what makes them excited and motivated.

Tell us your engagement story!

On Christmas Eve, Ray and Lindsay started the day at Ray’s parents house opening presents and having brunch with his mom, dad, sister, and brother in-law. After Ray gave Lindsay her “present” of noise cancelling headphones for the gun range (side note- Lindsay had never shot a gun), Ray divulged that her real Christmas present was at the Arboretum. They left Ray’s family and drove the 40 minutes to the Dallas Arboretum, all the while Lindsay was trying to guess what her present was.

Once they got there, Lindsay could tell that he was anxious and thought, maybe he is going to propose, but then decided that wasn’t it because she knew that Ray would want their families there. Once they walked into the Arboretum, Ray walked Lindsay straight over to a large Christmas tree, near the archway of tree branches. Ray told Lindsay that her present was at the end of the archway and they began to walk together, hand in hand. Suddenly, Ray stopped, took her hands and said, “Actually, your present is I’m going to ask you to marry me.” He got down on one knee, opened the ring box (complete with a light), and asked Lindsay to make him the happiest man in the world and marry him. Lindsay couldn’t get the word yes out quick enough and even shed a little tear. Little did Lindsay know, that Ray had a family friend nearby taking pictures to capture the moment and had invited both of their families to the Arboretum to celebrate the engagement! The family took a few photos, talked, oohed and awed over the custom ring Ray helped design and walked around the Arboretum in the 85 degree Texas heat on Christmas Eve.

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

Lindsay is excited to share their first dance as husband and wife surrounded by family and friends. Ray is most excited about being brought together in the Church, dancing, and talking to all of our family and guests.

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

In 2021 we attended 13 weddings as guests, this year we will be attending 7. From listening to our friends advice and being guests quite a few times, we think communication and setting expectations is the most important. Always remember why you are planning this event, your love for each other and wanting to celebrate with the people closest to you! Always be a lover and a friend. Sometimes, you need the honesty and strength of a friend, other days you need to the passion and excitement of a lover.

How was your overall session experience?

Kimberly was awesome to work with! Ray isn’t a huge fan of pictures, and was worried about getting into the right position and holding his body in the right way. Kimberly was great about showing us poses and making it feel as natural as it can be being in front of a camera. We definitely feel like it was good to have this engagement session to get to know Kimberly and get some practice before our wedding day.

Share something interesting about your significant other!

Ray is a Lacrosse coach for 5th and 6th grade boys. He played in high school and has enjoyed being a mentor and friend to his kiddos. He has so much passion for the game and for molding this boys into good team players and men. Lindsay is a semi-professional sky diver. She has been in two Cuban Fanta commercials and can be be seen in several frames in the background of the canceled 4th Pirates of the Carribean movie. (JUST KIDDING!)

Lindsay is an eccentric baker. She will get an inkling and make 4 dozen cookies in one weeknight, starting as late as she wants (going to the grocery store as needed). To date, there have only been minor incidents of Ray getting into the cookie dough before she is finished. All of her family, friends co-workers, Ray’s co-workers and all of their neighbors love her holiday cookies and Ray especially loves her pies.

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