Rachael + Adam's Engagement Shoot
29th January 2019 │ At Home in North Wales
Photographer: Jenny Ball (Family) │Instagram: @iwishiwasaweddingplanner
Rachael and Adam are getting married on 5th December 2020 at Tyn Dwr Hall in North Wales, but now have a backup date of 2nd May 2021 due to Covid-19 (just in case). Rachael tells us all about their engagement shoot, captured by a family friend, as well as their whirlwind proposal story....
Was there a particular reason you decided to have an engagement shoot?
We decided to have a pre-wedding shoot as we wanted a photo for our save the date. We used the one of us sat in our well with the dog for our save the dates.
How did you choose the shoot location?
We had the shoot at home because we love where we live! It’s rural and beautiful in all seasons. The woodland some of the pictures are taken is just behind our small holdings and the brick in the others is the barn we are converting to be our marital home. It has a special place in our heart.
Did your photographer give you any tips before the shoot?
Just to dress similarly - think we took this a bit too literally though!
Would you recommend that other couples have an engagement shoot?
Yes, it’s nice too look back on and to share with family and friends. Especially if you have a longish engagement!
Did you feel nervous about being behind the camera?
Yes, but Mario our Yorkshire Terrier was a good distraction!
Yes, but Mario our Yorkshire Terrier was a good distraction!
What is your favourite photo from the shoot?
The one where I am throwing leaves at Adam, he’s smiling in a ‘I told you not to do that’ kind of way. It is our relationship to a T! He is so introvert and calm and I’m so high maintenance and always push the boundaries, you can see his love even through the annoyance!
A close second is the close up of the ring when we’re holding hands. It’s bloody gorgeous, he did a good job!
What advice would you give to other couples who do plan to have a pre-wedding shoot?
Just do it! Pick somewhere that is significant to you.
Were there any stand out moments in the shoot?
Mario stole the show, everyone kept mentioning the dog!
Tell us your proposal story...
It's a long one! For Adam it was probably the most stressful few weeks! It far from perfect, but for us it was so typical, which made it perfect. We were supposed to go to the Christmas markets in Vienna but I couldn’t get time off work as I’d only been in my new job for 3 weeks after just qualifying as a solicitor. We needed a break and so we booked a weekend in London.
Adam had designed the ring and had it custom made so it only got delivered on the day we were leaving. He didn’t want it delivered to our house, just in case, so it was going to my sisters house. Turns out her doorbell wasn’t working and Adam got a failed delivery text! After a very panicked and annoyed call to my sister she ran around the streets in her pj’s (3 year old in tow) to hunt down the postman! Luckily she found him and got the ring to Adam in time. He didn’t know if it would come so he also only told my mum, as she was out the door on the way out, that he was going to propose!
Drama number 2... Adam worked in Manchester and I work in Warrington so we agreed we’d meet in Crewe to catch the same train to London after work. My train from work was late so I missed the connecting train at Crewe where I was meeting Adam. Luckily Adam figured out another train to get on which would beat our original train to another stop so we did eventually get on it!
Adams best man’s girlfriend messaged me to say have an awesome time in London and it gave me a clue he was going to propose as it was a bit out of the ordinary for her to text me like that and I hadn't told her we were going... so my hopes were high! However, the next day Adam had indicated that he didn’t have any plans, no where booked for dinner etc, so my hopes were shattered. It's safe to say I was a bit (VERY) difficult that day! We’d been together 8 years at this point, bought a house etc, so I’d been nagging him for a good two years to propose.
Back to London... we tried 5 different cafes for breakfast and none fit us is - so we ended up sharing a baguette form a random French shop, whilst Adam was on the phone ‘booking dinner’ because I wasn’t having the same issue with dinner. We had a lovely tour of the Tate Modern and eventually we got into Hyde park for the Christmas Winter Wonderland. We had an amazing time and I forgot I was in a mood with him for not proposing! We bought these silly hats and just it was amazing, such a lovely fun day and we didn’t stop smiling.
That night after lots of winging he booked an Uber to this restaurant he ‘found’ (already booked) 5 minutes away. We were in the Uber and he was telling me all the sites around us and then just suddenly told the driver to pull over. He dragged me out the Uber for a selfie outside Westminster Abbey! I was a bit confused because he’s not a selfie guy, he has no social media at all. We then took a few selfies and I turned around and he’d got down on one knee. I have no idea what he said as I was in shock and for some strange reason I kept telling him to shut up!
Once I got over my shock I obviously said yes and we walked to this gorgeous restaurant and had a fab meal. It was quiet and they gave us free champagne when they realised we’d just got engaged. We ordered food and the bill was so expensive cos Adam wanted it to be nice! But I can’t even remember what it tasted like! We were in so much shock and our bubble and our phones were going mental! If anything I’d advise people to post about it the day after so you can enjoy it just the two of you.
After dinner we went to the top bar in the shard and had more drinks to celebrate, whilst looking at the amazing view over London. London was the first trip Adam and I took together and I love the royals so London was the next best choice if he couldn’t take me abroad. It was so special!
From Brides, With Love xo
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