downtown richmond

Our Winter Getaway | Personal

Our Winter Getaway | Personal

Before getting married, I had never before realized the importance of taking vacations. Nathan and I love to travel, but in the past few years we've focused more on doing things with our free time to help (like heading to Africa twice last year!) than taking a cruise or laying out on the beach. We love travel but we also love doing things that matter, so last year when we sat in the middle of a snowstorm on the Dulles runway for our fifth anniversary as we headed to Africa together, it felt right.

This year we didn't have such a grand opportunity, but with year number 6 (oh how the time flies!) coming up we decided at the last minute to take an impromptu trip to see our favorite places in Hampton Roads and Richmond. After an engagement session Friday (eek, can't wait to share!) we headed up to Williamsburg and had a very cozy, lazy night in while we talked and recovered from the week.

The next morning, we got up and headed to our favorite place {besides Portland, of course)...

Monument Avenue Engagement Session | Richmond Wedding Photographer | Josh + Kayla

Monument Avenue Engagement Session | Richmond Wedding Photographer | Josh + Kayla

Josh and Kayla are amazing because more than anyone I know they are true to themselves - no matter how crazy or awkward or hilarious they may be. They bonded over their mutual love for cats, developed a shared favorite hockey team in the Pittsburg Penguins, and grew closer each day since. When we spent the evening going all over Richmond in the hunt for murals, ending at the beautiful Monument Avenue, I couldn't help but wish over and again that I could record what they were saying to make each other laugh - because Nathan and I could not stop cracking up, either!

The part I loved most as we spent time together, though, was seeing the little in-between moments the two shared. They may have joked about pretending to like each other or made goofy faces to lighten the moment, but underneath all the laughter and fun it was so obvious that Josh and Kayla are made for each other. She is chatty and ridiculous, and he is steady and caring. And as parents to three cats (with more to come I'm sure) with many years behind them, they know what commitment looks and live it out each day...