william and mary

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)...

Sunrise Williamsburg Engagement Session | Williamsburg Wedding Photographer | Michael + Jessica

Sunrise Williamsburg Engagement Session | Williamsburg Wedding Photographer | Michael + Jessica

It's crazy to type this, but Michael and I have known each other since before either of us was dating anyone! We met at Virginia Tech and have been friends for years, through ups and downs and now stepping into marriage. He and Jessica met at the Tang Soo Do program there, but it wasn't until after I graduated that they became more than friends. But even though I hadn't met her in person until their engagement session, I already feel like I have known her just as long as her other half.

These two have been each other's rock through the past few years - from graduation to job changes to moving away from Virginia, the one thing they have had in common throughout this time has been their growing relationship. We celebrated their love on a beautiful day at sunrise in Williamsburg, from the colonial area to the Crim Dell Bridge at William and Mary's campus. And waking up in time for the sun to peek over the buildings and trees was worth every minute of sleep lost.

With their wedding just one short month away and the promise of forever on the horizon, these two hold a special place in my heart...and just wait until you see that sunrise!