I am so excited to share Kelly and Richie’s Engagement Session on the blog today!

Kelly + Richie’s Story

Richie and Kelly have attended school together since middle school, but did not become friends until about freshman year of high school. With both of their last names beginning with the letter “S”, they were in the same  homeroom all four years of high school with only one locker separating them.

Kelly had a major crush on Richie since she was 14 years old and finally mustered up the courage to ask him to their Sophomore Cotillion. Whether he really wanted to go with Kelly or not, he said yes and thats when it really sparked their friendship.

From there, they grew closer and realized how similar they were. Friendship grew into very strong feelings for each other, but the timing must not have been right back then because they both ended up dating other people. After graduating high school, Richie was diagnosed with Leukemia. While they were still best friends, their friendship was hard to maintain due to the different relationships they were in. However, Kelly and Richie still found ways to connect and keep in touch!

Kelly always wanted to make sure she was updated on how Richie was doing and to remind him that she was always there for him. In the summer between Kelly’s sophomore and junior year of college (Summer of 2012), Kelly and Richie saw each other again for the first time in awhile! Kelly and Richie had both broken up with their high school boyfriend/girlfriend and Richie was doing much better and in maintenance chemotherapy. The second Kelly saw him, she knew she had made a big mistake years prior by not being with Richie. The sparks instantly took over both of them. They started dating shortly after and have been inseparable ever since!

Up until this point, Richie has undergone a double hip replacement, played baseball at Rowan post-surgery, and is in his third year of medical school to become a Pediatric Hematologist-Oncologist and Kelly has fulfilled her dream of becoming an elementary school teacher. When Kelly and Richie’s friends from high school found out they got together back in 2012, everyone said “DUH!” and after being together for about 6 and a half years, they are now saying “FINALLY!”. Kelly says it’s the best feeling ever marrying the person she was always meant to be with!

The Proposal!

For the past five or so years, Richie and Kelly have attended an annual event for the Valerie Fund organization at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in NYC. The Valerie Fund treated Richie when he was sick and still supports him through scholarships! Kelly and Richie always have the best time at this special event!

Kelly and Richie were staying overnight for two nights and were able to spend the next day/night after the event, in the city. Kelly had just finished her Masters program, so Richie told Kelly on their extra night he was going to take her out to a special dinner to celebrate! Special was an understatement! They both got all dressed up and headed to One if by Land, Two if by Sea. They enjoyed a candlelit 8-course meal topped with a white table cloth and red roses. It was as magical as it sounds. Kelly thought they were going back to the hotel for the rest of the night, but Richie had other plans.

Kelly and Richie’s uber took them off track and stopped at a pier on the Hudson River. The second Kelly stepped out there was a rose on the ground. She realized this could be the moment! Richie told her that the roses were leading us to another surprise, which led them to the final rose and Kelly’s dream of Richie being on one knee asking for her hand in marriage! Richie even had his brother in law and sister there to take pictures and to videotape the whole thing! They took another uber back to the hotel and Richie told Kelly to get off the elevator at the wrong floor. Come to find out, he had their room upgraded to a suite over looking Central Park and the river. Kelly walked in to the last surprise, which was rose pedals in a heart shape on the bed and champagne ready to be popped. IT WAS THE BEST!!!

I cannot wait to photograph their wedding this coming May at The Grove at Centerton! Here are some of my favorites from their engagement session!