If you’re from the Midwest area of the country, you know Ohio winters can be brutal, but they can also be breathtakingly beautiful. This snowy winter engagement session at Garlo Heritage Nature Preserve is proof of just that. Bundled up, laughing through the cold, and genuinely crazy about each other, Alex and Amanda made this one of my favorite engagement shoots of the season. ❤️

A Love Story Years in the Making

Some love stories need a little time and a well-timed Snapchat to unfold. Alex and Amanda first crossed paths about eight years ago on a Farm Bureau trip in Ohio. At the time, the stars simply weren’t aligned. However, life has a funny way of circling back to the people who are meant to be in it.

As the years passed, Amanda quietly kept tabs on Alex from a respectful distance (okay, maybe a little Facebook stalking — her words!), and Alex had his own quiet pull toward reconnecting. Then, a mutual connection through Amanda’s sister-in-law gave them the nudge they both needed. Even after a fumbled Snapchat exchange, Alex reached out on his own a few months later. One message led to a first date, which turned into closing down a restaurant and then talking for two more hours in his truck until 2 a.m. After that night, Amanda knew he was the right one!

The Most Perfectly “Them” Proposal

Forget over-the-top grand gestures. Alex proposed the way they actually live, in the quiet, comfortable moments that make up a real relationship. About a year into dating, they started a Sunday night tradition: Amanda picks up Chinese food, they change into their coziest clothes, and they have a simple couch date night together. It’s their favorite night of the week.

On one of those ordinary Sunday evenings, mid-tradition, Alex told her how much he loved and appreciated their time together. Before Amanda knew it, he got down on one knee. No big audience, no elaborate setup, just the two of them, Chinese takeout, and a ring she absolutely loves. It was a perfect proposal!

Snowy Portraits at Garlo Heritage Nature Preserve

For their winter engagement session, we headed out to Garlo Heritage Nature Preserve in Bloomville, Ohio. This gorgeous natural backdrop felt like something out of a snow globe. Hot coffee kept us warm, and we may have started a snowball fight or two. The cold didn’t stop Alex and Amanda from being completely present and joyful the entire time.

As a photographer, there’s nothing better than photographing two people who are genuinely in it together. Alex and Amanda are all about the laughing, the sneaking glances, and the easy way they move around each other. You can tell they are a good fit!

I am beyond thrilled to be shooting their wedding day. If you’re searching for an engagement or wedding photographer who loves documenting real, authentic love stories, even in the snow, I would love to connect. Reach out to book your session on my schedule!