Engagement at Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, PA

Frank & Heather

We met up with Frank & Heather last week for their engagement at Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, PA. Longwood Gardens is likely the most perfect location for an engagement session. It has endless backdrops, beautiful light, indoor and outdoor spots, and so much variety that you cannot go wrong here. The biggest struggle comes with the amount of people. So glad Frank and Heather chose this spot because we love shooting here. These two did so great in front of camera and made the evening so much fun. It’s going to be so fun to do this all over again with them next year at their wedding. We can’t wait for that!

Q: How did Frank propose?

A: On May 22nd, 2021 went on a weekend getaway to Williamsburg, Virginia with little notice (as a planner and not the spontaneous one, I knew something was up). Also, in the beginning of 2021, Frank’s grandmother was cleaning out their attic and realized she still had her grandmother’s engagement ring and wedding band from the 30s. She asked Frank if he would want to propose with it and then I tried it on and fell in love with it (spoiler: this is the ring he used to propose).

We drove 6 hours to VA and dropped our stuff off at the hotel and rushed to our reservation that his grandparents planned for us (they frequently vacation in Williamsburg, Va) at this nice colonial diner that was super authentic to the time period. I had a hunch he was going to propose at dinner, but as soon as we got seated around people I knew that was out of the cards. On the way home from dinner, Frank seemed slightly anxious/nervous and was talking more lovey-dovey than usual about our future together (mind you, we’ve been together for almost 5 years at this point, so these convos weren’t totally “new” or anything).

Once we walked into the hotel room together there were candles lit everywhere and then in the bedroom section of the hotel there were 100 purple tulips scattered – some in a vase, petals throughout the room, and petals in a shape of a heart on the bed. This actually had meaning too because it was in reference to my favorite TV show proposal where Max proposed to Lorelei in Gilmore Girls with 1,000 yellow daisies which Frank obviously scaled down and catered to my favorite flower for this proposal which showed just how much he actually listens (haha)! Thankfully, Frank had the engagement recorded (not professionally by any means) because after he proposed and I said “Obviously!” I forget everything that happened as if I blacked out during the moment.

We then proceeded to cap the night by watching Shrek 2 with “Accidentally in Love” being what we turned the hotel’s TV on to. I was excited, and Frank was super nervous (for no reason, because he KNEW I was going to say yes, but in his defense, I am kind of picky so he was more nervous about the delivery of proposing which he crushed, by the way). I 100% expected it all because he told me he wanted to propose before our senior year of college and I told him he wasn’t allowed to propose to me in the peak of summer because I am a sweaty girl, so this was the time to do it!

Q: What’s the best part about being engaged?

A: To name a few (in no order): Of course, Fiancé/Fiancée nicknames. I love wearing his great grandmother’s ring (super sentimental). The honeymoon phase of being engaged. We already knew we were gonna get married, but the solidification and legit planning of our futures began once we became engaged. Finally, knowing one day we will be our own little family.

Q: Any advice for other couples planning their own weddings?

A: Set boundaries early on with anyone involved. Remember it is just one day. Don’t stretch beyond your means.

To Frank & Heather:

We loved photographing you guys last week! You both were naturals and did such an incredible job in front of camera. So thankful that we were given such a perfect evening for an engagement session. We cannot wait to show you the rest in the full gallery, but until then, we hope you enjoy this little sneak peek from your engagement at Longwood Gardens.