Heather + Rob | A Modern Nautical Virginia Beach Engagement

When a couple does jazz hands (without my instigating it!!), I know I've met some kindred spirits. And that was just one part of Heather and Rob's engagement session at Little Island Park. Both from Florida, these two made Hampton Roads their new home with their furbabies. Quirky, crazy-amazing photogenic, loves to laugh, courageous individuality, and a penchant for a bit of the old world, they're pretty much my favorite kinda peeps. ;) The way Rob looks at her and the way Heather just blossoms from it = mega heart swoon that would befit a Jane Austen novel. They are perfect for each other. And they are heckuva thumb war players. (Shh, don't say anything, but Heather totally won. Like all of the times. ;) )

Their intimate September wedding is going to be just beautiful, and I'm so excited that I get to be a part of it. Metal teapots, florals, and vintage books as centerpieces?! Umm, yes. Add an extra yes. Because it's going to be that awesome. :)












































(And many thanks to BridesMade for her hair and makeup services!)

Stefani + Jason : The Couple Who Also Were Marlins

For the first time ever, I broke out my Bayside High School yearbook during a first "meet-and-greet" with a couple. (This was in my pre-office days. All of 5 months ago. lol)

But get this.

Halfway through our meeting, I'm staring at the groom with an eerie sense of "Dang, he looks so familiar..."

So we keep chatting, and Stefani and I are laughing it up over ridiculous stuff. Then Jason chimed in with, "Were you into drawing and art classes in high school?"

"Yessss," I replied and then bursted out, "OH MY GOSH! MONCAPOO!"

"YES!" he yelled back and chuckled about the inside joke of a mutual friend's "swear it exists" creature. And then the connection was made. Except the Jason I knew and was friends with had long hair tied back in a ponytail, trench coat, and a mustache (which is very memorable in high school since not many guys sported a 'stache.) The Jason who sat in front of me that day had NO facial hair and VERY short hair. You can understand my visual confusion.

All the while, Stefani is laughing it up because she had also met Jason in high school, but we personally never crossed paths since she was a year or two ahead of me.

And that's the story of how it's a small world after all. :)

I'm so unbelievably happy for these two and so thrilled that our paths crossed once more and that they chose me for their special day in October. It's going to be absolutely magical with their foresty wonderland of a wedding.

Crissy + Charlie : The Couple Who Has Moves and Heart | Virginia Beach Lifestyle Fishing Engagement

The first words she ever wrote to me were, "Like you, I'm an old soul." Pretty much music to my heart. ;)

Crissy is such a sweet and kind person whose profession of being a newborn nurse exemplifies who she is. (Seriously, 2012 is the year of medical brides!) We could have been cut from the same cloth when God was doing His design work upstairs. From day one, she has always asked about Rusty and his nursing school progress and said if he needed anything to ask her. She's beautiful, inside and out, with the quirky sense of humor that ties most of us Bit of Ivory photo-fam together. (I truly think that's our common denominator!! Humor!)

And as if that medical-ness weren't enough, Charlie is an ER nurse with some killer dance moves. For real, ask him to pop and lock, and your jaw will drop at his awesomeness. He puts my cabbage patch to SHAME. ;)

When Crissy mentioned Charlie's love of fishing, I knew we just had to incorporate that into their engagement session, especially since Church Point Manor has a little dock area. It's the perfect lifestyle touch to make this particular session unique and special.

So without further ado, boy oh boy, does this ER nurse makes that newborn nurse smile to the moon. Both of them are simply glowing, and I cannot wait for their June wedding!

































- Chelsea :)