Their Session: Cape May Point State Park, NJ

Truly couldn’t have asked for a sweeter couple to photograph! Lesley and Zach’s summer Cape May engagement session at the Cape May Point State Park was a golden sunset dream! Their love was literally shining just as bright as the sun and they were up for ANYTHING I threw their way from Lesley getting up on Zach’s shoulders, hopping in the ocean to end the night, and rolling around in the sand! It’s so much fun when my couples let loose and show off their true personalities – the silly and sweet!

Their Love Story

Zach and Lesley met online during the pandemic when she had moved to Minneapolis and wanted to meet new friends with no intention of finding something serious!

They started talking for about a month before they met officially in the summer where he took her on a hike in town. Despite her not loving the humidity on their hike, he gave her a flower in a cute pot and her favorite candy to go home with. She completely melted over how shy and sweet he was!

A few more dates went on where Zach set up cute activities like smores and beer dates, a salsa tasting party, and taking her kayaking. He told her he knew he’d marry her one day, with confidence, and his patience and support meant the world to her!

A few weeks after they started talking, she found out she would be moving to Montana for a new job, and he knew he still wanted to be with her since distance couldn’t change how he felt about her. She fell in love with him on a fall trip to Duluth where they hiked, bar hopped, and truly got to know each other. “By the end of the trip, I just knew he was the one,” she said, “We did long distance for a year when I moved to Montana which was so hard but we have such great communication and celebrated every moment we got together, so it honestly really made our relationship stronger.” They’ve since moved to Minnesota with their kitty, Oakley, and they wouldn’t have it any other way!

Their Proposal Story

Zach proposed up in Duluth since it is such a special place for them! Lesley shared, “He likes to take me on a winter hike every year to get us out enjoying the winter (otherwise I’d just hermit inside where it’s warm LOL) and he wanted it to seem like I was planning this trip like I normally do when we travel so I wouldn’t suspect anything. He said it would be cool to hike to a frozen waterfall so I did my research to find the coolest spot and got excited to go! We drove up on a Saturday morning and we stopped for the best sandwiches ever (still dreaming about them) and got lost to find the trailhead (pretty typical lol) and I could tell he was nervous and frustrated lol. He kept saying that it needed to be a perfect day and he was nervous the lighting wouldn’t be right and I just thought it was weird but brushed it off. When we got to the frozen waterfall, I set my camera up on my tripod like I always do to take pics of us, and he let me go ahead of him. I was confused so I turned around to be like “what the heck lol” and he was down on one knee! I was so shocked and emotional and it was literally perfect.” I LOVE that Zach wanted the absolute perfect moment captured in such a romantic and special place!

They’re dreaming of an intimate wedding where they can focus on their love and marriage with their closest loved ones! She said, “I am literally just so excited to marry him as he is the most perfect person ever.. I can’t want to share the day with him and our family and just celebrate our love. It makes me want to cry I am so happy.” How sweet is that?!

When I asked what they each love about one another, Lesley said, “Zach has the biggest heart and makes everyone in his life feel so special and loved. He’s always smiling and positive and encouraging me and supports me every day in any way that I need. He listens to me and just loves me in every way that I need. I also love that we love the same foods 🙂 and that he loves my cooking lol.”

Zach shared the sweetest thoughts about his soon-to-be wife, “Lesley is my best friend and she inspires me every day. I love how passionate she is and how much love she has for the people who are close to her. I love her with all my heart and all my soul and just want to make her smile every day. She. Is. The. Best.”

Goshhh, I cannot get enough of these two! As you scroll through their summer Cape May engagement session below, you’ll see exactly why!

Lesley and Zach,

Thank you for connecting with me while you were in New Jersey, I’m SO honored I was able to photograph this exciting milestone in your love story. I cannot wait to cheer you on as you dive into all the new adventures ahead. Wishing you a lifetime of happiness, great trips, and kitty snuggles!