Summer Bonfire Couple Drinking Beers and roasting marshmallows

Their Session: Bangor, PA

This in-home session in Pennsylvania with the cutest little family was SO much fun and was all sorts of raw, real, and candid. I don’t typically photograph families, but when your couple has the cutest little babe of their own, pizza night and a bonfire with marshmallows is a must!!

I am so honored they welcomed me into their home and let me in on what life is like in their new beautiful home! They ate, laughed, airplaned on the couch, ran around in the backyard, ate too many marshmallows, dug for worms, drank beers, and just enjoyed a casual summer night together.

I love seeing people in their element and it was such a blast getting to see this family laugh and play together. Aubree has so much personality and she is hysterical, so I was loving all of the running and swinging around! I can’t wait for these two to celebrate their marriage alongside their loved ones at The Farm Bakery and Events in November!

Their Love Story

As Emily told me: like most things in life, meeting Derek wasn’t planned! They met on Instagram and became friends chatting occasionally at first but then more frequently with deeper conversations and then when they both realized they didn’t live so far from each other, they decided to meet in person! They both spent some weekends in each other’s towns and had so much fun just going out to eat, talking, exploring, and hanging with friends. Emily said that she popped the question of moving in together! She said “it was just so easy between us, the chemistry flowed without ever having to force it and we had grown feelings for one another and we thought we could take a swing at being exclusive and make the distance work. Both of us had our doubts secretly with the distance that this wouldn’t last but after a year of dating with the distance, I packed my bags and moved up to North Jersey!’ 

They had their adorable baby girl, Aubree, back in 2016! Emily had been hoping for a proposal for a while, and Derek finally popped THE question in March 2018. She says, “the proposal was reallllly good, Derek did a great job. We were taking family pictures for this year’s Christmas card, it literally started snowing which was more than perfect, then at the end of the pictures Derek got down on one knee in the snow, and proposed to me, cameras and all. It was so perfect.” What an incredible winter wonderland proposal!

They booked their wedding date at The Farm Bakery & Events for 2019, and decided after booking their date to get married sooner at the courthouse! Although their wedding day ended up being a bit chaotic, Emily says something I really love – “I wouldn’t change a thing because that day was literally a representation of our life now. It’s messy, sometimes a handful, things get rough but they always turn out ok in the end. So just about four years later after we officially started dating here we are! Derek and I have been through so much, in an exceptionally short period of time but we are truly devoted to one another in every way. We are more than in love, we are best friends and nothing means more to both of us than our perfectly imperfect little family.” Chills anyone?! Yeah, I was obsessed with these 3 from the start for a reason. <3

To Emily and Derek,

Hanging with you two feels like hanging with old friends. You’re so welcoming, chill, and so kind. I am so thankful for your openness and willingness to let me in on real life with your fam. Aubree is a sweetheart with a personality I adore – I can only imagine how proud you two are as parents of your girl. I can’t wait to celebrate with you two in a few months! Love you both so much!

in home family eating pizza
in home family eating pizza
in home couple in love on couch with toddler
in home couple hugging in kitchen and drinking beers
couple in love in home with daughter
couple in love kissing and drinking beers
couple in love in kitchen
family with daughter eating pizza for dinner
family with daughter eating pizza for dinner
daughter putting marshmallows on smores sticks
black and white image of couple kissing in kitchen
family bonfire making smores
family bonfire making smores
family bonfire making smores
family bonfire making smores
couple running around in backyard with daughter
couple running around in backyard with daughter
couple sitting by bonfire making smores and drinking beers
couple in love running around in backyard
couple in love running around in backyard
family of three running around in backyard together
couple in love kissing in backyard
couple in love kissing in backyard
couple in love kissing in backyard
couple in love kissing in backyard
black and white couple hugging in their backyard

Summer S’mores Couple Session, Bangor, PA | Emily, Derek & Aubree

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