this season of my life really is a lot of fun. it’s a fun age, being a year and a half into my 20’s — so many of my friends are dating and best of all, a few of them are starting to get engaged! which is so exciting. it’s a real gift to be in someone’s life before they meet “that someone” — it happened to me with kristen and it’s happened to me with christie! christie and i met at trinity western university back in the fall of 2008… i cannot believe that was three and a half years ago. christie moved to langley from haiti, where her family has lived for almost ten years now as missionaries. in her first year of university, christie met a boy named dan — and they started hanging out around campus occasionally. as friends.

there was definitely interest on both sides but with a four-month summer break in the near future, they decided to keep their relationship as friends for a few more months. they stayed in touch a little bit over the summer, but no one really knew where things stood. ;) in october, these two were back on campus and still interested in one another… finally, one day, dan made it happen and they started dating. i photographed these two around their eight-month-dating anniversary; as they were going to be a part for another long four-month summer. dan graduated from TWU a year ago and moved home to alberta, while christie has one more year to go here in langley. they’ve managed to handle the long distances apart with visits every 6-8 weeks. on the last visit over the christmas break, christie went to see dan’s family in alberta and left with a ring.

one of the cutest memories i have of christie is the long walk we took in port moody a week before she left to see dan. she told me they were chatting on the phone that morning and dan said, “you really don’t want a year and a half engagement do you?” christie laughed and said no. they knew christie wasn’t set to graduate until spring 2013 and dan needed to be back in alberta to work. dan replied, “i know. you’re right. i just want to propose to you so badly.” she laughed it off and told me, “i wish it could happen sooner. but with me not graduating for another year and a half, timing isn’t right.” … a week later i get a text message, DAN AND I ARE ENGAGED. hahaha. she was SO shocked — and dan is currently job-hunting and interviewing like crazy to find a job that will allow him to move back to BC as soon as possible. it was only fitting that we went back to the same trail where christie & i had this conversation in port moody. one of the most beautiful places.

i can’t WAIT to shoot [and party] at their september 2012 wedding. so excited for you, two.