Wedding Ideas

Eddy and Nicole’s Princeton University Engagement Session

Posted on August 04, 2017 by New Jersey Bride

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Eddy and Nicole have been friends since in middle school when they were about 13 years old. “We remained good friends during high school but always kept it platonic and we lost touch a bit during college”. A year or so after graduating they both found themselves working in Manhattan and in fact, Eddy’s office was just 3 blocks from Nicole’s apartment at the time! “We re-connected and started spending more and more time together, it seemed like he would always find a reason to stop by or invite me to join him at a happy hour with coworkers or plans with mutual friends. As we grew closer and the amount of time we were together increased I began to get nervous- what happens if we try to date and it doesn’t work out? am I going to lose a long time friend? I valued his friendship so much I didn’t want to do anything to jeopardize it! So I stuck to my story, but Eddy was persistent!” “He would drop hints to our mutual friends, my best friend Hatch in particular, and would always offer to help me with things, like moving to a new apartment before which I had him helping to swap out all of my hangars and put clothes into boxes, what a saint! We continued to see more of each other and go to happy hours together. Finally I realized I was out of excuses, there was nothing else I could tell myself to fight it, no other reasons I could try, and I gave in, how can one little date hurt? Surely the damage wouldn’t be too widespread if this dinner didn’t go over so well, right?” “I knew from that night forward, which was the most memorable and beautiful date I’ve ever been taken on, that he was somebody special and I wanted to keep him close to me. I knew, even if I didn’t convince myself of it fully yet, that he was going to be an important part of my life for years to come.” Engagement: This is a GREAT story and I was completely surprised! We got engaged this past February, 2/19/15, at The El San Juan Hotel in Puerto Rico. About 2 years ago Eddy and I had decided on a whim (another example of spontaneity!) to spend a weekend in Puerto Rico because he had a free flight voucher and we found an inexpensive studio apartment on the beach via air bnb. This trip was significant in that it was the first time he told me he loved me. He wanted to recreate the memory and orchestrated this last minute trip without me knowing a thing apart from the fact we were going away for the weekend. He even went home to NJ the night before we left to ask my father for permission, as he knew it was very important to me. He coordinated with the concierge and slipped the ring to him when we arrived, of course I didn’t notice! After checking in we were whisked away for a tour of the resort, most importantly a 1,000 year old banyon tree the resort was built around. We posed for a photo in front of the tree and then all of a sudden Eddy started patting his pockets nervously saying ‘I’m missing something, I’m missing something!” he is notorious for leaving his wallet at home and I immediately, somewhat annoyed and bratty, replied “It’s fine I have your wallet and passport in my bag”…but before I could finish the concierge was passing him the box and Eddy was dropping to one knee. To say I was surprised is an understatement and he began with his story of promising to love me for 1,000 years, like the banyon tree. It was perfect, a memory I will cherish for the rest of my life The Location: Since we both grew up in the area, Princeton University is dear to our hearts and I spent a lot of time there as a child. I have so many fond memories of roaming the campus with my grandmother and it seemed like a natural place to take photos since we both have a strong connection. Our favorite part of the engagement session was getting to ‘practice’ different poses, styles, etc. It also made us even more excited about the process and our big day! Advice for other couples: We always joke that you never know when people will come back into your life, and you really never know who might be right in front of you! Eddy always says that I was right under his nose all these years and I feel the same way. The best advice we can give to other couples is never be afraid to take that next step, to take a risk and go for it. Had he not been so persistent and had I not put my nerves aside and agreed to go to dinner on January 17th, 2014 I wouldn’t be in the position I am in today and there is no other position I would rather be in.  

~ Photographed by Meely Photography.