Gouveia Vineyards Engagement Session in Wallingford, CT | Kate & Britt

A GOUVEIA VINEYARDS ENGAGEMENT SESSION

Kate and Britt’s Gouveia Vineyards engagement session in Wallingford, Connecticut was a summer dream! The winery sits near the top of a hill, which means we had the most dreamy and glowy light, a perfect touch for romantic engagement photos! Arturo and I spent a magical evening among the rows of grapevines with these lovely ladies, chatting about their plans for their upcoming wedding this winter. The four of us shared plenty of laughs in our time together; Arturo and I left the vineyard that night with such full hearts!

THE PROPOSAL STORY

Though Kate and Britt had talked about getting engaged quite a bit, they decided they were still going to wait a bit. However, Britt felt that they were ready, knew they could make their dream wedding day happen, and thought that it would be the perfect time because Kate would never see it coming. Last Father’s Day weekend, Kate's family was going to be in town because the youngest of her 6 siblings was graduating high school. Her brothers and sisters live all over the country and are rarely together in one place, but they are the most important people to her which is why Britt felt this was the perfect opportunity to propose! Britt coordinated with Kate’s family, and asked them to pretend they were leaving to head home that Sunday. She then asked Kate if she wanted to grab a lobster roll and enjoy a walk on the beach together, one of Kate’s all-time favorite things! As the two were looking out at the water, Britt mentioned to Kate that their dog, Olive had something on her collar and asked her to check it. Attached to Olive’s collar was a charm that said, "Will you marry me?" At that moment, and much to Kate’s surprise, Britt pulled out a beautiful engagement ring. Kate was totally shocked and beyond joyful at Britt’s proposal! At that point, one of Kate’s sisters also popped out to take some proposal photos and said, "Surprise! I stayed to be here for the moment. Would you guys want to get a drink at the brewery down the road?" Kate was excited for the opportunity to celebrate with one of her siblings, but when they arrived at the brewery, Britt had arranged for all of their friends and family to be there for a surprise engagement party!

These two are getting married in January at Clark’s Hall in Milldale, Connecticut. We cannot wait to see their winter wedding day come to life! Congratulations Britt and Kate!!

When did you know you'd found "the one"?

Kate: “Britt and I have a very unique relationship; we met in high school and quickly became best friends. We stayed friends for many years before we started dating. At the time I was living in Boston and she was living in Connecticut finishing her last year of college. I knew I loved her before we even became "official". I knew she was the one after only a few short months of dating. We already had so many years of friendship under our belt, that dating just came to us naturally. I got to know her on a deeper level and I just knew she was "the one". At that point, we couldn't stand to be apart all week so I moved back to Connecticut. A couple months later, we got an apartment together and since then you will rarely find us apart!”

Britt: “Kate and I have been best friends since we were teenagers. Our friend group has been very close knit since high school and still is. We went to a music festival with friends after senior year of college. I felt like something had changed about the dynamic of our friendship and I found myself thinking about Kate in ways I never had before. We snuck off on our own and after that weekend, spent every subsequent weekend traveling back and forth between Connecticut and Massachusetts to spend time together. Around Christmas, we went for a walk at Hubbard Park with the holiday lights in full effect. At that point, I felt like all I could think about was Kate. We were worried about what our friends would think and the fact that we didn't want to ruin our friendship. The thought of not being together was excruciating for me and that's when we took the leap to be something more. I knew then that she was "the one" because there wasn't a second of any day that I wasn't thinking about her... and there still isn't!”

What's one thing you love about your partner?

Kate: “Her humor, hands down. She is very witty and is always making me (and anyone else in the room) laugh. She always knows how to make me smile, even when I don't want to.”

Britt: “I love Kate's optimism. She's a glass-half-full person and never complains. She's taught me to take something positive out of every experience and to always look on the bright side of things.”

Besides getting married, what is one thing you're looking forward to on your wedding day?

Kate: “There are so many things I am looking forward to, it is hard to pick just one. First, I am excited to see Britt all dressed up in white & walking down the aisle. I am also excited to profess our love in front of our closest friends and family. Last but not least, I cannot wait to dance and party with all our friends and family!”

Britt: “I'm most looking forward to being able to finally call the love of my life my wife. I'm so excited to celebrate this will all of our friends and family. We also love dancing. We're pretty awful, but I'm definitely excited for that aspect. Lastly, I can't wait to see Kate walk down the aisle to me... I have a feeling I'm going to cry - I'm such a baby!”

What's one thing you're looking forward to about marriage?

Kate: “I know that even after we say "I do", our love and adventures will continue throughout the next stages of our life. I am looking forward to having Britt by my side through all that life throws our way. No matter what I know that as long as her hand is in mine we can make it through whatever.”

Britt: “I'm just excited to see what our future holds. Kate and I have been by each other's side through so much already. She makes the hard times easier to bare and the good times fantastic and unforgettable. I can't wait to continue on adventuring, traveling, and just living life together!”

I hope you enjoyed this summer engagement session at Gouveia Vineyards!  Do you know Britt and Kate?  Show them some love by commenting below!


ABOUT THE PHOTOGRAPHERS

Shaina Lee Photography is a husband and wife photography team serving Connecticut, New York, Hawaii and beyond.  We specialize in timeless, elegant, and romantic weddings while celebrating all couples in love. 

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