Hammonasset Beach Engagement Session in Madison, CT | Brenna & Jake

Arturo and I had so much fun with Brenna and Jake during their Hammonasset Beach engagement session in Madison, Connecticut last week! If you follow me on Instagram then you know the beach is not my favorite place to hang out in my spare time. However, when I get the chance to photograph couples at a coastal setting, my feelings about the beach totally change! The lighting is almost always in my favor and it has a beautiful, neutral color palette which is perfect for any kind of portrait session. I loved the reason Jake and Brenna decided to have their engagement photos taken at Hammonasset Beach State Park; it’s where they “officially” started dating seven years ago!

Last October, Jake and Brenna decided to take a weekend get away in Ogunquit, Maine to enjoy the fall weather. After a day of exploring Ogunquit, Jake made plans to drive up to Kennebunkport that Saturday evening to watch the sunset. This was nothing out of the ordinary since he and Brenna have always enjoyed watching sunsets together, and have been known to go out of their way to find them! Jake's plan was to go to the grounds of an outdoor chapel overlooking the Gulf of Maine, a spot with beautiful scenic views. They arrived a few minutes before sunset, only to learn that the grounds were open solely during the summer. Jake began to panic a bit thinking his plans were ruined, but luckily the church was located on a road with a handful of little inlets overlooking the water and plenty of room to park. He and Brenna decided to go back down the road and park at a tiny beach area. They got out of the car and went up on a rock jetty to watch the sunset. Shortly after the sun finally went down, Jake proposed on the jetty with the evening sky as the backdrop! It was such beautiful scenery for such a special occasion in their lives. After Brenna and Jake finished taking as many photos as they could with the beach in the background, the two drove into downtown Kennebunkport, where Jake further surprised Brenna with dinner reservations he had previously made to celebrate their evening!

Brenna and Jake are getting married next May at The Glastonbury Boathouse in Glastonbury, Connecticut. We know their spring celebration is going to be one to remember!

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

Brenna: “I don't think there was a specific moment, but my perspective changed after we moved in together. We met in college and after graduation we made it work long-distance (Jake in New Jersey and me in Connecticut) for a little over two years until we decided to take the leap to moving in together. I realized after just a short while that we cohabitated so well that there was no way I could ever get along with any partner as well as Jake and I get along.”

Jake: “I don't remember a specific time or like moment, but everything was so easy being with Bren. I think once we moved in together and I moved to Connecticut, I knew that was what I wanted and that I would uproot my life to be with her. That was the first step in the right direction and felt like we were moving in the right direction, moving forward.”

What's one thing you love about your partner?

Brenna: “Jake is so patient and deeply caring. He also stays calm and collected most of the time, so he's always there to comfort me when I get too anxious about the little things. He and I are opposites in many ways, personality-wise, so he is like the yin to my yang.”

Jake: “She is so capable, meaning that whatever she puts her mind to, she can be the best at it with a little practice. I'm always stunned with how quickly she can pick up something new and seem to have it mastered in an instant. It doesn't matter if its something at work, or something artsy or even sports or board games. Girl can do it all and each and every time she does it, I still get that bit of wonder. Like, ‘My fiancée can do it better, whatever it is.’”

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

Brenna: “I'm looking forward to our first dance. I don't love being the center of attention, but I can't wait to share that moment together with a song that means so much to both of us.”

Jake: “All our family and friends, probably all together for the first and honestly probably only time. I think it’s partially a day for them, especially our parents.”

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

Brenna: “Just knowing that we're in it for the long haul and that I have the ultimate life partner.”

Jake: “The tax break. But in all seriousness, just having it be official. Like putting a cap on this long road that got us here.”

I hope you enjoyed this Hammonasset Beach State Park engagement session!  Do you know Brenna and Jake?  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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