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As my first spring session of the year, this Longwood Gardens Engagement Session in PA was perfect. Springtime at Longwood Gardens provides an abundance of beauty and color as the Earth blossoms with life. There are numerous spots throughout the grounds with idyllic backdrops, perfect for couples to celebrate and showcase their love.

I love photographing engagement sessions and capturing the beginning of a couples’ love story.  Years from now, they will look back fondly on these memories and remember their early years of love and romance, and reflect on how far they’ve come since that day.  

I also love newly engaged couples’ energy! They are so joyful and excited for the future ahead of them, and that energy carries into the session. Erica & Michael were no exception!  Laughs and smiles filled their session, as they both radiated with happiness knowing that their big day is around the corner.  

Longwood Gardens Engagement Session

It was a perfect, warm spring day, full of sunshine. The park was busier than expected due to the beautiful weather, but thankfully Erica & Michael knew of a hidden gem in the Longwood Gardens park I’d never seen before.  The wide-open landscape, featuring tall grass and stunning natural light made for a romantic setting. We had a bit more privacy and ended up spending most of the engagement session there.  

Erica’s beautiful coral dress added the perfect pop of color as they walked through the tall grass. We did venture out to other popular areas of the gardens to capture a few photos around the pond, walking through the garden paths, and at the conservatory.  The Longwood Gardens Conservatory added a charming, architectural contrast to the airy, natural setting of the other locations.

Their Love Story

How did you meet?

“We met in college (TCNJ) at a friend’s summer party. After, I asked my friend for his number and we started hanging out.”

When did you know that you found the one?

 “When we mailed love letters to each other while I was studying abroad in Spain. I felt more excited about receiving and responding to his letters than clubbing until the sun came up, haha!”

Your Proposal

“ If our engagement was chronicled in a wedding magazine, it might go something like this:

‘On a Friday night in November, Michael proposed. The couple had just returned to their apartment after a lovely evening out at Gran Caffe L’Aquila. Post-nine P.M. on a Friday night, Erica began to head upstairs to change into ‘comfies.’ Michael called her back down, knelt, and held out the engagement ring she had definitely never asked about. Erica said yes, of course. A few happy tears were shed. Their hearts felt as full as their bellies, which were essentially stuffed from a decadent evening of espresso martinis, calamari, gnocchi, and gelato. In their candle-lit apartment, they slow-danced to Presley crooning, ‘I can’t help falling in love with you,’ and he was absolutely right.'”

Tell me about your engagement ring

 “Mike designed it at Halloween- a quirky jewelry shop in Philadelphia. According to the jewelry designer, it’s more of a “Grace Kelly.”

Learning Erica & Michael’s love story felt like I was hearing the synopsis of the next Nicholas Sparks novel!  When I asked them what they loved most about each other, they answered, “We laugh every day.”  Hearing this made me smile, as my grandmother once told me that laughing together every day was the secret to a happy marriage.  

I hope you enjoyed Erica & Michael’s Longwood Gardens Engagement Session! I can’t wait to watch more of Erica & Michael’s love story unfold as they are getting married on May 7th at Franklin Square in lovely Philadelphia!  

Jocelyn Cruz Photography is based in South New Jersey and serves the surrounding areas of PA and NJ.  Are you interested in learning more about our wedding photography or documenting your engagement? Please inquire here for more information.