Phyllis joined a last minute hiking trip when her study abroad trip to Europe got canceled. This was definitely out of the ordinary, since she had never been hiking before! Meanwhile, one of the trip leaders couldn’t make it, having Mike take their place. Two people would meet on an unplanned hiking trip and fall in love, simply by chance! Talk about everything happening for a reason!

You just HAVE to read about their proposal, from Phyllis’ point of view!

“We got engaged on July 16, 2021. Mike came up to Virginia the week before to visit me, but little did I know he was scheming and planting things for our proposal! That Friday, I came back home from lecture and received a text from Mike to check a box in my closet. When I looked in the box, I found the sweetest love letter that included detailed instructions of what to pack, when to leave, and to check my car’s glove box for further instructions. I found a CD in the glovebox with an address on the front cover and instructions to play the CD during my drive. The CD was filled with some of our favorite songs and Mike’s voice talking about our love and our future together. I pulled up to a beautiful Bed and Breakfast in Pearisburg, VA as the last song on the track played, which was perfect timing! My best friend, who lives in northern Virginia, immediately greeted me and led me towards a deck. As I walked up to the deck, I was shocked to see my sister, who lives in Philadelphia, along with my parents and his mother who live in Florida. Then behold in front of me on the beautiful deck with such a breathtaking view of the sun setting over the mountains and the New River was the love of my life waiting to ask the question he had been so eager to ask for so many years. It was a beautiful and happy start to our celebratory weekend filled with delicious food, fun activities, and quality time with our loved ones.”

Right now, Mike and Phyllis love from afar while Phyllis lives out-of-state finishing up school, but even long distance doesn’t keep them from missing a beat. You’d never know they only see each other a handful of times a year because they seem so in sync and in love! Now they spend their anniversaries hiking together paying tribute to how they met and visiting Bed & Breakfasts honoring their proposal story!

Phyllis & Mike picked two special places to them to do their session. I LOVE when couples choose places of sentiment for their images. It makes them even more special knowing it’s a special spot. Kraft Azaela has a ton of trees covered in moss, as well as those beautiful ivory columns! Downtown Winter Park truly has a spot for everyone and we came just in time for the beautiful blooms! And please don’t ignore these fabulous outfit choices – Mike gives all the credit to Phyllis for that 😉

It was an absolute pleasure getting to finally meet them both after months of emailing back and forth. We had so so much fun getting to know them and hear about all their wedding plans! They truly made us feel as if we’ve known them forever and we are SOOO excited for their February wedding at Casa Feliz!!