It was great to spend a bit of time with Thaddeus and Cherie for their engagement session! Their choice of location was right up my alley…Downtown Columbus! The session included a few street shots in German Village, beautiful fall foliage in Schiller Park, and then a stroll on the Scioto Mile with the cityscape in the background. Oh, and I can’t forget when we took a few minutes to warm up inside Pistacia Vera! Their macaron’s are scrumptious and nearly too pretty to eat!

How did Thad and Cherie meet? The funny thing is they’ve known each other their whole lives! They attended the same church and were in youth group together, but it wasn’t until a few years ago when Cherie went to a mission training school in Asia for four months that Thad took a new interest in Cherie because of a shared interest in missions. When he asked her out she had no idea it was coming or that he had any interest in her, nonetheless she said “yes” and is so glad she did!

Cherie, tell me a little about Thaddeus and what you love about him.

“Thaddeus is smart, dedicated, and hard working. He is finishing his college degree while working part time and also helping his dad on the farm. I love that he has a strong desire to follow Christ,  and that is evident in the way he loves me so well and takes care of me. He is so selfless and puts my needs and preferences before his own. I’m so thankful for him!”
Thaddeus, how would you describe Cherie?

“Cherie is the sweetest person I know.  She has an incredibly soft and compassionate heart, and she sees the hurt in other peoples’ lives and wants to help.  In this case, the opposite attracts since I am more a logical, emotionless person while she can feel things so deeply. I also love how adventurous she is and how she loves doing out of the ordinary things and blazing a new trail.  She has a solid worldview based on Jesus, and she is not afraid to stick out her neck for what she believes.”

Class of 2018

Creekside Gahanna, Ohio

Natalie is a senior at Shekinah Christian School!  Her friends would describe her as ambitious, loyal, beautifully unique, and a little crazy when you get to know her. 😉

When Natalie was asked what is something you’ve never done, but hope to someday, she answered, “Travel around the world; be a wedding planner or own a bed and breakfast or both.” I’d say that’s right in line with her ambitious personality! After graduation she has her sights set on Business Management with a specialty in event planning and marketing, however establishing her own business is also a goal! Wow…you go girl!! Many blessings to you as you pursue your dreams and follow God’s path for you!

The countdown is on for Zach and Arika…next week is their BIG day! We may even get a little snow on the ground for their wedding, which would be wonderful! For now, enjoy looking through this sweet couples’ engagement pics.

We began their session at Prairie Oaks Metro Park in the exact spot Zach proposed to Arika. In fact, they also went to Prairie Oaks on their first date a little over three years ago, so it only seemed fitting to incorporate this location into their engagement session. Everything went as planned during the session until we couldn’t go any further on the path due to the creek being flooded from a storm the night before. But you know, God had a better plan and we ended up using a “forest-looking” area in a friend’s backyard! We plan to use this same forest wonderland for their wedding pictures next Saturday, so that’s why I mentioned that snow on the ground would be absolutely beautiful!! (Say a prayer for a little snow, will you?! 😉 But not crazy cold! I don’t think God minds if we ask!) Zach, tell me a little about Arika and what you love about her!

“Arika is a very sweet caring lady! She has a quiet personality but is always up for an adventure and likes going to new places! She loves cooking and baking and is really good at it! I love that she takes an interest in my hobbies and some of our most fun times have been while hunting! She cares very much about me and supports me in what I do and is always interested in how my day went! I feel very blessed with the Godly lady who God gave to me!” Arika, what do you love about Zach?

“I always think of Zach as being very wise (he thinks through things before he rushes to do them). He likes to plan things out. He is a very talented carpenter. He is very sweet and cares very much about me. He tends to think positive and not always negative. He is friendly to everyone he is around. He loves me for who I am, and I cant imagine life without him.”

Class of 2018

Park of Roses and Jeffrey Mansion, Columbus Ohio

Cheyanne is a senior at Shekinah Christian School. Her early Saturday morning session was gorgeous and sunny…the perfect compliment to Cheyanne’s beautiful smile and golden blonde hair! The Park of Roses and Jeffrey Mansion were great locations, a nice mix of fall colors and architecture.

Enjoy your senior year, Cheyanne, and many blessings to you in the adventures ahead! 

I enjoy seeing engaged couples relate with each other…they’re so in love, spending time anywhere is made complete with the other, and they’re anxiously  planning for such a big day in their lives.  For Aaron and Megan that much anticipated day is in July, 2018! I’m so looking forward to celebrating with them! For now, however, allow me to give you a little glimpse into their lives (and don’t miss what they have to say about each other below…so sweet!) Aaron and Megan met through a mutual friend in high school. Their lives went in different directions, but God had other plans when He reconnected them after about ten years. They love traveling and exploring the beauty of nature. In fact, Aaron proposed to Megan in Ireland!!  Megan shares, “We enjoy spending time with both of our families, singing country music loudly, and taking pictures. We are our goofy selves together and I love that most about us!” Megan, tell me a little about Aaron…

“Aaron is God’s good gift to me and my very best friend. He is the most gentle voice of reason when I need advice or when I’m being irrational. He reassures me when I feel insecure and gives me the confidence to make me feel like the most beautiful girl in the world. He inspires me to do the things I think I cannot. When we are together I feel inexpressible joy and security in comfort. I love that Aaron adores his family, and is a mentor to so many other young men. I love that he can get me to belly laugh even when I am being grumpy. I love that he shows me through his words and actions that I am valuable and worthy of respect. Most importantly, Aaron is a follower of Christ and displays that through his interactions with the world around him.”
Aaron, what do you love about Megan?

“I love Meg because of her caring, open, loving heart.  She’s patient with my “occasional” immaturity, and allows me the freedom to not act my age.  She’s amazing with children and will be a great mother.  I love how much she invests herself for the good of others.  I love her loyalty to her family.  I love how much she enjoys my family.  I love her ability to make friends with everyone around her.  I love her adventurous spirit and how excited she gets to go somewhere new or unique.  I love how intelligent she is and how she challenges my thought processes.  She’s my best friend, a bright ray of sunshine and I can’t imagine a life without her in it.”

Even though Logan and Erin attended different colleges, Logan the University of Toledo and Erin at Bowling Green State University, their paths crossed through an evening with friends.  That evening they had a great time together and as they say…”one thing led to another” and here we are looking forward to their June, 2018 wedding!

Logan and Erin’s interests mesh really well. They enjoy spending time with family, playing with their dogs Archie and Bentley, hiking, and watching Ohio State football games together.  They also love to take trips and explore new places.

For their engagement session Logan and Erin decided to use a couple locations that hold significance to the Hostetler family. We started at the house Logan’s parents are remodeling. Talk about a house with character! It was built in 1863 and up until just recently didn’t even have electricity! In the pictures you’ll notice the tall ceilings and windows, brick, and original stairs/banister.  Love, love, love it! We then drove just a few miles to wrap up the session in Logan’s grandparent’s pasture. Such a pretty setting.

The bricks with the writing on them were actually from a wall inside the house! When Logan was asked to share a little about Erin, this is what he had to say, “If I had to describe Erin in one word, it would be caring. No matter what, she is always willing to drop everything to help anyone out at anytime and that is what made me fall in love with her. She is truly the most loving person I know. She asks me how my day was everyday, and she always knows how to make me smile. Nothing makes me smile more than the little random notes she leaves laying around for me to find. Erin and I are both very motivated people and we are always pushing each other to be our best. I knew from the moment she was willing to watch sports with me that she was the girl for me. Erin and I are very lucky to have each other and I couldn’t be more excited to marry her in June.”

Erin shared these sweet words about Logan. “Logan is loving, motivated, and supportive.  From the beginning of our relationship, he has helped me grow as a person.  Logan always believes in my ability to accomplish anything I set my mind to.  He has helped me learn to believe in myself.  I love that Logan is motivated, as he is always willing to put forth his best effort.  He loves me for who I am and encourages me to continue to strengthen my relationship with God.  I fell in love with Logan for the person he is.  We help each other be the best version of ourselves.  We are truly blessed with the love we have for each other.  I am excited to see our relationship strengthen and develop over the years.” Meet Archie and Bentley! I love how they both tilted their heads at the same time! 🙂

“Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!
    Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.

How precious are your thoughts about me, O God.
    They cannot be numbered!”

Psalm 139: 14, 17

“You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body
    and knit me together in my mother’s womb.

You saw me before I was born.
    Every day of my life was recorded in your book.
Every moment was laid out
    before a single day had passed.”

Psalm 139: 13, 16

Class of 2018

Megan is a senior at Jonathan Alder High School.  She chose to use a country setting for her senior session complete with a wild flower field and old white barn. The sun shone beautifully on her blond hair, and her blue eyes were gorgeous!

Here’s a look at a few of Megan’s senior pictures…