Tara and Neil went to the same middle and high school together but Tara only remembers him as her friend’s younger brother. Time passed but they both ended becoming teachers. Tara recalls that she was scrolling on Facebook one day and all of a sudden Neil caught her eye. Seeing he had also went to school for teaching, she messaged him, asking to get together to talk about having him student teach in her classroom. As they chatted about teaching and school, a mutual attraction formed. Soon after they planned their first date, snowshoeing at High Cliff State Park, and they have been together even since.

After four years of dating, they had discussed marriage a little bit so Tara started expecting it at any big event they planned. She was prepared (hair always looking fabulous, make-up applied) and ready to look her best for whenever the moment would come. But when Neil did propose she didn’t expect it at all. Easter morning, still in bed, Neil woke Tara up to tell her that her Easter basket was ready. Knowing there would be chocolate, Tara jumped out of bed (hair messy, no make-up on) to see what the “Easter Bunny” had brought her. As she started opening the Easter eggs, hoping to find that delicious chocolate, she found that there wasn’t candy instead but instead a message saying, “Will you marry me?” I love how Tara explains it, “I was beyond shocked as he got down on one knee right there in the kitchen asking the girl with morning breath, mascara smudged all over her face, and in her pajamas to marry him. It took me a little while to understand what had just happened as I literally felt like I was still dreaming. Neil gave me coffee and it started to sink in! Wow that day was literally the best day ever!”

When I met Tara and Neil for their bridal consultation, it felt like I was catching up with old friends. We clicked immediately and we were already discussing different ideas for their wedding. So when they said they’d like to do an Engagement Session as well, I was beyond thrilled! We started discussing the overall “theme” of the Engagement Session and Tara had a ton of great props she wanted to bring along including her grandparents’ Schwinn tandem bike and Neil’s canoe!

I had an absolutely fabulous time getting to know these two wonderful people and I seriously cannot wait for their November wedding at St. Norbert College! Alissa Kristine provided all the professional hair and make-up for our session.

To view all their photos, check out their PASS Gallery