When you hear things like “beach winter engagement session” – it’s totally not the norm, unless you live in Southern California!! Since Emma + Eli grew up by the beach and live in nearby Costa Mesa, it absolutely made sense for them to ask us to come down to Laguna Beach to do their engagement session! What was even more awesome was that we ended up shooting where the original Beaches movie was filmed (side note: is anyone else excited for the remake coming next month on Lifetime with Idina Menzel?!?) … my movie-loving heart got soooo excited to stand where Bette Midler once did! #nerdalert

These two met online through JDate (an online Jewish dating site) and after messaging each other back and forth for a few weeks, they had their first date in Sunset Beach at an Italian restaurant. But it wasn’t until they’d been together for about six months that they realized each other was the One; in fact, both of them say there wasn’t a singular moment where they went “A-ha!!” but for both of them, it was a gradual realization. And watching them together, it’s not surprising that these two are perfect for each other – they just fit together so perfectly!

Finally, after four years together, Eli proposed in the orange orchards in Ojai during a weekend getaway to celebrate their anniversary in October … and now, here we are, celebrating their engagement!! We are so excited for their wedding next summer at the Surf and Sand Resort in Laguna Beach – we just know it’s going to be so much fun!! Plus, let’s get real: any opportunity for us to do the hora is one that totally gets us excited!!!