What began as a high school crush, has now blossomed into the most radiant love!  Marissa and Tim lead separate lives after high school but were reconnected later in life, and they haven’t stopped loving each other since.  A beautiful demonstration that the power of the universe always leads you to where you are destined to be.   Valley Forge National Historical Park is a place where some of their cherished memories live, sensibly this location was the perfect spot to capture their love.   Sarah Canning Photography captured the natural light, rustic landscape, and of course the stars of the show, but we can’t forget their adorable pup, Chai!  Happiness can be felt through every photograph during their engagement session and their captivating story below is the true definition of what it means to be in love!

“Tim and I went to the same high school, he was in the grade above me, and was a big football star throughout high school. We never knew each other personally during high school but my best friend’s older brother played football with him. We used to go over her house as young girls and spy on the boys practicing football and playing! When we turned 21 we ran into each other through that mutual friend and connected. After we both went back to college (I went to PSU and Tim went to Millersville) we drifted apart for a few more years. After graduating, Tim and I matched on a dating app! On our first date Tim had me try oysters for the first time, we talked for hours at a restaurant outside of Philadelphia, and never looked back after that.”

“Like the hopeless romantic that Tim is, he proposed at the top of the East Falls Bridge in Manayunk overlooking a beautiful sunset on a perfect September evening. They shut the bridge down from traffic once a year and hold a fundraiser dance to support community-based, economic development in East Falls. My best friend attended as well and was in the process of taking a photo of Tim and me, and we had already posed for so many photos before, but then Tim got down on one knee and proposed. The best part, he completely designed the ring with little elements from our relationship. Underneath the diamond was the shape of the Big Dipper, which has been my little sister and I’s nicknames for each other. Also, he got “The Sweetest Girl” engraved on the inside, the saying he used to say when I asked why he loved me. It was truly the best night of my life as we danced the night away on the bridge in Philadelphia!”

“We had visited many locations on our venue hunt and absolutely fell in love with the Philander Chase Knox Estate in Valley Forge, PA. Tim is a huge history buff and he used to take me on dates around Valley Forge park where we would hike for miles and make so many memories. After we chose a different venue to have our wedding due to weather concerns, we knew we absolutely wanted to incorporate this special location into our engagement photos. It was a beautiful day with perfect lighting and we had so much fun in the process of exploring the national park!”

“It has been so much fun. We’ve been engaged for almost two years, which has allowed me to have a ton of time for planning. Finding the venue was such an exciting part. We chose French Creek Golf Course in Elverson, PA for its beautiful scenic views and stunning architecture. I have gotten my wedding dress from Elizabeth John’s in Ardmore, PA which I am beyond excited about! I have knocked a few other items off our list and Tim is getting involved in each and every consultation which has made it so much fun!”

“Sarah Canning from Sarah Canning Photography has been amazing to work with. After meeting with her for the first time, we immediately clicked. She seemed to have the same vision for storytelling that I have dreamed of and that reigned true during our engagement session. She was able to capture Tim and I’s love story perfectly while making us laugh the whole time. She is a fellow Penn Stater like myself and absolutely loved our dog, Chai. She made the engagement shoot experience so memorable and I am so grateful for all the beautiful images she captured.”

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