Sweet Love in Washington Square Park
“Love is but the discovery of ourselves in others, and the delight in the recognition.” – Alexander Smith
Stefanie and Tim attended the same high school over 7 years ago but never met, and when their paths crossed again, it seemed like fate. Their sweet and casual engagement session was beautifully captured by Mariya Stecklair Photography. We adore the shots by the blooming trees which translates to this couple’s blossoming love. Washington Square Park holds special meaning to this couple because it was the location that Tim asked Stefanie to be his wife! Now, this happily married couple are sharing their laughter, love, and the romantic story behind it all!
How They Met
“We went to high school together and never met. Then 7 years later, while I was working in a terrible retail job part-time, our paths crossed again. I would have never believed for a second that I would meet my future husband, which just goes to show, you never know where or when the big moments will happen.”
“I love a million tiny little things about my Tim. The way he can always make me laugh no matter how upset or angry or down I am. The way he taught me to be open to life and all its possibilities. His smile. His laugh. And the fact that he knows how to make sure I am fed before 10 am or it’s like the movie Gremlins in our house.”
The Proposal
“He told me we were supposed to meet up with friends in the city for dinner. But he had them call and say they were running late. We took what he called a shortcut through the park and he got down on one knee and asked me to be his wife. Then he picked me up and ran screaming through the streets of the city, telling everyone we were engaged. I am sure he scared a few people. He had dinner, hotel reservations, champagne, and all that jazz.”
Engagement Photo Inspiration
“Though neither of us lives in Philadelphia, we grew up over the bridge in New Jersey. However, Philadelphia is where a lot of our story takes place. So we asked Mariya Stecklair to take the pictures in the park where we got engaged because it is a city we both love and holds a lot of our best memories.”
Wedding Planning
“We actually just got married a few weeks ago and it was a beautiful and perfect day. That said the planning was very stressful at times but thankfully I had a lot of help and support from family and friends as well as our venue, florist, and Mariya, our photographer.”
Mariya Stecklair Photography
“Mariya was amazing to work with for the entire process. From the very beginning, she listened to what we wanted for our photos, gave us suggestions and worked with our schedule. During the shoot she made us feel extremely comfortable, even in front of a camera which is something we both aren’t great at. We loved how everything came out, and how there was a mixture of playful, serious and candid.”
Vendors | Photographer: Mariya Stecklair Photography