Washington Park Arboretum Engagement, Seattle LGBTQ Engagement Photographer, Captured by Candace Photography

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Washington Park Arboretum Engagement

Washington Park Arboretum Engagement, Seattle LGBTQ Engagement Photographer, Captured by Candace Photography

Washington Park Arboretum Engagement Photos with Steph and Lauren. Oh gosh, I love this couple so much, I’m going to dive right into their story! So, Steph and Lauren met back in 2016 over their shared passion for RPG and cosplay. They are both artistic, creative people and when I asked them to show up […]

Washington Park Arboretum Engagement Photos with Steph and Lauren.

Oh gosh, I love this couple so much, I’m going to dive right into their story! So, Steph and Lauren met back in 2016 over their shared passion for RPG and cosplay. They are both artistic, creative people and when I asked them to show up to their Washington Park Arboretum engagement session with items that meant something to them, they did not disappoint. They brought along their favorite cosplay props from projects they’ve worked on together! It was a fun experience to work with them on creating engagement photos that expressed their unique personalities, and their shared adoration for the creative world they inhabit.

But, allow me to step back into the beginning of their story for a moment. While Steph and Lauren met back in 2016, their engagement wasn’t official until 2021. It was Steph who made the first step toward making their relationship a forever thing, with a one-of-a-kind proposal. When it came time to ask for Lauren’s hand in marriage, Steph enlisted the help of a wind-up pigeon. The pigeon had a note attached reading “Will you marry me”. Lauren happily accepted, further cementing their bond. I thought this was such an amazing way to propose! When they recounted the story to me, I asked them to bring the pigeon along on their wedding day so that I could photograph it. It’ll be such a wonderful way to tie their wedding story back to their engagement.

Washington Park Arboretum Engagement Photos

A lush landscape of botanical gardens, The Washington Park Arboretum in Seattle was an amazing location for Steph and Lauren’s engagement photos. In fact, at one point during their session, Steph and Lauren were posing with their incredible (handmade!) cosplay props when an owl flew overhead and landed directly behind them. It was such a sight to see! Which you’ll get to witness in the photos below. 

What I love about the Arboretum is the endless amount of walkways, paths, stairways, and breakout areas. Each space allowed its own unique perspective of the Arboretum, with an opportunity to capture Steph and Lauren in a way that felt very intimate, secluded, and organic. The lush foliage created deep tones in the backdrop of their photos, but they also allowed a playful mixture of light and shadows to envelope Steph and Lauren.

Are you thinking about capturing your Seattle engagement photos at Washington Park Arboretum or another local botanical wonder-scape?

For more on the organic & effortless experience I provide, you can Click here to contact me.

With their amazing cosplay props in hand, Lauren’s beautifully brilliant (handmade!) turquoise dress, and Steph’s chic all-black look, I knew this session would be amazing. What I didn’t know, was how much fun the three of us would have together. Not only did we laugh practically the entire time, but I watched the dynamic of Steph and Lauren’s relationship. They are sweet and romantic with each other, and they have this deep connection that allows them to share the innermost part of their lives.

Steph & Lauren’s Upcoming Wedding

Steph and Lauren approached the planning of their wedding day as that of an intimate celebration, leaning into the details as a way to represent their story. Their weekday wedding will include a ceremony where they walk down the aisle together. I love the symbolism behind this, coming together at the start of their ceremony, and walking away together side by side as married. The end of the ceremony will include a  “breaking of the glass” before they dine with their guests on a buffet dinner and cut their wedding cake with a fabulous sword! The music selection for their wedding day? A video game soundtrack that they’ve compiled together, to truly drive home the essence of who they are.

For more of Steph and Lauren’s Washington Park Arboretum engagement, scroll through the photos in the blog below.

© 2022, Captured by Candace Photography. LLC. Seattle, WA.