The outdoors played a great role in Caitlin and Nate’s relationship. They fell in love in the Adirondacks and, fittingly, had their engagement shoot in a rustic, relaxed setting at Lake Pleasant in New York. Their ease around the campfire and loving smiles made for a lighthearted and fun engagement photo session by Solas Studios. I love the photos of these two fishing on the lake. So romantic, and reminiscent of the day they were engaged. Read their proposal story below.

Before the Ring:
Nate has always had a love for the outdoors, but for me, it was more of a learned thing. Four summers ago, mutual friends invited us both on a camping trip up to Mason Lake in the Adirondacks. Nate jumped at the chance; I wavered a bit but ultimately decided to go. Though we each had a rough idea who the other person was (my father was his guidance counselor and lacrosse coach), we had never formally been introduced. Despite the stormy nights and rainy days, I had a great time, and Nate and I hit it off really well. When we got home from the trip, he asked me to go fishing with him, and I was thrilled. We became fast friends, which eventually turned into a relationship. Nate’s parents retired and moved up to Lake Pleasant, which provided us with an excellent weekend escape which was full of adventures. We bonded over camping trips, hikes, and a variety of water activities. I fell in love with him, and the outdoors.

The Proposal:
One weekend last summer, my parents, Nate, and I were up visiting his parents, when unbeknownst to be, he asked my father for permission to marry me. Everyone was excited about it, but managed to keep it a secret until the first weekend in October. We were once again up in Speculator visiting his parents when he asked me if I wanted to go fishing at Mason Lake. It was rainy and cold, but I agreed to go. We fished for a while, and then Nate asked if I wanted to have a campfire and warm up for a bit. He took me to the campsite we stayed at the first time we met, and started to act very quiet. I had no idea what was going on, and he got down on one knee and proposed. I was so shocked and happily surprised, I immediately said yes!!

After the initial shock of the proposal wore off, we started to think about wedding plans. Though Nate told me he would marry me anywhere, it was a natural choice for us to have the wedding in the Adirondacks. It’s where we met and fell in love, and it was a place that held so much value for us. We looked at a few places, but once we took at tour of the facilities at Camp Fowler, we knew it was the place for us! The rustic look is exactly what we are going for, and the log cabin venue perfectly reflects our love for the outdoors and has laid back atmosphere that makes us both feel comfortable.

About the Engagement Session:
I scoured the internet trying to find a photographer I felt could capture the natural beauty of the Adirondacks without losing focus on us. I saw several albums Solas Studios had posted online, and was drawn to the creative, energetic and natural looking pictures. Nate and I had a great phone interview and booked them soon after. With prompting from Colleen, we agreed to do an engagement shoot, lakeside of course. Colleen and Greg not only made us feel more comfortable in front of the camera, but did an amazing job capturing the moment and the beauty of the place that we love so much. As wedding plans progress, we plan on continuing to work with the natural and rustic setting at our venue to portray to our guests why the Adirondacks have become such a big part of our lives. We want our wedding to reflect the love for the outdoors that makes up so much of our personalities, and has helped make our relationship what it is today.

Photography: Solas Studios