This past Saturday, we had a gorgeous weather in Austin (thankfully because we’ve since had crazy storms.) Jennifer and Dake ventured out early with me for their engagement session. Here’s a sneak peek of these cuties.
Any guess as to what the most popular wedding date this year will be? According the inquiries I’ve received, my guess is October 10, 2010 – 10/10/2010. That’s the date of Annie and Jerel’s quickly approaching wedding.
I met Annie over coffee in January of this year. She was sweet, quiet, and maybe a bit shy at first. I discussed the packages and showed her products and she calmly took it all in. As I talked about everything, I could see her body language changing and she got excited over some of the products I showed. She told me about how they were in the beginning stages of their planning. She wanted to meet with a photographer whose work she liked to discuss open dates and simultaneously find a venue she liked that were both available on the same day. She was hoping for 10/10, but wasn’t entirely sure the venue she was interested in would have it available. Everything turned out perfectly – the venue she wanted was open and so was I.
During the last eight months, I’ve loved receiving email updates from Annie. She keeps me in the know – tells me about her florist, the changes that are occurring, and she’s an active part of the blog. I sincerely feel as if Annie has become part of my little Magan’s Lens family. Though I hadn’t met Jerel until the day of their engagement session, I knew he had to be somethin’ pretty special. Annie is a one-of-a-kind gal and she deserves a wonderful, special, attentive man. I think she’s found him.
Blog Readers, take a look at the end of the post to find their Q&A. Annie & Jerel, thank you for being so sweet, patient, and kind. Your beauty shines through these photos, and I’m so glad to know you.
How did you meet? Tell me about it – from both of your perspectives.
Annie: I was on the computer when a friend messaged me and told me I “have to” go talk to his friend because we both like anime. After a few more prompts I did message Jerel. A week later we met up along with other friends to watch a movie (Batman Begins) and we’ve been seeing each other ever since then. =)
Jerel: I asked my friend if he knew anyone who shared some common interests of mine, and luckily he did. I insisted on meeting Annie, and couldn’t be happier.
What’s your engagement story? Tell me all the juicy details! Jerel, were you nervous? Annie, did you pick up on the surprise?
Annie: The day before Christmas when Jerel came home from work, he had asked me to get him some fruit. While I was slicing some pears in the kitchen he asked me to turn around. I turned around, with knife and pear still in my hand, and there he was with the ring. =) Of course I happily said yes.
Jerel: I was definitely nervous. Ring ready to go, I couldn’t be more anxious, and so I sprung the question at our first house.
Jerel: What is your FAVORITE characteristic or personality trait about Annie?
Ahh…the question I think many guys have trouble answering. If I had to choose one favorite characteristic, it would have to be that Annie is very easy going.
Annie: What is your FAVORITE characteristic or personality trait about Jerel?
There are lots…not sure which one is a favorite… perhaps it’s that Jerel is very caring and tolerant. I can be a hard person to live with sometimes but he always puts up with my moods… Perhaps most importantly, he loves food yet he supports my being vegetarian and refusal to handle meat. =)
What is one of your favorite moments, experiences, trips, etc. that you’ve done together since you began dating and through the engagement? Tell me about it… from each of your points of view.
Annie: We haven’t really had chance to take many vacations/trips together, but I would say the major one was a couple years ago when Jerel went back to Taiwan with me. It was the first time he and my parents met, and we took trips around Taiwan with my parents and brother. It was great seeing how well they get together despite language difficulties. =) (Jerel only speaks English, and my parents only speak Chinese.)
What have you enjoyed MOST about being engaged and planning your wedding?
Annie: We’ve been together for a long time now (about 6 years) so it’s a great feeling that we’ll soon be officially married. =) I enjoy the shopping and researching during the planning process, although I’m a horrible organizer. I do feel bad for Jerel though – he hates ceremonies and public appearances. =)
Do you have advice for other couples who are planning their wedding?
Annie: I guess just be sure you have no regrets because this will be a once in a lifetime event. =)
Why did you choose the location you did for your engagements photos? Did it have a significant meaning?
Annie: Not really any significant meaning… I did go to UT for undergrad so I thought that might be appropriate. Jerel graduated from UT-Dallas so he didn’t have any Austin ties we could trace back to. As for the botanical garden, we liked the Japanese garden they have there plus it’s really pretty. I majored in Japanese and both Jerel and I love Japanese anime so I thought that it would be nice to take some photos there.
What is your ideal date night?
Have a great meal and watch a movie together…..
If you won $20 million in the lottery, what would you do with the money?
We would probably invest half, donate some, and then use the rest of money to travel the world. =)
by Magan
11 comments
September 1, 2010 - 5:49 pm
I love the way your blog looks, and you have done a great job here. You have worked really hard with the compositions. Well Done.
September 1, 2010 - 6:13 pm
I love the color you’re getting in these photos, also, those bamboo shots are rad!
September 1, 2010 - 6:33 pm
Once again thank you so much Magan! =D Jerel and I love these photos =) Don’t think we’ve ever looked this happy on photo before =) Heheh
September 1, 2010 - 8:18 pm
I’m thinking there are 2 very proud and pleased mamas, seeing these wonderful pics of their beautiful children. Each picture is a careful composition that brings out the best of Annie & Jerel.
September 1, 2010 - 11:22 pm
These are fab, the last one is my absolute favorite.. she’s going to be a gorgeous bride!
September 2, 2010 - 12:33 am
Great work – looks like everyone had a great time. Love that last shot as well. Nice job.
September 2, 2010 - 1:22 am
Ahhh the bamboo shots! This looks like a really sweet couple.
September 2, 2010 - 3:21 am
What a cute couple!!!
September 2, 2010 - 7:33 am
Love the shots in the bamboo. There’s so much depth there. Love it. Love the questionnaire as well!
September 4, 2010 - 11:50 am
Ohnnn~so cute! Can feel the warm and smooth feeling here~
September 4, 2010 - 5:58 pm
I adore the shots where they are lying down, looking so content to be with each other. Your post work is stunning!!!
Today is my 25th birthday. I’ve always kind of felt like an old soul in a young person’s body. I dunno, maybe you picked up on that too… I mean, I do knit and sew. I’ve been looking forward to this birthday for a really long time. I got married young – exactly a month before my 19th birthday. I always felt older, but the number never matched up. Now I think things are starting to level out, and I’m so excited about this year.
I thought it would be fun to share a list of 25 random things about me to document my life thus far. In ten years, I’ll look back at all the things I thought were important and laugh.
- Random Fact #1 was stated above. I don’t think I’ve ever shared how old I was when we got married. We got married on July 31st and on August 31st, I turned 19.
- I got my first kidney stone three months after we got married. My parents refer to my kidney stones as their grandchildren since we don’t have kids yet and the pain is compared to child birth.
- I have a crazy addiction to sour punch straws (strawberry) and frozen yogurt. I’m definitely a sugar kind-of-girl. I much prefer it to chocolate or salty things.
- Dustyn and I have owned four dogs since we’ve been married – Cayman, Eli, Camy, and Jules. Cayman has passed away, but Eli now lives with my parents as he is a dog who needs lots of room to run and play. They live on a farm so he has ample amounts of space.
- I have mentioned where I grew up before, but never really said more than that. For the first 17 years of my life, I lived in the small town of Dime Box, Texas – home to 350 people. No, I’m not kidding. I graduated with 23 people in my class. We didn’t have a football team, and everyone played every sport.
- On that note, I played volleyball, basketball, ran track for a while, and played tennis. The sport I miss the absolute most is volleyball.
- I was the valedictorian of my high school class; I know some of you are rolling your eyes as there weren’t many people in my class, but it is what it is.
- My friends make fun of me because practically everything in my closet is a shade of grey. It’s always been one of my favorite colors. My mom can testify to this – she hated that I always picked out grey t-shirts.
- I have one brother, Justin, and one sister, Ashley. They are both younger than me.
- My family is a definite house divided. I am a UT alum, my mom is an A&M alum, my brother will soon be a Tech graduate, and my sister is still trying to figure out whose side she’ll take.
- Dustyn and I have a serious reading addiction. There’s rarely a night that goes by where I don’t read. I use two online websites to track my reads and share with friends – shelfari and good reads. You can be my friend on there if you enjoy reading too.
- The shot I got yesterday made my arm hurt so badly all through the night; I couldn’t sleep on that arm and I’m extremely tired today because I woke up so much last night.
- One of my favorite restaurants is Casa Ole. They finally brought one to the Austin area; it’s located in Georgetown, but we drive there occasionally for dinner because it’s that darn good.
- I’ve always had the complex of sharing too much information about myself. Case in point – this blog post.
- When I was in college, I didn’t know what I would do if I didn’t get into the school of architecture. I would have been devastated not to have made it, but here I am anyway… not working in that field.
- Right before I started college, I went to a medical camp at A&M. I was trying to decide between architecture and medicine. They put us through mock classes (boring) and made us do rounds at a hospital (extremely heartbreaking) and talked to us about cadavers (gross!). I easily made up my mind and decided to pursue architecture.
- I spent one year at A&M before transferring to UT after I got married.
- At my student orientation at A&M, I was accepted in architectural engineering. I asked which school I should go with – the engineering kids or the architecture kids. They asked me what I was talking about, and I told them what I was accepted for. They informed me that the architectural engineering program had been closed since 1979. Oh, Aggies.
- I ask for my coffee ‘extra-hot’ at all coffee shops. Dustyn thinks my mouth has no nerves because I can also eat something directly out of the oven and it doesn’t burn me.
- Dustyn tells me frequently that he thinks my handwriting is pretty, but he can’t read it worth a darn.
- I have always refused to say the word “y’all”. I gave a lot of speeches growing up for an organization and that word wouldn’t have been acceptable. I never let it become part of my vocabulary.
- I am a sucker for the Spanish language; I want to be fluent and have taken tons of classes. I can definitely understand more than I can speak, but sometimes, I’m just afraid I’ll really say something terribly wrong.
- I am not a fan of seafood. I’m trying to eat fish because I know it’s healthier for me, but dang. The smell just isn’t appetizing.
- I feel extremely uncomfortable about having people come over to our house when it’s not perfectly clean.
- I hate folding clothes, except for when they’re coming directly out of the dryer… soft and warm.
And here’s a recent photo of me. Taken by the lovely Amber Snow.
by Magan
9 comments
August 31, 2010 - 1:25 pm
Loved this little get to know Magan post! Happy Birthday, sweet girl.
August 31, 2010 - 1:54 pm
Awwww, I love it! Thank you for sharing Magan! And happy birthday to a beautiful person!
August 31, 2010 - 3:22 pm
What a fun idea and post. Loved reading, thanks for sharing. I hear ya too on #3, 14, 24 and 25. Happy Birthday!
August 31, 2010 - 3:34 pm
Happy Birthday! Didn’t know it was today. Hope you have an awesome day being 25, and what a fun read. Great pic too 
August 31, 2010 - 5:19 pm
Happy Birthday!
August 31, 2010 - 6:15 pm
Yay yay yay to you my sweet friend! Loved learning the new things about you.
August 31, 2010 - 6:29 pm
Thank you all so much for the birthday love! I feel so blessed to know all of you.
September 1, 2010 - 1:46 pm
You are as beautiful as you are talented – VERY! Hope you have a wonderful year and I look forward to meeting you in February.
September 3, 2010 - 12:59 am
Interesting facts. Great picture Happy Birthday
by Magan
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