Eolia Mansion at Harkness Memorial State Park Engagement Session in Waterford, CT | Christine & Sal

AN EOLIA MANSION ENGAGEMENT SESSION

We had the loveliest fall day for Christine and Sal’s engagement session at Eolia Mansion in Waterford, Connecticut. Their session date fell on a wonderful November afternoon with temperatures in the 70s, and it almost felt like spring! Eolia Mansion at Harkness Memorial State Park has all of the components of a romantic portrait location that I love: historical architecture, gardens, and New England coastal views!

I had a fantastic time hanging out with Sal and Christine as I snapped their engagement photos last week. Though they may have been a bit nervous at the start of their session, these two followed my posing prompts flawlessly and were total naturals in front of my camera within minutes! It’s always such a treat for me to see my clients’ confidence grow as their portrait session progresses.

As I walked around the grounds of Eolia Mansion with Christine and Sal, they shared a bit about the wedding they’re planning for next summer. Though they were originally supposed to get married at Eolia this past August, their wedding was postponed due to the pandemic. Even so, Christine and Sal have such a positive outlook on the situation and are equally as excited for the new day they’re planning!

THE PROPOSAL STORY

Sal and Christine love to travel, so they decided to plan a trip to Mexico. The two booked a very early flight so so they could arrive bright and early, and enjoy a full first day of vacation! Unfortunately, their plans of starting their first day in Mexico early didn’t work out. After boarding the plane, Christine, Sal, and the rest of the passengers sat on the tarmac for over 3 hours, only to find out there was a mechanical issue with the plane. The airline directed everyone to get off the plane, but luckily they would be boarding another flight later in the day.

Christine and Sal finally landed in Mexico and made it to their resort around 8:00 pm. They were determined to still make the most of their first night after all of the delays! The two enjoyed a fantastic dinner and decided to go back to their room to use the hot tub. As Christine was on the balcony opening a bottle of champagne, she saw Sal walking very quickly toward her. She didn’t know why he was moving so quickly or what was happening. All of a sudden, Sal got down on one knee and asked Christine to be his wife!

These two are planning a lovely coastal wedding at York Harbor Inn in York, Maine, and I cannot wait to see their day come to life! Congratulations Christine and Sal!

When did you know you'd found "the one"?

Christine: “Sal and I have been together for 9 years but in the middle of our relationship we actually decided to break up and we spent a full year apart. After about a year I got really sick and ended up in the hospital. When I was in the hospital I remember the only person I wanted to see was him. The only person who could make me feel safe. I reached out to him and we met back up when I was better. The first time we met it was like we had spent no time apart at all.”

Sal: “The moment I saw her in the restaurant parking lot after not seeing each other for a year. I knew I couldn’t ever let her go again.”

What's one thing you love about your partner?

Christine: “His cooking! He’s an amazing cook and always plans romantic dinner dates at home.”

Sal: “She makes the mundane, routine things of day to day life exciting because we get to do it together.”

Besides getting married, what is one thing you're looking forward to on your wedding day?

Christine: “Seeing Sal’s reaction as I walk down the aisle.”

Sal: “Seeing Christine walk down the aisle.”

What's one thing you're looking forward to about marriage?

Christine: “He’s already my family but making it official.”

Sal: “Finally calling her my wife!”

I hope you enjoyed this fall engagement session at Eolia Mansion!  Do you know Christine and Sal?  Show them some love by commenting below!


ABOUT THE PHOTOGRAPHERS

Shaina Lee Photography is a husband and wife photography team serving Connecticut, New York, and beyond.  We specialize in timeless, elegant, and romantic weddings while celebrating all couples in love. 

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