Is anyone else a HUGE fan of online dating success stories? After getting to know Elise and Peter, I am so totally on board. These two adorable lovers met online during the pandemic and have had heart-eyes for each other since. I find it incredibly romantic that during a time when many people were seeking clarity and comfort, Elise and Peter found that in each other.
Elise and Peter’s Engagement
Their Washington DC engagement session was actually the second time I met Elise, we had originally met a while back when I was in town visiting at a coffee shop in DC. She told me all of their dreams for their future: get engaged soon, have a big wedding in Texas with their friends and family, grow old together, and live happily ever after. Well, we can officially check engagement off the list! Peter is currently in the middle of Marine Officer Training which has made planning a large wedding a bit complicated, so, they’re considering hosting an intimate wedding this October and then setting a date later down the line for a larger party with all their friends and families.
It’s almost as if their love was destined to be! Elise and Peter grew up in different cities in Texas and then moved to Washington, DC for different reasons when fate lined up and brought them to one another. When getting to know them both, Elise and Peter mentioned how instant the love was the second they set eyes on each other. Elise told me “I remember thinking how he looked like an angel walking down the street to meet me for the first time,” I mean… GOALS! From my experience, love like this is a once-in-a-lifetime kind of love and I am SO happy they found it in each other.
Washington DC Engagement Session
A lot of their love story feels like fate. We had their Washington DC engagement session on the books for a few months, when suddenly Peter was scheduled for a last-minute training session on the same day. We were going back and forth on different dates that would work when suddenly a heatwave came through the area and Peter’s training was postponed… talk about perfect timing! We even had originally planned to shoot at a state park when we stumbled across Dumbarton Oaks in DC and absolutely fell in love.
Portraits at Dumbarton Oaks
Dumbarton Oaks is an incredibly stunning location. These lush gardens go on forever and the architecture is incredibly romantic. We felt as though we were the only ones there! Everything about their Washington DC engagement session was incredibly romantic and natural. The way the sunlight dripped through the trees made each ounce of this session magical. The smiles on their faces told a million of their love stories all at once, and I just knew they were beyond excited to spend the rest of their lives together. Elise wore the sweetest midi-length white linen dress and Peter wore a matching linen button-up paired with dark jeans. They felt incredibly casual and cool, it was preeetttty hot after all!
I love that these two allow their love to take the lead in everything they do. They are so ready to get married and start their lives together! The best part is that once Elise and Peter are married they won’t have to do long-distance anymore. Peter is constantly relocated for his schooling and once he and Elise marry, she will be able to go with him. I am SO happy for these two and cannot wait to see how their wedding unfolds!
If you loved this Washington DC engagement session at Dumbarton Oaks, be sure to check out more on the blog!
This is such an awesome photoshoot. I was planning on proposing at Dumbarton Oaks but their website it is not allowed? Do you think it is still okay? If so, would you have availability on June 8th?