This, to me, is a super win engagement session. Michaela and Ryan included a number of things that meant something special to them as a couple – parks, book reading, ice cream sharing, and Catan playing. Even some ninja posing was thrown in for good measure. We started off at the beautiful Reader Rock Garden then headed towards Fish Creek Park, which ended up having a beautiful sunset with amazing stormy-looking skies. This fantastic couple is very fun to be around with their easy-going nature, backed up by playful gestures and constant laughter – I’m very excited to share and experience their big day coming up this July!
How did you two first meet?
We met while we were taking our education degrees, though we can’t remember when this meeting first happened.
Ryan: “I do know that towards the end of our practicum we ended up attending separate professional development sessions at the same school. I remember her sticking her head in and saying “hi” before text messages started to arrive. Turns out that Michaela had gone ahead and gotten my number from a mutual friend. Several weeks later, like many of the Ed students, we found themselves at the Den celebrating the end of Practicum. I just remember how awesome her laugh was and the great conversation we had, which must have been really good because she asked me out.”
Michaela: “I remember Ryan reaching out and randomly poking me in the stomach while we at the den. I just thought “what, who does that?” I thought it was super goofy and cute.”
Ryan: “And me hearing this for the first time leaves me going I’m glad I met someone who appreciates this and doesn’t think I’m a complete creep.”
What brings you two closer together?
“Honestly we can’t say what brought us together. There was just a great chemistry there. Since we’ve been together we’ve introduced each other to a bunch of activities, like Golf and Skiing. We also discovered that board games are no longer just Monopoly and Clue and have a growing collection of them that we love battle each other in.”
Share a memory!
Michaela: “The first times we went skiing I really saw how encouraging and patient Ryan was with me, and it clued me in how much I trusted him since this was something I was terrified to do. He challenges me to do things I’ve never done before and doesn’t let me back out of it, which is pushing me to grow.”
Ryan: “I’m always so impressed when Michaela does these things. It’s so obviously out of her comfort zone, but she always gives it a shot. Leaves me all proud and gushy about it. I think what’s always gotten me about Michaela is just how comfortable we are together, and how there’s never really been that ‘feeling each other out’ phase. For our first date, and keep in mind this was Michaela’s plan, we went to see “Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.” This is NOT a first date movie, especially with certain scenes that… well shouldn’t be mentioned in a SFW environment. But we laughed it off over drinks and had a great night of conversation afterwards. And its always like that with us.”
