I had so much fun working with this romantic couple in my dream location! Don and Tuong-My have been together for nearly five years. They met at a mutual friend’s party in college, and after getting a few drinks in him, Don worked up the courage to ask for Tuong-My’s number. Their relationship started as a long-distance relationship, but it worked for them! Don proposed to Tuong-My on a weekend getaway to Savannah, Georgia. It was Tuong-My’s birthday weekend, and Don invited some friends along to make her less suspicious. He got down on one knee and tried to get out the speech he had prepared, but he was crying too hard to get the words out. In the end, Tuong-My said yes, and the rest is history.
Tuong-My wanted a location that was botanical and romantic, and I had just the place. Bok Tower Gardens offers historic landscape gardens, a unique Singing Tower carillon, and a magnificent 1930s Mediterranean-style mansion. If a couple is looking for a botanical garden style, this location is always my recommendation. There are so many gorgeous mossy trees and opportunities for a fairytale engagement session. It is a bit of a drive from Tampa, but the tower alone is worth the trip. The entry fee is about $16, and this gives you access to the gardens and 3.5 miles of beautifully preserved hiking trails.
Don and Tuong-My were incredibly resilient for this engagement session on a hot July day. July in Florida means scorching hot days and rainy, rainy evenings. We decided to reschedule our shoot for the middle of the day to avoid the rain. Despite the mugginess and heat, these two loved being outdoors and were so fun to pose and photograph. I loved watching Don and Tuong-My giggle to each other and truly enjoy each other’s company. You would never know that this was their first time taking professional photos. They were happy to let me choose the location and took instructions so well that I simply loved working with them. I cannot wait to photograph their wedding this November!
