Our story starts three years ago when James and Kevin were getting breakfast together at Montecito Coffee Shop. As often as they could they’d meet for coffee and breakfast to catch up, challenge each other and dream together. At the time James and I had been dating for almost a year and James was getting close to buying the ring to propose. Kevin is one of James best friends, and was actually the best man in our wedding, and even went to LA with James to help him design and pick out a ring for the proposal. He is one of our favorite people and we are so grateful for the way he’s challenged, encouraged, and truly made us better individually and as a couple!

This particular breakfast date James asked Kevin if there were any girls he was interested in, (keep in mind Kevin was a youth pastor at our church and a very eligible bachelor and we were always trying to think of girls to set him up with), so James asked about girls and he said he has a crush on Roxanne Love, to which James smiled and replied “she’s one of my favorite humans.”

Then began the pursuit. You see Roxanne Love isn’t just any girl, she is extraordinary. She is an amazingly talented drummer, soccer player, personal trainer and counselor (just to name a few things) and she’s had a few guys chase after her, but she was holding out for the best. So we watched as Kevin pursued and pursued her and showed her what real love was all about. Kevin is one of the most creative people we know, and for their first date they went up into the hills and built a rope swing so they could swing from the eucalyptus trees as they looked over Santa Barbara! Incredible! If you need date ideas, this guy is full of them! (Kevin maybe you should write a book!) Roxanne loved spending time with Kevin, but she was still learning how to be loved by Kevin, and over time we watched her as she started to fall for him, truly, madly deeply! Watching your fiends fall in love is one of the best things in the world! James and I cried happy tears on multiple occasions as we watched them become head over heels for each other!

Then Kevin started planning the proposal, and because of his creativity, this was far from the average proposal. Kevin has been dreaming of how he wanted to propose for years, and it seemed straight out of a fairytale. It was a Tuesday night, and Kevin had told Roxanne he was talking her on a date, but then proceeded to drive toward a forest in the hills. They got out of the car and started walking in the dark. Now you would think she knew she was about to get engaged because of the change of plans, but she was thinking “James and Jess are still in Vegas at WPPI and it’s way too dark to take photos, so it’s not happening tonight” but little did Roxanne know James and I left WPPI at 6am to set up the proposal and were face down hiding in the tall grass with our cameras ready to go, and a few of their close friends were hiding behind a tree as well. As Kevin lead her along the path he was gripping her hand so tight, because he was nervous! A few steps in he stopped and pointed up. Roxanne noticed a chain attached to an Edison lightbulb and when she pulled it the perfectly illuminated their faces. Kevin started to tell her how much he loves her and how he wants to spend his life with her, and then AS HE DROPPED TO A KNEE tho hundred feet of Italian cafe lights came on and illuminated the oak trees!! She said YES and hugged and kissed him as we all ran out screaming congrats!! It was the dreamiest proposal and felt just like a fairytale!! Here are two of our favorites from the proposal!

As if it couldn’t get any better, their engagement session was pretty magical as well! We woke up way before the sun to catch sunrise over the mountains and it was as if the hills were alive and singing! We had some of the most beautiful light we have ever seen, and the field of wildflowers and Santa Barbara mountains made it absolutely unreal! And can you believe how stunning these guys look first thing in the morning!? We are beyond excited to share these images and we cannot wait for their wedding in August!!