Manassas Battlefield is always gorgeous in the fall – the sun sets right over a hill so the light diffuses over the grass and always creates such a beautiful glow. Billy and Amber’s session was on the perfect fall day – just when the overwhelming heat of the summer subsided. You can immediately tell how calm and joyful they are with each other from their photos – I can’t WAIT to celebrate their wedding day with them in just a couple of months!

Want to get to know them a bit more?

1) Where/when did you meet?    

Billy and I met in 2017. We met through mutual friends who thought we’d be a perfect match. My best friend of 10 years, Elaina, told me I had to meet this sweet guy named Billy, who she was determined I was going to marry someday. A few months later I was unknowingly set up on a blind date with him during an outing at Black Hog BBQ restaurant in downtown Frederick the night of September 30th, 2017. We instantly clicked that night. I’ll never forget the day I met him – my life changed for the better that day.

2) What would be your dream date night?

Our dream date would be any kind of road trip together. We love doing day trips and riding down gorgeous back roads with the windows down. As for a dream date night, we’d both agree just staying in and keeping it low key is perfect. Quality time, cuddling up together and enjoying a bag or popcorn is all we need.

3) How did Billy propose?

In July of 2018, Billy set up a hike date. He wanted to climb the Appalachian Trail up to the Washington Monument. It was a recreation of a hike we took on one of our very first dates in 2017 – one of the first times we truly connected. During that first hike together we talked about family, religion, the importance of shared values and morals and we connected on an emotional level. The second time we took this hike, almost a year later, the weather was perfect. It was one of the first sunny days we had since May amidst a very rainy Spring and the humidity was extremely low for a July afternoon. Billy hid his nerves extremely well, never acting out of character. I did not suspect he’d be proposing to me that day – and what a sweet surprise when he got down on one knee. When we reached the top of the monument, we sat down and he pulled out a book he’d had made for me with pictures of us, our family and sticky notes I’d left around his house for the last 6 months. I love to leave him sticky notes around his house with little love notes written on them for him to find. So, fittingly, on the last page of the book he wrote out on a sticky note, “Will you marry me?” And as I looked up at him, he got down on one knee and asked me. I still remember jumping into his arms saying, “YES!” 

4) What are you most excited about for your wedding day?     

I am excited for the moment I walk down the aisle May 18th and see Billy for the first time. It will be the moment when we finally come together in marriage and begin our life together. I joke all the time with Billy while wedding planning – he’ll ask me questions such as, “What type of food should we have catered? What music? What colors?” And I look right at him and say, “I don’t know, I just want to marry you.” And it’s true! I love everything about weddings, but at the end of the day, I just can’t wait to see him as I walk down that aisle and we officially come together in unity.