Elaine & Jay

I have a thing for quiet engagement sessions. Engagement sessions where all you focus on is a love story unfolding, where nothing distracts you, because it’s all about the story. Elaine and Jay headed to Paddington’s Reservoir Gardens for their engagement shoot with Charlie Ralph, paying homage to the historic backdrop – an echo of the English castle where they got engaged, and their vintage Victorian mansion wedding location.

But their love of all things old didn’t keep these two from meeting in the most modern of ways – online! Elaine reminiscing “We started chatting online and clicked immediately. We started talking on the phone every day and finally went on a date… it all went from there…” We can’t wait to share their story with you!

On what she loves about Jay, Elaine tells “I love how supportive Jay is, how he is there for me no matter what crazy idea I come up with! He completely gets me (and I also love how he is also as obsessed as I am with our pet bunny Pongo).”

On his love for Elaine, Jay tells “She makes me laugh and more important, laughs at my jokes. She is the first woman I can finally relax around, I don’t mean like let my belly go, I mean I can share my dreams,targets and life goals.”

It was in England that Jay popped the question, the bride to be sharing “It was our anniversary and we were living in the UK. I had suggested we go for a walk around Castle Hill Estate, the historic castle, house and gardens which was near the town where we lived, turns out Jay had already planned to propose there! When we arrived we took photos of the gardens and the house, and ended up at the castle ruins which overlooked parts of North Devon. Happened to be horses grazing nearby as well, for anyone who knows me, being asked outside a castle with horses and in a gorgeous garden is perfect!”

“We wanted to keep the historic theme throughout our engagement and wedding. We were engaged at a historic house and castle in the UK and are being married at a historic location in the Hunter Valley with a Victorian Garden theme, so we wanted to keep this theme throughout. Was such a wonderful idea from Charlie! The location was historic with hidden modern touches” shares Elaine.