We love an excuse to get dressed up, and for Brooke and Jake, there really was no better time to don a classic black tuxedo and a drop-dead gorgeous red gown than their engagement session. But not only did their chosen photographer Mallory Sparkles manage to capture them looking red carpet glam in the Sunshine Coast countryside, but these two managed to put their special twist on it all with a romantic dinner for two of burgers and french fries!

“We wanted to do a MacDonalds run between garden parties and reception for our wedding but it was just a little too impractical for the big day” admits Brooke. “Instead we tied it into our engagement photos!” A perfect excuse we say (after all, is there any better combo than champagne and fries?).

The pair, who met through mutual friends, caught each other’s eyes at the get-go, says Brooke. “We met at a friend’s dinner. We both locked eyes and thought each other was cute. A few weeks later I (Brooke) found out I was moving to Indonesia for work. Not long after Jake and I connected and went on a burrito date, super casual and probably a friend zone vibe as I broke the news I’ll be moving overseas in a few weeks so this can’t be any more than a date.

A week later we went to the movie together and the “click” happened. I still left to move overseas. We FaceTimed every night and played Skip-Bo online and after almost two months I knew something special was there and I flew back home to be with him. The rest was history.”

“We love how we both have the same vision, mindsets, love language and interests” says Brooke on what they love about one another. “Everything seems easy like we’re two best friends hanging out and doing life together. We both cherish time together and always make time for date night.”

It was during a different photo session, that Jake asked Brooke to marry him. “Jake and I like to take travel photos and I had been asking for years if we could take photos at Paronella Park” she remembers, “He finally agreed that we could make the drive there and little did I know it was the perfect opportunity to have a camera ready for when he popped the question.”