Risa and Andy | Mellon Park Engagement Session

Risa and Andy are one of the most down-to-earth and friendly couples I’ve had the pleasure of photographing.  They just have this happy and genuine aura that was completely apparent upon the first hello we spoke!  We photographed their session in Mellon Park, and Luna, their sweet black pup, made a cameo in some of the pictures.  Risa and Andy have known each other for quite some time- since high school! But I’ll let them tell you the whole story themself in the Q&A section below.

For a November day, the sun couldn’t have given us better light! It was warm and golden, and in a few of these pictures, I had fun playing with sun flare.  Take a look at some of my faves from their session!

Q: Tell us how you met!
Risa: We met our sophomore year of high school (2003) when I started at Shadyside Academy. We spent a good bit of our free periods sitting at “the windows” playing cards. I remember telling my mom about him. I definitely had a crush.

Q: When was your first date? Details, please!
A: Sometime in June 2007, summer of our freshman year of college. I found out that his parents were moving to Ligonier where I grew up. I was excited and called to talk to him. Turned out he was still in the middle of his finals but he called me to meet up when he got home. For our first date, I think we were hiking around Cucumber Falls in Ohio Pyle.

Q: How did you know that he was the one?
A: I couldn’t be without him! Everything I did, I wished he could be a part of because I knew that sharing it with him would make every experience exponentially better.

Q: When was the proposal?  Tell us about it!
A: June 29, 2014.  We took a weekend trip to Deep Creek together to canoe, hike and hang out at the Honi Honi. On the drive back we stopped in Ohio Pyle to get ice cream and take a walk. We were sitting on the cliff overlooking the valley, where we had gone on one of our first dates, that’s when he proposed.

Q: What do you like most about your fiancé?
Risa: I don’t think I could choose between his personality and his heart. He is so smart and funny and he is the most caring, kind and generous person I know. We always keep each other laughing and I love that!
Andy: Her goofiness and how much we complement each other. No matter what the situation or where we are were having fun and comfortable on any adventure.

Stay Tuned!
Wedding Date: August 20, 2016
Ceremony and Reception Location: Seven Springs Mountain Resort