This past week has been absolutely insane, but I am very thankful to have been able to step away from the madness to spend an hour with an amazing couple. With a gorgeous sunset on the horizon, I met Jenna, Austin, and Jasmine at Chisholm Park for a celebration of a lifetime. The couple was celebrating their engagement and Jasmine received the question she had been waiting for!
How They Met
Jenna and Austin were set up by her friend and boyfriend (Austin’s roommate). She was so nervous when she met him because he was much cuter than his picture! Austin was very focused on the things from his past in Texas and his goals for his future. He kept her at a distance and didn’t really want to let her in.
They started talking about his motorcycle and she begged him for a ride. She ran to her car and pulled out her “just in case I get to ride a motorcycle” helmet and that was it. Jenna intrigued him. She was the first girl to ever ride on the back of his bike. He was hooked at that point and wanted to get to know her more. Jenna hadn’t mentioned her daughter much the entire night, so she was scared because they are a packaged deal. She brought Jasmine to a get together at a friend’s house to see how they interacted.
They ran, and played, chased each other, and he tossed her around in the air for 2 hours. Jasmine was so happy, he was so happy, and Jenna’s heart just melted. Right then and there, Jenna knew he was the one and told her friend that she had a feeling she was going to marry him.
Their Connection
Austin was raised in a Christian home, he knew God, but had strayed away from Him some while becoming an adult. Jenna, on the other hand, was raised in a home with no specific religion. She knew there was something, but she didn’t know what and it intrigued her throughout her life. Jenna would ask people about God frequently to help her figure it all out and it angered her. It didn’t seem fair or it didn’t seem right. Austin changed her perspective.
At the end of Austin and Jenna’s first date, they sat in the car in front of Jenna’s house and talked for hours. She felt so comfortable with him that she asked what his religion was. Their conversation about God left her feeling so happy and intrigued. He knew and had a relationship with God. He wasn’t as close with God as he used to be, but still had a fierce love and belief in Him. Jenna to love the Lord like that and wanted a relationship with Him
A month after they were officially boyfriend and girlfriend, they decided to try a church. The church they chose, First Baptist Church of St. Cloud, impacted them both so much. Soon after joining the church, Jenna was baptized, and they made the decision to grow and base their relationship around God. Once they made that decision, their perspective on life and love has overwhelmed them both and they thank God everyday for each other.
The Proposal
Austin and Jenna would joke about proposing to each other for about a month before it actually happened. One night, they were sitting together on the couch just talking and joking around. Austin said, “We could just get married”. Thinking he was joking like they usually do, Jenna replied, “Did you just ask me to marry you?” Expecting him to say no like he always does, instead he said yes. Surprised, Jenna answered, “No way, you can’t be because you don’t have a ring and you are not down on your knee!” Then, he got up, grabbed her ring out of his wallet, got down and one knee, and asked her again. “Will you marry me?” Jenna said yes. He told her after that none of it was planned at all. He just couldn’t jokingly say no any longer and had to say yes, he seriously wanted to marry her.
Jenna’s engagement ring and soon to be wedding band were his mother’s. Two months before he asked Jenna to marry him, Austin told his mom that she was the one. He was talking to her about where to get a ring and what it should look like, but she had a better idea. She offered for Austin to give Jenna her original engagement ring and wedding band, and Austin gratefully accepted.
The Session at Chisholm Park
Chisholm Park is where Jenna and Austin became boyfriend and girlfriend. He had asked Jenna to be his girlfriend a few days prior at his home. She was scared, freaked out, and told him she wasn’t ready. But, Jenna thought about it and decided to take the leap. So, when they were at the Chisholm Park on their next date, she told him to ask the question again. Austin asked again and she finally said yes. It was only fitting to have their engagement session at the park!
Jenna and Austin met me with Jasmine at Chisholm Park for a sunset engagement session. It was very important for Jenna to include Jasmine as she is the center of Jenna’s life. Austin also had a very important question to ask her! Jasmine had been begging Austin to adopt her and become her official dad for months. Little did she know, the two had been planning this for a while.
At the end of their session with Jasmine, Austin pulled her aside. He got down on one knee (just like her mom), and asked her if he could adopt her. Um, cue the tears behind the camera!! Jasmine jumped up and down and gave Austin a huge hug. Seeing their bond was unreal. Jenna definitely found the perfect man to complete her family! Jenna and Austin continued their session and road off into the sunset together on Austin’s motorcycle.
Take a peek into their session below! We can’t wait for their wedding next month!
Chisholm Park Engagement Session | Jenna + Austin | St. Cloud, FL
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