Are you guys ready for one of the sweetest love stories ever? When I listened to Kelsi and Braeden talk about their relationship I nearly teared up! It is a story filled with serendipity, romance, realism, commitment, and of course, a happy ending!

Kelsi and Braeden met in High School when Kelsi had the biggest crush on Braeden and would bake him things to catch his attention. They shared a kiss once but never officially ‘dated’ (you know how high school is!). In his sophomore year, Braeden switched schools and Kelsi was heart broken. Something about their interaction stuck with her through the years and even after Kelsi’s life brought her two gorgeous daughters, her thoughts still strayed back Braeden wondering what might have been.

In 2018, Kelsi found Braeden on Facebook and nervously sent him a friend request. She didn’t know if he’d remember her or even want to be contacted, but Braeden immediately replied and only a few days later they set a date to meet up.

Braeden skipped all the typical “let’s see movie” first date shenanigans and instead invited Kelsi over to his place for a romantic seafood meal. It was the perfect plan, except that Braeden didn’t know that Kelsi hated shrimp! Being so excited to reconnect, she didn't say anything until later on when they got to know each other better and laughed about it.

They spent the next few years growing closer and closer. They would watch ‘That 70s Show’ and cuddle next to Braeden's cat Emmy who was the original ice-breaker on their first date. Kelsi had two daughters at this time from a previous relationship and wasn't looking to have some surface dating experience so was up front and honest with Braeden about this from the get-go. Braeden in response impressed her with his willingness to open up and put everything out on the table, take it slow, and ensure that his relationship with Kelsi also included a relationship with her girls in a big way.

Braeden gave Kelsi a promise ring a year ago and had been asking her to marry him for a while when one night Kelsi and he were lying in bed together and Kelsi realized that that elusive "perfect time" to get married was actually right now, and she finally said yes!

Kelsi and Braeden were engaged in April and plan to have their wedding in September of 2021. Currently they live with their two cats, Whim and Douglass. Kelsi is a also photographer herself, so meeting them face to face for the first time on their engagement shoot brought a little bit of butterflies to my stomach, as for some reason shooting in front of other photographers gets me just a tad nervous. Kelsi however was THE most gracious and humble person, and she and Braeden were just so obviously in love and comfortable around each other that their nerves at being in front of the camera and my nerves at photographing a photographer quickly melted into laughter and fun as we got to stroll all over one of my favorite parks in Sauvie Island.

As we walked I got to learn even more about these two and they opened up and let me into their beautiful lives. Kelsi and Braeden have been taking advantage of this COVID summer by escaping out to remote parks and swimming holes to social distance in the beauty of nature. Braeden is especially talented at being able to find secluded areas and hidden treasures which delight Kelsi’s daughters to no end. At a recent outing for example he was able to find freshwater shells in a small eddy in the river!

These two also share an adventurous spirit which I quickly fell in love with and also exploited as I had them climbing up on top of downed logs as the sun hit it’s perfect golden hour glow.

The way Braeden and Kelsi look at each other, well… you’ll just have to see for yourself. These two are the real deal and I can’t wait to photograph their wedding next year!

Check out a small selection of images from their engagement shoot below and drop some love for this amazing couple in the comments section!