Twice a year Dom and I throw an adventure engagement session giveaway. Up until the application deadline, we are flooded with entries from newlyweds sharing their love stories with us, excited at the chance to go on an adventure and get some amazing photos. Since there are too many amazing stories to be able to narrow down winners by written content, on the last day of the giveaway, we toss all the names in a jar and pick 5 lucky winners. Every once in a while we get that awesome combination of a lucky winner with an epic love story, and Arlene and Craig were just such a couple.

Arlene and Craig met while working together at Texas Instruments, and while Craig was determined to create a relationship with Arlene, she was a little more reluctant to jump into anything romantic being the only woman on the team. For nine months Craig patiently kept enjoying “friend dates” with Arlene, planning hikes together and cooking delicious meals for her in the evenings.

After nine months of persistence, Arlene finally realized that she’d fully fallen for Craig and agreed to date but there was just one problem… Craig had to move for work! Jumping immediately into a long-distance relationship wasn’t exactly the easiest transition for them, and it wasn’t long before their relationship took another dramatic turn. Arlene was figuring out when she could potentially move in with Craig when she was injured quite severely while playing soccer. Needing the help and support Craig could give, their “move-in date” was sped up and they launched into this next phase of their relationship.

While hearing their back story I jokingly commented to Arlene that it seems they spent a long time sitting in first gear, but that it was full-speed ahead into fourth from there on out! She laughed and explained that this is why they’ve chosen to enjoy an extended engagement, savoring almost two years between Craig’s initial proposal to a fall wedding in 2021.

As we strolled along the banks of Trillium lake, waiting for the morning clouds to rise and show off Mount Hood in all her beauty we spoke about how different the transition from living in the PNW to Miami has been. Arlene is an avid cyclist, and has some amazing tales of long-distance rides she’s done down the west coast. She brought Craig into the cyclist fold as well, and they are missing the cool air of the Northwest while they are in the heat and humidity of Florida.

Of course, no engagement session would be complete without Dom or I bringing up SCUBA diving, but as of yet neither Arlene nor Craig have tried out SCUBA, but Arlene is interested in getting into it while they are so close to the wonderful diving of the Keys and the Caribbean.

Craig and Arlene moved to Florida to work for Craig’s family company which is in a completely new arena of work for both of them and they are enjoying the challenges of navigating this new career.

Craig and Arlene are a classic Kate Holt Photography couple in that they have an avid thirst for international travel and are planning a trip to Ireland, New Zealand or Australia so we bonded a bit over some of our favorite experiences in those gorgeous countries.

After a beautiful foggy morning we skipped out to Government Camp to grab a quick coffee and a bite to eat before circling back to see a shining Mount Hood peeking over the clouds. Excited, I immediately put Craig’s Collegic Cheer Skills to use as I had him lifting and spinning Arlene on top of the lakeshore rocks, a precarious and difficult pose that I definitely wouldn’t trust just anyone to do!

To top off the morning’s fun Craig, Arlene and I waded into the tepid waters of Trillium Lake for a few last shots and of course a brief water fight!

That evening Craig and Arlene were headed up to Skamania Lodge where they’d enjoy celebrating their friend’s wedding before heading back to Florida.

Hanging out with these two was such a fun day and I’m so excited for these two to get married next fall out in Arizona!

Drop some love and congratulations in the comments below for Arlene and Craig!