Claire was a New York City girl who transplanted to California for college at UC San Diego. The ocean, the sun, and the easy-going lifestyle was just what she needed. Quickly acclimating to college life, Claire attended a party hosted by the UCSD baseball team, took a look at the beer pong table, and announced she needed a partner. Claire held up a ping pong ball and asked, Any takers?

A handsome baseball player made his way to Claire, introduced himself as Ryan, and together they played…but Claire failed to tell him she was a designated driver before they started…so Ryan drank for the both of them. In the wee hours of the morning, while Claire drove Ryan and a group of friends home, she stopped for tacos.

Claire placed an order for everyone and watched as Ryan made his way to a $0.25 toy vending machine near the register. After depositing a quarter, out popped a giant ring. With a bright pink diamond, Ryan slid the ring across the table, but Claire simply laughed at his inebriated antics.

Little did she realize that ring was simply a precursor to a real diamond ring years later.

I am thrilled to be shooting Claire and Ryan's wedding and I know great things are in store for this lovely couple! We started their engagement session at UCSD, where it all began…

Claire kept the pink diamond ring Ryan gave her at the baseball party all those years ago…it's proven to be one of her most cherished pieces of jewelry! 😉

The light was perfect for engagement photos at UCSD…who would've thought this was a campus and not a park?

After a quick change, we headed across the street to the beach to enjoy sunset along the La Jolla coast…

The afternoon spent with Claire and Ryan was one of my favorites…they are incredibly kind, thoughtful, and extraordinarily giving. I can't wait to photograph their wedding at Pelican Hill Resort with Alison Howard Events orchestrating a lovely day.

Happy Wednesday!