This romantic sunrise Joshua Tree desert engagement session is one of my FAVORITE sessions to date!!
Dan & Rachel met in high school and quickly became best friends after Dan accidentally broke Rachel’s hand during a study hall game! While their friendship grew, so did their love for each other! After graduating high school, Dan joined the Marines and these two spent some time apart from each other. But the distance couldn’t stop these two! Through daily letters during their time apart, phone calls whenever possible and short visits home during his leave, these two are inseparable and have always known it was meant to be!
On one of his short visits home, Dan & Rachel visited a jeweler to scope out what type of engagement ring Rachel would like someday. Little did she know that Dan had purchased the ring right there that night! Soon before they had to part ways again, they planned a romantic date night downtown. They got all dressed up, went for a romantic dinner at the top of a skyscraper overlooking the twinkling city lights of Chicago, and finished off the evening walking through the park. Then, at the bench where it all began, Dan proposed to Rachel!
Joshua Tree National Park was the PERFECT spot for this romantic and adventurous engagement session! Dan & Rachel were troupers getting up so early to make the desert sunrise – that 4am wake up call was SOOOO worth it!! These two were so full of laughs, snuggles and genuine happiness throughout their entire session and their love is so obvious just in the way that they look at and hold each other!
One thing Dan & Rachel love most about each other is that they both bring out the best in one another and have the same dreams for their future together! Following their wedding and Dan’s service, these two are excited to pursue careers in education to further God’s kingdom and see the world together!
This session has been an extra special honor for me to be a part of because Dan and Rachel are my brother and soon to be sister-in-law!
Rachel – I remember the day that I met you for the first time – I came home from work and you and Dan were dancing around and making fruity crepes in mom and dad’s kitchen and I swear I’ve never seen Dan smiling so big! I instantly knew that you guys were perfect for each other and it has been so much fun watching you guys grow from being best friends learning to make crepes to planning your wedding! I know that I can speak for our entire family when I say that we are all beyond excited to have you join the Tobin clan!! (YAY for another sister!!!)
Dan – We are all SO excited for you!! Watching you throughout this journey has been so awesome – you truly could not have picked a more amazing woman to love and continue your life with! It has been such an honor to be able to capture your joy and relationship with Rachel!
I cannot wait to see where God leads you both in the future and I am SO looking forward to your intimate June wedding!! Love you guys!!
