Dubuque Brewery Engagement Session | Jenni + Kyle

June 29, 2018

Jubeck New World Brewing in Dubuque is one of Jenni & Kyle’s favorite spots. We were so excited to shoot the first half of their engagement session there. I love incorporating places that have meaning for my couples. I had never shot a brewery engagement session & I was so psyched for this one!

For the second half, we headed to the Mines of Spain. Specifically, the overlook where Kyle had popped the question. Typically I like to start an engagement session post with a recap of the couple’s proposal story.

Kyle & Jenni were amazing enough to send me each of their separate written accounts of the propsal. The writing was so fantastic I felt like I was right there with them. I laughed and almost cried as I scrolled through. I want to share an excerpt from each of their stories to kick off this post.

**setting: Overlook in The Mines of Spain, Dubuque**

Kyle’s Point of View:

“… At that point my body just took over and the next thing I know I’m down on one knee (the right knee. Thanks mud stain on my shorts!!) looking up at you holding one hand while grabbing the ring out of my pocket with the other. This is when you laughed and asked “what, are you going to tie your shoe?”

I laughed at that because I knew what you were referencing and it was adorable, but I also knew that this was the real deal. That’s when I said “I want you to know that I love you very much” and I opened the ring box up. At that moment I could see a wave of shock and realization wash over your face, your eyes got wide (I could tell even with your sunglasses) and your mouth fell open a little bit. I continued with “and I wanted to know if you will marry me?”

I believe the first words out of your mouth were “oh my god” followed quickly by “yes, of course!” After that I stood up and gave you a big hug for a little bit, and a few kisses, then I pulled the ring box back out from behind you (it was still in my hand as we hugged) and you got your first good look at your ring. I pulled it out of the box and put it on your finger and we hugged some more…”

 

Jenni’s Point of View:

“You seemed locked in place and said something to the effect of, “Can we wait just a minute?” I thought we’d taken all the pictures we needed and properly taken in the majesty of the Mississip’, so I was confused, but obliged.

I didn’t have long to question it anyway, since soon you were on your knee – I’m not sure I even saw this happen. Did it happen when I was turned or did it just happen so fast? – telling me that you loved me very much.

Science tells us that in moments of stress or adrenaline people react with either flight or fight. I’m here to tell you about a lesser-known addendum to this rule known as the Ostwinkle Reaction. In an Ostwinkle Reaction Scenario, a person will react by making a joke, which is exactly what I did. I asked you if you were “Doing the Jim thing, tying your shoe?” in reference to the scene in the Office where Jim fake proposes to Pam.

I don’t even know if that’s what I thought you were doing. But what I did know is that I had it all figured out. We’d looked at rings, we’d talked about marriage, we were committed to each other. But it was going to be later summer, maybe fall. You had to save up first. There was no way you were currently on your knee in front of me, telling me you loved me and grabbing a box out of your pocket. There was no way you were pulling out a ring asking if I would marry you. I never saw the ring, just your face.”

Make sure to keep scrolling to see the photos we took in their proposal spot. This includes a pretty killer re-creation of a now infamous pre-proposal selfie. 🙂

jubecks brewing in downtown dubuqueengagement photos at Jubeck Brewing in Dubuqueengagement photos at Jubeck Brewing in Dubuqueengagement photos at Jubeck Brewing in Dubuqueengagement photos at Jubeck Brewing in Dubuqueengagement photos at Jubeck Brewing in Dubuqueengagement photos at Jubeck Brewing in Dubuqueengagement photos at Jubeck Brewing in Dubuqueengagement photos at Jubeck Brewing in Dubuqueengagement photos at Jubeck Brewing in Dubuqueengagement photos at Jubeck Brewing in DubuqueCheers to these two! Then we were headed off to the Mines of Spain!
As a person I love the indoors. I call myself “an indoor Cat”. As a photographer, I am so inspired by beautiful outdoors scenery and soft light in the hour before sunset.
engagement photos at Mines of Spain in Dubuqueengagement photos at Mines of Spain in Dubuqueengagement photos at Mines of Spain in Dubuqueengagement photos at Mines of Spain in Dubuqueengagement photos at Mines of Spain in DubuqueBefore we left the overlook, we knew we had to take this opportunity to re-imagine a photo that Jenni had taken just minutes before the proposal.

Here is the story of the original photo, in her words, “…We marveled at the Mississippi and waved to Julien Dubuque, and I took a few snaps of the valley below, when the Good Lord whispered in my ear: “Your camera has a flip function.” There is no other logic for it; I have no idea what made me do it. I love to tease you, but except for one very notable exception involving someone falling asleep on the beach, I don’t really sneak photos of you – I don’t need to, since you’ll let me take any silly photo I want. In any case, I flipped the camera, snapped two quick pics and then glanced down to check them out. I immediately burst out laughing when I saw your face: it was SO SERIOUS. You’re rarely without a smile, we were on a light-hearted hike, and it was so incongruous with my cheeser grin that I knew it was an instant classic. You knew it too, but for a different reason. We laughed together and then prepared to continue on.”
engagement photos at Mines of Spain in Dubuqueengagement photos at Mines of Spain in Dubuqueengagement photos at Mines of Spain in Dubuqueengagement photos at Mines of Spain in Dubuqueengagement photos at Mines of Spain in DubuqueIowa’s Fall colors were on point on this day. Jenni & Kyle were so great about being in the moment together, and just letting me do my thing. Looking at these photos makes me re-inspired all over again.engagement photos at Mines of Spain in Dubuqueengagement photos at Mines of Spain in Dubuqueengagement photos overlooking Mississippi in Dubuqueengagement photos overlooking Mississippi in Dubuqueengagement photos overlooking Mississippi Bluffs in DubuqueJenni & Kyle tie the knot tomorrow at Convivium Urban Farmstead. Yay! Keep an eye out on Facebook & Instagram for sneak peeks!

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  1. Chris says:

    Photos are amazing!
    So creative.

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Located in Bellevue, Iowa
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Modern wedding photography & family documentary sessions in Dubuque Iowa, the Quad Cities, and beyond. Located in Bellevue. Documenting love stories in the everyday moments & the life changing ones. Focused on creating honest images.