Engagement session Elsie Perrin
It is Stephanie and Andrew’s big day today at the Elmhurst and I’m throwing it back to just a month ago when we photographed their Engagement session Elsie Perrin.
- How we met really depends on which one of us you ask .. as each of us remembers it just a little bit differently. According to Steph: It was the night of the Kentucky Derby – May 4th, 2019. Steph was celebrating the Kentucky derby with a day full of activities with friends, including lunch in Worley Village, watching the horse races at the Western Fair Raceway and finally she capped the night off by meeting up with Heather (Sister-in-law, in bridal party) and Chantel (Friend, but not at the wedding) for drinks and they made their way to Molly Blooms. Andrew also happened to be at Molly Blooms that night. He was just coming off of finishing his last Pharmacy school exam of his life at the end of April. He had moved back to London from Toronto for the next few months completing clinical rotations between London and Toronto. He was hanging out with his friends Ryan (Best man), Arizona (groomsman), Derek (groomsman – probably on a “break” from his shift at the airport), Paul (not invited to wedding) and Woodley (not invited to wedding). Steph knew Paul from Sport Western (which they both worked at during their summers as varsity athletes). Andrew and Paul first met as they played baseball together in Minor Mosquito (10 and under) for the North London Nationals. They continued to know each other over the years through baseball and ended up working together at Home Run Sports in their early to mid 20s. During their conversation, Paul mentioned to Steph that he knew a guy that she should meet, who happened to be at the bar that night as well. So Steph walk over to Andrew and introduced herself. Steph said “Hi, I hear I am suppose to meet you, my name is Steph”. Andrew said “ok”. (Steph had interrupted a conversion that Andrew was in the middle of) Cue some awkward silence, to which Steph stood up and walked away, that is when Andrew followed her and they talked the rest of the night. The night ended as most nights do when Andrew and Arizona are on Richmond row together, with a late night meal. Andrew, Arizona, Woodley and Steph made their way to Burrito Boyz. Rewind the tape to 2 summers before – If you ask Andrew, he knows this was actually not the first time him and Steph had met. It was a warm summer evening on the Barney’s Patio. Steph happened to see some old friends and sat with them a while. Andrew was out with Ryan, and they were also sitting with the mutual friends. It was a brief moment in time, but the first true meeting of Andrew and Steph. Steph has 0 recollection of the meeting. In fact, she was already looking ahead to flying back to Scotland to finish her final year of her Master’s in Speech Therapy days later.
- Comfort
- It took many attempts 1. Initial Andrew was going to propose early in December on a Friday night. He was going to propose on the Friday night and we were suppose to host a Christmas party the next evening, as a celebration of sorts in telling our friends. Both Stephanie and Andrew got COVID boosters on the Friday and both felt like crap on Friday night so their was no proposal. The Christmas party was cancelled because we then went into another lock down 2. Christmas comes around and Stephanie got very sick. Andrew and Stephanie were staying in different areas of the house as Andrew was still working and had not gotten sick. We were wearing face mask when we were in any shared spaces of the house. Stephanie was not happy because all of Christmas was getting cancelled because she was sick but she still wanted to exchange gifts with Andrew. So Stephanie kept asking to exchange gifts and Andrew kept putting it off. Until pretty much Christmas Day. Stephanie stayed in the living room and Andrew was in the kitchen. Andrew mumbled through saying that now was not the best time for his gift. Stephanie guessed it was a ring and started crying sitting on the couch surrounded by snot rages crying in a face mask. Andrew asked if stephanie wanted to see the ring and she said no. Andrew made it very clear that Stephanie was not allowed to tell anyone and specifically said that that includes her mom and Jessica (maid of honour). 3. Stephanie finally felt better and starting asking for her ring saying they were half engaged and wanted to be fully engaged, but now andrew was sick and was very annoyed by Stephanie doing this. 4. Fast forward to Valentine’s Day weekend. We went out to dinner in Port Stanley. After dinner Andrew asked if they should take a walk on the beach. Stephanie said no because it was pouring rain. (Another failed attempt) 5. The following day Andrew proposed at the house then they recreated their first date, went out for pizza and mini putt (Andrew won this round of mini putt).
- At the start of us dating we spent a lot of time in Port Stanley. Steph coached beach volleyball, and we made weekly trips to the beach on Wednesday evenings. Port Stanley continues to be a special place for us.
- For Stephanie, Andrew is her sensible person, he always helps her calm down. He is my rock For Andrew, Steph is so kind and compassionate. She cares for all of those around her and loves with all her heart.
- Loving and fun
