Muskoka pre-wedding engagement photographer

From my way back archives: One of my first engagement sessions near Bala.

Jessica and Ben’s summer engagement photos near beautiful Bala, Ontario

I love me some Muskoka and when Jessica and Ben asked to have their engagement session done at their family cottage outside Bala, Ontario my spidey sense began to tingle. Being from Northern Ontario, the rugged mesh of rock, woods and water in Muskoka remind me of my hometown hood.

Soldiering through a few bugs we made our way around their cottage grounds as well as sneaking through neighbouring roads and docks. They even treated me to some ooey gooey s'mores to top off the night - you guys rock!

ProTip: Burnt marshmallows are the way to go. You get to play with fire while it sizzles, eat the burnt layer then burn it again. You can burn 3 or 4 marshmallows before the 'golden brown' chasers are able to cook one.It was great getting to know Jessica and Ben a little ahead of their wedding next year at Cambridge Mill. They have some big plans in their future, a lot of excitement to come!

For now, let's hear a little more of their story in their own words below...

HOW DID THEY MEET

Ben and I met six years ago at Walmart (so romantic right?). I was working in the bakery department as a cake decorator and Ben was working in the meat department. A co-worker in the bakery kept trying to set me up with this “cute guy in the meat department” but I did not give it too much thought at the time. When I finally was introduced to Ben he was impressed on how well I pulled off a hair net and I thought he was quite charming.

My co-worker told me after we met that the way to win his heart over was to make him a blueberry pie. I still have yet to make him a blueberry pie but I definitely have won his heart over regardless.

WHAT DO THEY REMEMBER ABOUT THEIR FIRST DATE:

Jessica: I made us dinner and we were going to go see a movie afterwards (I can’t remember what we ended up seeing now). I do however remember the dinner very well because for anyone that knows me well they know how much I love pasta. So I made spaghetti with olive oil, garlic, and chili flakes with a side of bruschetta. Ben told me how much he loved the dinner and I made it all the time until after about a year and a half of dating he told me he really doesn’t like garlic or hot spices. Got to love him for trying to be polite for so long.

Ben: I remember going over to Jessica’s house and her telling me that she is making me spaghetti with a garlic and chili flake infused olive oil. Being the polite guy I am I thought I would give the dish a try even though I do not like chili flakes or garlic. I took one bite and put on a smile and told her how great the dinner was not knowing she was going to make it all the time now for the next year and a half. Finally I broke the news to her and to this day we still laugh about how many times Jessica made me that dinner.

WHEN THEY KNEW:

Jessica: There definitely was no definitive moment when I knew I was in love with Ben. After a couple of months of spending all my free time with Ben and the disappointment I felt if I couldn’t see him I just realized how much I really did love him. It was great getting to learn everything about him and yes eventually learn his distaste for garlic and chili flakes.Ben: After about three months of dating, I knew I was falling in love with Jessica. I set up a day and time so she could meet my family and they accepted her with open arms. And the rest is history.

THE PROPOSAL, HOW DID IT GO DOWN

Jessica: For our five year anniversary Ben decided to take me to Ottawa for the weekend. We did some sight-seeing during the day and when walking through this park we noticed a man in a tree taking photos in our general direction. We both immediately thought this was really weird until the guy beside us dropped to one knee and proposed to his girlfriend. After witnessing the proposal I looked at Ben and half-jokingly asked when he was going to propose to me. He told me that right not wasn’t a great time and we need to save money first and he will propose in the next three or four years. I totally accepted his reasonable explanation and didn’t push the subject further. Later that night he took me out for dinner at a nice Italian restaurant called Giovanni.

After we had our entrees the waiter came out with two glasses of champagne and a tiramisu that had “will you marry me?” written in chocolate on the plate. I looked at the plate, did a double take, looked at Ben and he was just sitting there so I knew this had to be a mistake. Especially since Ben had told me less than four hours ago he was going to wait a couple more years to propose. As I was about to tell the waiter he made a huge mistake Ben got up from his seat and got down on one knee and my answer was yes.

Ben: Leading up to our weekend in Ottawa I had not told any of our family members that I was planning on proposing. With the exception of Jessica’s dad because I honored the tradition of asking for the fathers permission. I did not tell anyone because both of our families are horrible at keeping any secrets. Also, the reason I did not get up from the table right away when the dessert was served was because I tucked the ring in my pant waistline and the ring got stuck so I was struggling to get the ring out for a minute or so before I was able to get on one knee. I was so nervous I also put the ring on her right hand at first before she whispered to me that the ring goes on the left hand.

ONE THING THEY LOVE ABOUT ONE ANOTHER

Jessica: There is so many things that I love about Ben but I especially love that he is caring and playful.

Ben: What I love about Jessica is her love she pours out no matter the circumstance and passion towards anything and everything she sets her mind to.

Smore's and campfire engagement Bala — Smore's and campfire to celebrate

WHAT ARE THEY LOOKING FORWARD TO MOST ON THEIR WEDDING DAY

Jessica: Dancing! I have absolutely no rhythm but I love to dance. I am very excited for our first dance but just as excited to bust out the lawn mower, grocery cart, and what other lame moves I can think of at the time.

Ben: I can’t wait until the day of the wedding because that means no more planning! I get to actually enjoy the day and all the planning for the last two years will have come to an end.