Heather + Matt
Heather first knew Matt as her best friend’s brother. Matt would often see Heather at their family functions, and as time went on, the two of them formed a friendship of their own. After about 12 years of knowing each other, they began dating. It was important to both Heather and Matt that they be sure of this next step, as their families and lives were already so intertwined.
“I really knew he was my forever one once we were living together & had to deal with challenges. We faced them as a team and learned to trust and communicate through things good and bad.” – Heather
On their third dating anniversary, Matt proposed with help from his sister, Nicole, and her husband. After an elaborate plan feigning car trouble, Matt got down on one knee in Cable Car Square in Dubuque, at one of Heather’s favorite spots. He told her he couldn’t imagine spending his life without her. Matt even incorporated their shared love of baseball, by handing her a bat that said, “Will you marry me?”.
Heather + Matt’s baseball engagement session in Dubuque, Iowa.
We would later include that bat into the couple’s baseball-themed engagement session in Dubuque. These two cheer for opposing teams, and they both wore their gear for the first part of the session.
Their dog Libby came along for Mom & Dad’s engagement photos. Heather and Matt adopted her during the pandemic, and have helped her with her unique challenge of being deaf. It was really great to see how they work together to take such great care of their furbaby. I think Libby’s favorite part of the session was the very end, where she got to cool off in the creek at Swiss Valley Nature Preserve in Dubuque.
Make sure you scroll all the way through to see this adorable pup hamming it up, and read a bit more about Heather & Matt’s love story.
3 words to describe Matt, by Heather | caring, organized, serious
3 words to describe Heather, by Matt | dependable, genuine, loving, organized (I know that’s 4 but I couldn’t decide)
I knew I wanted to spend forever with my love when…
Heather: “I think I knew not long after we started dating. Because of my closeness with his family, we really had to decide quickly if this was something that was going somewhere. I knew that we had to know if we were serious before we told them we were dating. I think I really knew he was my forever one once we were living together and had to deal with challenges and we faced them as a team and learned to trust and communicate through things good and bad.”
Matt: “I had a feeling when we started dating back in January of 2018. I really knew it a couple of months later after we were talking/texting on a daily basis and after we had made a couple of trips to each other’s houses. I think my feelings were solidified during our trip to Des Moines in the spring/summer of 2018.”
What is something you both have in common?
Heather: “We love baseball and care greatly about our family and friends.”
Matt: “We both love baseball, music, camping, and making sure that things are organized. I might be a little bit over the top with being organized sometimes.”
What is something that’s totally different about the two of you?
Heather: “I can see the positive in everything and don’t let little things stress me out. Matt stresses out much more easily and is more serious about things. I’m also alot louder and more outgoing than he is.”
Matt: “Heather is definitely more social, while I am more timid and shy around new people.”
What is a fun fact/something people might not guess about your fiancé?
Heather: “He sings along to music when he’s doing dishes or folding laundry.”
Matt: “Heather loves to hike. She not only hikes but takes some of the best photographs of nature that I have ever seen.”
I love seeing the connection between these two, and I can’t wait for their wedding this Saturday at 7 Hills Brewery in Dubuque, Iowa!
If these photos resonated with you, & you’re getting married in Iowa, Illinois, or Wisconsin click over to my contact form & drop me a line.
