Ashley + Nathan
How They Met
Ashley and Nathan were set-up through a mutual friend. That friend clearly knew what they were doing, because when Ashley and Nathan officially met at The Downtown Pub in Preston, they clicked right away.
The Proposal
Ashley and Nathan’s engagement went down just days before Christmas. Family is important to both of them, so Nathan made sure to reach out to all of Ashley’s friends and family before the proposal to fill them in.
The night before the proposal, he met with Ashley’s dad over dinner to ask for his blessing, and the two of them ended up talking about all the things they love most about Ashley.
Her Mom suggested the perfect proposal spot, The Quad City Botanical Center.
The night of the proposal, Ashley and Nathan had a date night dinner in the Quad Cities, and then headed to the Botanical Center to see the Christmas lights.
In a private, glowing spot under the lights, Nathan got down on one knee. It was the perfect moment between the two of them.
Afterwards, Nathan had one more surprise for Ashley, a celebration at The Downtown, the bar where they first met. Their favorite people were waiting there to toast to the start of their next chapter.
“He is the perfect person for me.” – Ashley
Ashley & Nathan’s Rural Bellevue, Iowa Engagement Session
A day or two before Ashley & Nate’s engagement session, I got an email from Ashley.
She said she was thinking that maybe we could switch the location to Nate’s family’s farmland, and she’d see if a pasture was open. Spoiler alert, it was and we did, and it was perfection.
This land was Nate’s Great Grandpa’s, and Nate’s Dad was actively working in the fields during our session. His Dad was laughing at us because we were all over the place. Had to take advantage of all the beautiful views!
It had been oppressively hot ALL DAY, but cooled down right on time for our session and gave us a nice little cloud cover & a breeze.
I love it when everything comes together like this. Manifesting that same energy for their wedding on Saturday!
Speaking of this wedding, there will be a very special guest in attendance. Ashley and Nathan welcomed a perfect baby boy into the world in February. So sweet little Bennett will get to be a part of his Mommy and Daddy’s wedding. What a cool part of their love story, this story of the family they’ve built. Congratulations, you two!
3 words to describe Nathan, by Ashley | hard-working, caring, affectionate
3 words to describe Ashley, by Nathan| fun, caring, easygoing
What is something you both have in common?
Ashley: “We both love agriculture, playing cards, and spending time with family & friends.”
Nathan: “We both like to have fun on the weekends by going out and hanging out with friends.”
I knew I wanted to spend forever with my love when…
Ashley: “I knew I wanted to spend forever with Nathan the first couple of times I went out with him. He was different from the rest! He is the perfect person for me. We both come from agricultural backgrounds – it’s nice we share the same interests and have similar backgrounds.”
Nathan: “Ashley came to the bar 2 weekends in a row to come see me. We started dating and went to college together. I knew I wanted to spend forever with her when we went it through college together and she moved back to my hometown and moved in with me after college. That gave me the confidence that we were in this forever.”
What is something totally different about the two of you?
Ashley: “Nathan is very competitive. I’m only competitive while playing cards. Nathan plays on a softball league and a kickball league every summer. We go to Genos every Tuesday and Thursday night from the end of May to the beginning of August for his games. It’s so fun to watch, eat, and drink with our friends those nights!”
Nathan: “I am a busy body, while Ashley loves to relax. For example, on vacation I love to play sports, be in the water, and constantly keep myself busy. Ashley would rather sip on a drink while reading and enjoying the warm weather in the shade.”
What is a fun fact/something people might not guess about your fiancé?
Ashley: “Nathan absolutely LOVES Iowa State. He is Iowa State’s #1 fan. But I’m sure almost everyone knows that, haha. We both graduated from ISU.”
Nathan: “She doesn’t like spicy foods. She thinks too much pepper is spicy.”
What part of the wedding day are you looking forward to most?
Ashley: “I’m looking forward to spending our day together and enjoying celebrating the first day of the rest of our lives. Our friend group is pretty rowdy, so the reception should be a blast.”
Nathan: “The first dance at our wedding.”
Congratulations, Nathan and Ashley! I am so excited for your wedding on Saturday at St Joseph’s Church & the celebration to follow at The Dubuque Fairgrounds! I know it will be such a wonderful day. I can’t wait to see your friends and family surrounding you with so much love and support. Although, I’m 100% most excited to meet baby Bennett. 😍
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.
