Today is my first day of summer vacation and LIFE IS GOOD! I have been engaged for over a month, but I promised myself that I would wait to start planning the wedding until after school was out for the summer. I did, however, decide allow myself one pre-summer wedding indulgence: engagement photos.
I wanted my engagement session to reflect the background of my fiancé, Rob, and myself. It only seemed fitting to have our photos taken in a school. Rob and I both attended Catholic Schools in the area. Today, Rob represents many schools at the law firm he is employed by. And of course, there is the fact that I am a teacher.
As many of you already know, my entire school recently moved into a new building, leaving behind a beautiful historic structure with a rich history. The move was necessary for countless reasons, but the old building will always be a treasure to me. My grandfather attended school in the former St. Mary building so many years ago and I was a student in the same building for all of my Pre-K-8 years. During that time, my mother taught Second Grade at my school. I literally grew up in this building and it is the place that I spent countless hours playing school while waiting for my mom to complete her daily classroom preparation.
I was overjoyed to return to this beautiful structure that greatly shaped the woman I am today and take photos with the man I am going to marry. Today’s blog post is a just-for-fun peek into a beautiful historic school. Each photo was taken on site. Enjoy the personal tour. The architecture and building details are stunning. Each corner, room, and hallway are filled with memories.
A gorgeous glimpse into a room that served as a library when I was much younger.
Brian, our photographer, saw the frosted glass and thought it would make for an interesting photo. He had no way of knowing, but this particular door was the door to my mother’s second grade classroom. I LOVE that it was the subject of the photo. So many memories.
The best part of an old building?
So much character. Including these gorgeous french doors.
We had a blast hanging out on so many fire escapes around the building.
This photo is one of my very favorites. Nobody said I could only have one very favorite.
One last photo before you go. As I sit down to write this post with my fingers on the keys, this seemed like a fitting image to leave you with. Thank you so much for your sincere excitement and joy for this next big step in my life. I can’t wait to see what the future holds.
Want to see more photos as I prepare for my new life? Follow me on Instagram for a peek at my activities behind the scenes of Kinder-Craze.
38 Responses
Oh my goodness! LOVE every single picture! The one behind your mom’s door made me cry! 🙂 So so happy for you!!!
Thank you Melanie! I love making you cry!
I love them, Maria! Congrats!
Jennifer
Maria, I love that you used the school for your photos. Your photos truly tell your story. I can see how happy the two of you are together. So happy you have found someone to share your life with. Congratulations!!!
✿Tiffani Time 4 Kindergarten
Thank you so much Tiffani, we are very blessed indeed!
Fantastic
Beautiful !
I only know you through your blog and facebook, but these pictures choked me up, and left me crying.They, and you, are so beautiful. What a treasure. I wish you much happiness and love in the future!
Thank you Jess! It amazes me that people I have never met in real life care so much about my life and my aspirations. Even though we have never met, I greatly appreciate your sincere wishes!
Those pictures are GORGEOUS!!! Your photographer did an amazing job capturing the “teacher” look you wanted, but also some classic poses, you can cherish forever!
Thank you! I truly couldn’t be more pleased with the work from BTW photography!
What sweet pictures. Absolutely amazing! Best wishes for a life filled with nothing but happiness!
Simply beautiful! The building and the people! I smiled through the whole post! You will cherish those pics!!
Sending love!
Laura
Peace, Love, and First Grade
Thank you Laura! I keep smiling every time I look through the post. Brian certainly captured the essence of who we are and what holds near and dear to my heart.
Such sweet shots of you guys! Y’all are too stinkin’ cute!
Dana
Prepping for the Primary Gridiron
Wonderful Pictures!!
Your pictures are stunning! This is such a beautiful post. 🙂 Congratulations!!
These are beautiful photos!!! I love the location, brings a tear to my eye!!! Congratulations and best wishes always!!
Thank you Janet!
Loved reading about your history! The school is beautiful. What a unique set of engagement photos! Congrats to both you and your hubby to be!
What a great location! And I can just hear the nuns advising to “leave a little room for the Holy Spirit!” (haha!) 😉
Hahah Amy! I never had a nun for a teacher (though we have had one on staff for the past several years). Now when I look at all of those photos, I think about all the nuns that would be shaking their heads and waving their fingers at me.
What a great piece. You are such an amazing young person. I have loved following you and your blog. This next part of your life will be filled with so many new experiences that are yet to unfold for you and your eternal partner. How can anyone not be “over the hills happy” for you both. Enjoy every moment as I know you will.
Thank you so so so much Barbara. It means the world to me!
P. S. what are they going to do with the old building???
Right now it is primarily used as storage. Many of the classrooms are filled with overflow furniture. With time, I think the plan is to tear it down so that the building does not become a blight issue. It makes me so sad and was one of the reasons I wanted to preserve my memory of the school in a special way.
So cute! Congrats!
Wow! Those pictures are amazing! And how lucky that you got to have them taken in such an amazing place! You are going to be a stunning bride! 🙂 Congratulations!
Tasha Emmerson
Confessions of a Tiny Teacher
Thank you Tasha! I
I also felt really touched by these photos because your Mom taught at the school and you attended this school through middle school. I also grew up with a teacher Mom and grew up waiting in classrooms which I loved! This building is truly beautiful. What do they plan to do with it?
Those afternoons of waiting for my mom certainly shaped who I am today. Sadly, I think the building will be torn down with thine. It is in dire need of a lot of work in order to sustain for the future. The windows alone would cost a few $100k. I’m so glad I had a chance to preserve my memory of the school in a special way.
Beautiful photos Maria! The school building is amazing 🙂
Zoe
Oh-the-Little-Wonders
Thank you Zoe!
Congratulations to you and Rob! I love the way you highlighted this important place in your life. The picture of you behind your Mom’s door is wonderful! My husband and I will be married for 22 years on the 27th of this month. We were married at the Catholic Church were my parents got married. I had our photographer recreate a picture that my parents had done at their wedding of them standing in the doorway, facing each other. The littlest things mean the most and will be remembered the longest.
These pics are so sweet, Maria. Congratulations on your engagement and can’t wait to see all the wedding pictures!
Your pictures are breathtaking! It is absolutely amazing how much nostalgia you were able to capture and the pure joy you can see in your faces. Congratulations and I hope you enjoy planning your wedding this summer.
Congratulations. The photos are beautiful! Julie HTML code:
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