Josh & Katie Engaged || Summertime Romance – Indianapolis, Indiana

It was a moment I’ll never forget. A simple question with an outstanding answer…
“Congratulations!!! When did you get engaged?”

Laughter rang out on the other end of the phone,
“Uhm, let’s see…I think its been 22 hours now!!!! Are you still available our wedding date?!”

Okayyyyyy, they’re awesome.
“How did you even hear about us?!” I asked, blown away.

More laughter erupted, “Well you see. About four years ago now, I met Stephen in Colorado. I saw that he was dating this cute girl so I creeped a bit (no shame!) and found you! I’ve been following you ever since you started your photography business. Since then, I’ve always known I wanted you to be my wedding photographer – and didn’t even have a boyfriend!”

Meet Joshua & Katie.

Their zeal for life is nothing short of contagious. They care deeply and have the gift of making others feel so loved and comfortable immediately. Together, they exude what it means to be young and in love!

And today, we’re sharing a few of our favorites from their sweet summertime engagement just outside of Indianapolis, at Fort Harrison State Park.

Keep scrolling for their adorable love story, shared in their own words! Enjoy!
(If you’re on a computer, listen while you scroll!)

“Joshua and I met when playing volleyball in college. I had messaged him about some volleyball thing and the conversation ended with him offering me a ride to an open gym on Thursday nights. Which was exactly what I needed. The entire semester we rode to volleyball together.

But those car ride conversations? Mainly just going out of our way to make sure the other person KNEW that we were NOT interested in anything other than volleyball. For me, it was a completely platonic relationship. He liked volleyball and so did I.

Soon enough, the semester ended and I left for my home in Minnesota. Naturally, we both thought that was the end of it. I walked away thinking of him as the guy who gave me rides to play my favorite sport and he walked away hoping that he had finished with the pesky volleyball girl.

Man were we both wrong…

That next semester I was back at school and out of the blue, decided to ask Joshua if he was still playing volleyball (my way of kinda asking for a ride again). He said yes. It all started out again just as before: I just wanted to play volleyball.

But then? Then we started having really good conversations. And we soon found ourselves in a friendship we knew was going somewhere.

We decided to wait until I got back from my summer break to see if our friendship could handle the distance (Minnesota to Indiana). That didn’t last long. Two weeks into being separated, we pretty much knew we wanted to date.

So after driving to see me, he asked my dad’s permission to date me. The next thing I knew, Joshua was asking me to be his girlfriend on my front porch swing. Time flew by as we spent more and more time together.

The next semester unfolded and the relationship milestones of our first kiss and the “I love you” moment happily passed by.

All too soon I was preparing, yet again, to head home for my Christmas break and facing the inevitable distance that would entail for us…which is where Joshua’s side of the story picks up best…”

“Katie left to fly back home for Christmas break. I drove her to the airport and we said goodbye. I hate it when she leaves. When I went back to work that day I just couldn’t stop thinking about her.

I had come to the realization that Katie was the one – THE ONE I wanted to spend the rest of my life with.

About a month prior to that airport goodbye, we were talking on the phone and I had the thought, “I don’t want to have to say goodbye to her ever.” So I started planning & looking for an engagement ring…

I knew she wanted a pearl.

When I received the ring it was perfect.

I started leaving the ring out at the apartment and looking at it whenever I talked to her on the phone. I loved looking at it but at the same time hated that she was so far away (I couldn’t give it to her, yet). Christmas and New Year’s came and went…

Finally, the time came to go and get her. I was driving to her parent’s home and I just knew.  I wanted to propose to her there. On the way, I called her father to see if he could spare a minute for us to talk. He met me in their workshop.

I asked him for permission to propose to his daughter. He started to well up as he told me, “Yes.”

The next day we decided to take some pictures on their front porch (not an uncommon activity). Katie’s sister took pictures and her mom was videotaping. We took pictures all around that wrap-around porch until we ended up on the swing where I’d asked her to be my girlfriend – just 5 1/2 months earlier.

It only seemed right to ask for her hand in marriage in that same, special spot.

I started the speech that I had practiced a dozen times:

“I have one more surprise for you, for your last Christmas present. Katie, this last year has taught me a couple of things. Just watching you and me go from friends to best friends, to dating, to realizing that we love each other.

And you have become the love of my life, and I want to spend the rest of my life loving you even more.
So, Katherine Marit Kelly, would you marry me?”

She replied, “Yes!”

Josh & Katie —
Stephen and I were honored to journey with you during this sweet, sweet time in your lives! Thank you for trusting us with your love story! Thank you for following along and cheering us on for so many years – we are thrilled to be able to do the same for you two now. 🙂 The way you two love each other is stunning and we can’t wait to see all the things the Lord has in store for you! Stay tuned, wedding photos coming up next! Ah!

Xoxo, Tara & Stephen

Aren’t they just so perfect? Leave for some love for them in the comments! See a few of their wedding day teasers over on the Instagram!

For other Indiana, summertime engagements click here!
Always,
–Tara M