Jessica has been recognized as a preferred vendor to work with by her industry peers, earned TheKnot.com’s Best of Weddings award 9 times, and been inducted into TheKnot.com Hall of Fame. Jessica is a multi-award-winning photographer, a leader in her industry, and an educator to up-and-coming photographers through her Embark Retreat.
Are you ready for an Austin engagement session full of butter coffee and craft cocktails on Rainey Street? Sarah & Derek wanted an Austin engagement shoot that showcased some of their favorite things to do and that included playing with their precious dogs Ceasar and Emma at local coffee trailer, Picnik. We also ventured to Rainey Street to Lucille’s where these two enjoyed a drink and chatted with me all about their love story! I’m excited to share a bit more than just their photos….enjoy getting to know these two and how they met, how Derek proposed and a few more fun questions! Congratulations you guys, I cannot wait for this summer and your wedding day!!! Hugs!!
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Derek and I had been best friends for nine years. He finally got up the courage to ask my older brother (one of his best friends) permission to date me, after I let him know I was very interested. We have been together ever since.
We both wanted to do photo’s doing things that we enjoy doing together in Austin. Since moving back to Austin in 2014, I have loved getting Butter Coffee from Picnik. After I started dating Derek, I got him hooked as well and we go to get a coffee several mornings a week together. We love taking our pups with us and we have made Fridays “Muffin Friday”. Our pups get one of their infamous Paleo Blueberry Muffins each Friday. This was the perfect spot for us to do pictures. The other location we chose was Rainey Street. This is Derek and I’s favorite spot to go out, whether it be to have a solid brunch at Banger’s on Sunday, an epic pizza and craft beer from Craft Pride/Via 313 or to have a great craft cocktail at Lucilles.
10 months
Over a weekend in the end of April, when they were home celebrating Grandma McGuire’s 80th birthday, Derek mustered up the courage and Cesar gave him his blessing. Knowing Derek had the green light, Sarah got pretty antsy. So any time it was brought up the joke was, NYE 2016 was going to be super special. In the meantime, Derek had a real plan that he thought would blow Sarah away. The Canals family vacation was set for the end of August, and the family was headed to Napa Valley and San Francisco for a week. Being surrounded by family and in beautiful wine country was the perfect scenario. With a lot of help, the surprise was organized and the plan was set, everyone was in on it, and Sarah was clueless. On Tuesday morning, when going to fetch the ring, Derek bumped into Sarah on her morning run. She had been wanting him to go with her all week, so he pretended that was what he was out to do. While unplanned, this was a perfect start to the day. Post jog, Sarah got in the shower, and Derek “went to get us coffee”. Jack, the driver and wine guide, showed up extra early for the first tour of the day at Cakebread Cellars. Upon arriving early at Cakebread, Brett, the events manager, “happened” to greet us and offered to show us around the property while we waited on our tour to get started. Telling us about the Cakebread family, he guided us back to the gardens on the property which were accompanied by a beautiful water fountain. Derek urged Sarah to take a picture at the spot and had her set her things down on the ground. When she looked up, Derek’s parents had joined the group. In a moment of shock, Sarah asked, “What are your parents doing here?” Thomas had hung back to meet Tim and Ramona at the entrance and help them sneak in to join the group. Derek told Sarah how much he loved her, and then in an attempt to free his hands to retrieve the ring from his pocket, smashed his wine glass on the rocks that edged the flower beds. After the bit of comic relief, he presented Sarah with her grandmother’s engagement ring, and she said YES! It was a beautiful day celebrating with loved ones while drinking great wine and ending with a great family dinner.
My ring is my Grandmother’s ring. I am so honored that she chose to give it to Derek to ask me. It is absolutely stunning. Derek and I hope to pass it along to our own Grandaughter one day.
Since I started college at UT Austin in 2007, I have loved The Driskill and its elegant charm. I always said if I got married in Austin it would be at The Driskill and now that dream has come true. We chose the date because we both wanted Derek’s brother to be able to be there with us on this special day. He is currently serving for our country and will be deployed in July. This made June the perfect month.
We are most excited to have all our family and friends together in Austin to celebrate our special day together. We wouldn’t be who we are today without them.
Ladies, It is OK to ask for help. I promise. There is so many little details and things that go into planning a wedding and trying to do it all yourself is exhausting. Your family and friends want to help and are usually really excited when you involve them.
Derek was determined and got his way about wearing a cummerbund. This has been a topic at many a dinner conversation with our friends… He finally wore me down and will sport it proudly the day of the Wedding.
We both are passionate about college and professional sports, especially Football. We have had a 10 year rivalry… Derek is a Cowboy’s Ran and I am a die hard Eagle’s fan. That doesn’t stop us from watching the games together and attending as many college and professional sport events we can. We of course, love spending time with our two cute pups, Caesar and Emma. Lastly, we are both big foodies, and really enjoy trying new restaurants together at critiquing them on our Trello Board.
How amazing are these Helm Boots? Made here in Austin, these were an engagement gift for Derek! He’s starting a new movement where the groom gets gifts too….. who else is on board?
Here’s that football rivalry…..and as a native Texan, I’m on Derek’s side. Go Cowboys!!
Congratulations you guys!! Can’t wait for your wedding day next year!!
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Now booking 2017 Weddings! Email for availability and investment information: Jessica@JessicaFreyPhotography.com
Jessica Frey is an award-winning, Texas Hill Country-based international wedding and event photographer committed to delivering a high-quality experience complete with stunning and joyful images.