They spend so much time visiting St. Augustine for weekend getaways that their friends joke that Kristy and Nick must secretly own a condo in the nation’s oldest city. (They don’t.) They spend so much time there that it would make sense for Kristy and Nick to actually get married in St. Augustine. (They thought about it.) They spent a little more time with us there just a week ago, perusing their favorite historic streets during their windswept engagement session, and they spent the whole time looking absolutely fabulous, and absolutely in love.

As a couple, Kristy said they balance each other well. Nick keeps her mellow. She keeps him on track. They keep each other happy. And that’s how they plan to spend the rest of their lives. If these pictures are any indication, they’re off to a great start.Kristy — like almost every other bride — tried to assure me that she would be pretty camera shy and it would take a lot of work to get her relaxed as Danny and I focused our lenses on her. But Kristy — like absolutely every other bride — relaxed really quickly and looked beautiful and natural for the camera. There’s one simple, not-so-secret ingredient to making that happen: The groom! Thanks, Nick, for making Kristy feel as beautiful as she looked!While we were playing with the ivy, I had to get a few more shots of Kristy by herself — because when you’ve got a bride-to-be who’s this pretty, you do not pass up those extra photo ops! And Nick was looking pretty spiffy himself!

We found this sweet little house on Charlotte Street, with the obliging “P” monogram — the monogram Kristy and Nick will share in just a few more weeks.Right next door was this even sweeter gate. We had been on our way back toward the riverfront, but we kept finding reasons to stop! In St. Augustine, it’s hard to go more than half a block without stopping twice for new photo spots!We had to stop again just after the gate when we crossed paths with a beautiful robin’s egg blue house. Like San Juan and Miami and pretty much any other old Spanish-influenced city, St. Augustine is filled with pops of beautiful, bright and pastel color, which is one of my favorite things about doing engagement photography in St. Augustine, and one of the things Nick wanted to capture in their engagement pictures.

And there’s a distinct advantage to having two shooters, even during engagement sessions: While I took the photo below on the left, Danny caught the one on the right.Right after blue came pink. Charlotte Street, you are like a Crayola 96 pack! As we were walking past The Oldest House, something wonderful happened: The sky brushed the clouds back like wisps of hair getting tucked behind an ear, and the golden sunlight flitted across Kristy and Nick, and they looked absolutely radiant. I mean gorgeous!And then there was Kristy’s beautiful ring. As anyone who has ever seen my engagement ring knows, I’m personally kinda partial to a stunning solitaire. . . .The sun ducked back behind the clouds as we reached the waterfront, but the wind was out in full force.This is a couple that considers themselves “shoe people,” so it was only fitting that we got quite a few shots of Nick’s Sperry hi-tops and Kristy’s two pairs of adorable Nine West shoes. She had picked the peep-toe pumps to go with her gray BCBG dress . . . but I was crazy about the neon salmon flats!

Taking pictures of great shoes is fun — but pictures of great, happy people? There’s no comparison!Once Kristy had enjoyed having her hair whipped around by the wind long enough, we headed back into St. Augustine’s historic side streets.I love our photo bomber!We wanted to end with another serious pop of color — and we found plenty on St. George Street.This last photograph is one I could stare at all day — I love the contentment in Kristy’s eyes, the satisfaction in Nick’s smile.

Kristy and Nick, thank you so much for choosing to have Danny and me become a part of this amazing time of your lives! We had such a great time with you at your engagement session (and our chilly al fresco dinner!), and we are so excited for your wedding next month! We can’t wait to see what happiness your marriage brings you two!

~ Laura