Duke Gardens Summer Engagement

Nick and Val’s Duke Gardens summer engagement session in Durham, NC was absolutely magical! These two are so sweet together, and their story is just as beautiful as their photos. I met up with them at Duke to capture their session, just a few months before their wedding at Carolina Grove. It was such a joy getting to spend the evening with them!

Nick and Val met through a mutual friend and they quickly formed a strong connection despite their distance. Val is originally from Costa Rica and Nick was living in North Carolina when they met. They made their long-distance relationship work and just ten months later, on March 15th, Nick proposed in the most thoughtful way!

While preparing for a trip to Costa Rica, they made a quick stop in Texas for Val’s birthday weekend. Nick had secretly planned everything, including flying in both of their families to Austin for the surprise! He took Val to a beautiful garden for lunch and popped the question there. She was completely surprised and thought they were just going to FaceTime their families afterward… but when they got back to the house, everyone was there! It turned into a joyful weekend full of celebration before they flew to Costa Rica the following week.

Their Duke Gardens summer engagement session was full of golden light and the lush beauty that makes this place so special. In June, the gardens are overflowing with vibrant greens, blooming flowers, and warm sunlight filtering through the trees. Every part of it is beautiful! It’s truly one of my favorite places to photograph in the summer. This year I’m a member photographer and am so excited to be here for many more sessions!

Nick and Val were so natural together in front of the camera. Laughing, holding hands, and soaking each other in, these moments are what makes engagement sessions so fun. I can’t wait to share more from their Carolina Grove wedding soon! Enjoy some of my favorites from their Duke Gardens Summer engagement session below!

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• Duke Gardens Summer Engagement | Nick and Val
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