Marina + John's Stylish "Paris in New York" Engagement Session by Lilian Haidar Photography

I have to admit... today's stylish engagement session ranks high on my list of all-time favorite blog posts.  Not only is it tres-chic, ever-so-NYC and impeccably photographed by the lovely Lilian Haidar, it comes with an amazing "how we met" story, complements of the groom-to-be.  {And believe me, it's a must-read, beginning with a courtship at a Hamptons summer share, a few crazy club nights, and a proposal that is sure to knock your socks off}...
Geez, can it get any cuter? Take a peek at Marina and John's stunning engagement shoot and see for yourself!

 

About the fashion:
Dress: Nicole Miller
Fur Cardigan: State + Lake
Hair: Jenna Bauer {Tommy Guns Salon}
Shoes: Christian Louboutin
Pearls: Majorica
Suit: Alfred Dunhill
Shoes: Salvatore Ferragamo
Shirt: Hugo Boss

From the groom to be: Marina and I met in 2008 and like all fairy tales the story of our love developed against all odds, with the usual mix of recent exes, drunk friends and overbearing family members. We were just a couple of young innocent kids living life in New York, oblivious of the role that we would inevitably play in each other’s futures...

Our courtship began rocky and uncertain but after several unimportant, but hilarious, mishaps Marina agreed to participate in a summer share in the Hamptons, that I {including several other less important parties} were part of. Each of the first few weekends I spend enjoying the summer, but am secretly hoping Marina will come out that weekend... Marina mysteriously does not come any of the first few weekends and finally makes an appearance on July 4th. Once I find out that she and her friends are going to a night club I jump at the opportunity to see her. I invite all of my housemates to come to this club, overseeing the fact that there is no way everyone can get in to this exclusive club, so I start to panic {because I HAVE to get in}.

I change the plan and go with everyone to another bar, but the whole group is furious with me for getting their hopes up. Once they get to the bar I have a beer and sneak out, catch a cab and give the driver the clubs address where Marina is (ensuring everyone in the house will forever hate me). Once I got to the club the rest was history, we spent the night dancing and having a great time together.

The following night I ask Marina on our first date at Dockers, a seafood restaurant in West Hampton that would prove to play a very important role in our relationship. I knew Marina was no plain Jane, so I had to really go above and beyond to impress her. I wasn't sure what this would entail, but I thought that lobsters would do the trick. I immediately order five 4lb lobsters, but no one at the table was hungry; so I quickly decide that throwing the lobsters back in the ocean where they came from would be a great idea. You are probably thinking that that sounds ridiculous, but it worked and that night at Dockers our love was born, and consequently our dating anniversary is July 5th. Within weeks of that momentous occasion we were spending every waking moment together growing deeper and deeper in love.

Two years later, as we vacationed in the Hamptons once more, I decided to plan a special date for Marina and I at Dockers, where it all began. I pulled out all the stops, because nothing is too good for Marina. It was all meant to be a surprise. A limo with champagne arrived to take us to the restaurant. On the way, the limo pops a tire causing us to wait an hour for other transportation, raising my blood pressure above any level normal for a 30 year old man. When we finally arrive at the restaurant Marina tries walking towards the entrance but I gently guide her towards the dock, which she doesn’t quite understand and keeps repeating “What’s happening?” over and over. To her surprise the dock was covered in flowers and champagne. I then proceed to get on one knee and ask Marina to marry me, while our friends and families secretly watch from behind the dock.

No matter how many obstacles, disasters, or humorous encounters have occurred love was always our destiny. We could not have been happier once we finally allowed it to take its course.

All photos courtesy of Lilian Haidar Photography + Film llc