Authentic Engagement Session on the Boardman River | Kelsie + James
Kelsie + James‘ Boardman River Engagement story is one of authentic connection and unfiltered love. “I think I knew Jimmy was the one when I could 100% be myself around him. No walls, no barriers, no mask. I didn’t feel like I needed to be a specific type of person for him. He embraced all my weirdness, not only listened to my crazy ideas and thoughts but embraced everything about them. I always call him my ‘yes man.’ Always down to do anything.”
Kelsie + Jimmy met sixteen years ago in high school through a mutual friend, Michelle. Jimmy was a senior; Kelsie was a sophomore. “Michelle was friends with a lot of the seniors at Northern and would have Jimmy drive her home from school or tennis practice. One day I was with her when Jimmy picked us up in his navy Saab convertible. Obviously, he was a super cool senior driving a convertible in high school so cue the heart-eye emoji from me.” They stayed in touch through the years but drifted apart in college. “It wasn’t until COVID in 2020 when I moved from Florida back to Grand Rapids, MI, that Jimmy invited me over for game night with his family. We’ve been inseparable since.”
One thing Kelsie + Jimmy love to do is travel. “This last year I planned a two-week camping road trip out west to visit the Badlands, Yellowstone, Grand Tetons, and Glacier National Park. I wanted to show Jimmy something I always enjoyed doing growing up. We bought a tent, packed up our dogs, and took off. I had no idea he had an engagement ring hidden in the center console! On day five of the trip, he got down on one knee in front of the Grand Tetons. We hadn’t showered in five days, and I could barely grasp what was happening. I’ll never forget the cute Australian family cheering for us. We didn’t have cell service to call anyone, and we still had a week left on our trip. I call it our ‘engagement-moon.’”
Kelsie + Jimmy, it’s clear you two work perfectly together. Congrats on your engagement!
Inspired by Kelsie + Jimmy’s Boardman River Engagement? Let’s create your own love story in a beautiful setting. Contact me today, and check out more of my work on my Instagram!