The Story Of Our Engagement / Guest Blogger on Luxe

I couldn't be more excited to share that I am guest blogging on the ever so cute Luxe Event Production's Blog. If you're wanting inspiration, tips and the scoop on local wedding buzz, Luxe is the place to go! I'll be sharing twice a month about my wedding, beginning to end, so you can read here or head on over to Luxe's blog for my story and a whole heap of wedding ideas!

I am so thrilled to share my personal journey of engagement, planning, and how I, with the amazing help of Misty with Luxe Event Productions pull it off! I’ve got all sorts of blog subjects in my head, and all are geared toward inspiring, uplifting, and equipping YOU as a bride in training to have a fabulous wedding, and enjoy the process right along with me. I’m like you in many ways, anticipating that day I’ve dreamed of all my life, but wondering how the heck I’m going to pull it off (on a budget) without stressing myself and those around me. I’ll be sharing twice a month on Friday, and am of course available by email for any questions.

My advice is to pause, fix coffee, take some deep breaths and use this time as a relaxing indulgence!

Here’s a shot of me minutes before the proposal.

This photo of Ryan I took last summer.

So a little back story on me, how I met my fiancé, and the PROPOSAL! Ever since I was three I’ve dreamt of my wedding, renaming myself ‘fancy-girl wedding girl’. I am now grown up and a full time photographer, running my business, Ashley Sturm Photography here in Salem, OR. I love my job mostly because of the people I get to meet and their stories I tell through photography. I adore art, coffee, deep friendships, and my family is as good as it gets! I have unruly curly hair, a love for good food, too many gray sweaters, and I rarely read, which is lame.

Ryan and I met through a mutual friend, and despite our ‘just friends’ approach, it become apparent after spending over 3 months of coffee, movies, thrift store runs, photo trips, and one amazing beach day that we were perfect for one another. We’ve been dating now for a little over a year, and engaged for about three weeks!

Ryan couldn’t have picked a sunnier, more happy day to pop the question. I had wanted some updated photos of myself to use on my website, so we trekked out to the field next to my house and started doing what we did from the beginning, capture memories on camera. It’s crazy now to look back at those photos and think I had NO idea he was about to propose! We had finished our little photo sesh and I was ahead of him, carrying some props when I heard him say, “Ash,” in a bit of a shaky voice. I turned back to face him and he was on his knee with all his emotions and love for me bursting from his face. I knew, this was it. He fidgeted to get out the ring while telling me what a blessing God has given him in me, and tears were flowing from my eyes.

These are moments after he proposed, so special!

I couldn’t imagine a more special, intimate way to ask me than this field, next to my house, which we’ve shared so many memories in already. I said yes. : ) It felt amazing, like the happiness I felt Christmas morning as a child.

Take a look at my beautiful ring he picked out...couldn't have done any better!

So here I am, gushing and telling my story but I know mine’s not the only one.

How did your man pop the question?

Have you started planning?

What’s the most exciting and most scary part of pulling off your perfect day?

Share your thoughts and let’s walk this journey together!

Expressive Sofia / Salem OR Baby Photographer

I am still laughing out loud as I post this entry. My little niece Sofia is as cute as they come. I posted her newborn portraits here a few months ago, adorable! She's a Sturm girl alright, 4 months old and full of spunk and plenty to say! I just had to put these hilarious expressions together to show just how funny she is! The upper right just kills me...!!!

Can't wait until her and cousin Sailor are old enough to play dolls, wear pony tails and take shopping!

Bair Family Previews / Giving Is Awesome / Salem OR Family Photographer

Just a quick preview of the Bair's Family shoot. This is the AMAZING family you selected for the Giving Is Awesome give-away. I can't wait to share their story of strength, hope, and God! It's one that is sure to inspire.

Sally Metzger / Salem, OR Maternity Photographer

How do I begin to say how much I love this woman who has made such a big impression on the very fabric of who I am? Sally is my sister by blood, but she's my friend for life. I thank God everyday for the closeness my family shares, and Sally is part of this wonderful family. She may claim the woes of the middle child, but man did she turn out cute, with a wonderful husband (seriously the most romantic guy I know) and as you can see, a baby!

Sally and I have been through a lot together, maybe that's a silly statement considering we're sisters, but we have. I've been overseas with her 4 times, one being when my family lived in Poland when I was 8 and she was 10. The other times were China and Kosovo, as teenagers on short term mission trips. Three years ago in 2007 we ventured into a very unknown place, Massachusetts for college at the Hallmark Institute of Photography. It was 10 months of brutally hard work, and even worse weather. The snow and ice were nothing short of evil. I hate the cold! Somehow we managed to get through all the experiences together, in spite of the 100 ft stretch of slippery ice in between the car and apartment. When I think of the most challenging times in my life, the moments that molded and shaped me the most into who I am, Sally was there. I can look back now and realize how much I appreciate her.

Sally is now a mother to Sailor, who's almost one week old today. She's an inspiration to me, another woman who is selfless and bold enough to step into the world of motherhood and love someone more than yourself. I think of moms and realize I can be pretty selfish. She's already such an amazing mom to Sailor who was born last Sunday. She doesn't know it yet, but Sailor's got an amazing family and awesome life ahead of her! Oh, and a really fun aunt who will slip her candy when mom isn't looking!

Today as you enjoy your Super Bowl Sunday maybe you're with friends at a bar, maybe you're enjoying family and a food-filled house (me!), maybe you could care less and are watching I love Lucy at 3PM on the Hallmark channel (shameless plug). Whatever you're doing, take 2 minutes to think of someone who has made an impact on your life, and tell them how much they mean to you. It does the soul good to love and appreciate others.

Love someone today, and enjoy these photos of my adorable sister Sally! I'll be sharing some photos of Sailor's first hour in a few days!

See what I mean? SO CUTE!

target plaid top + great-grandma's quilt = pretty priceless!

I love you Sal-gal!

Sailor Is Born! / Extremely Happy Auntie~

Sailor Metzger is finally here! Born 4:19 on February 1'st, 7lb 13oz, 19 inches long...cute as ever! Praise God, the miracle of birth! I had to share this real quick before I go to bed, YES bed...at 9:25! She kept us on our toes all through the night, but I am so blessed to be an aunt to this beautiful girl! I can already tell she will be an incredible person who will inspire so much goodness in this world! I'll try to get the rest of the photos tomorrow. Goodnight and God bless!

Antunez Maternity Shoot / Salem, OR Photographer

Can you tell from this first photo that Maggie & Ricardo are two beautiful, kind, generous people? I can't say enough how much I've enjoyed getting to know these delightful people, and lucky me I get to keep seeing them! It's funny how people move in and out of your life. Out of nowhere an old acquaintance re-enters the fabric of your life, and oftentimes you are richer for it. Over a year ago I did a job for North West Palate Magazine, capturing the newly emerging French restaurant, La Capital. It was a great experience for me to meet new people and add to my commercial portfolio, I blogged about it here. That's when I first met Ricardo, (who is the second chef) passionately filleting a samon for their dinner menu.

He contacted me to schedule his and Maggie's shoot, funny how one opportunity leads to another. We almost had to scrap the shoot when Maggie thought she was going into labor the evening before. Thank goodness she was wrong! She was however having contractions during the shoot, not that you would notice, but she pushed (not literally, haha) through it. We also managed to grab the last few days of color before all the leaves fell which added such nice tone to their photos!

Just a quick side-note: they're a good example of smart clothing choices. Their colors meshed together well, and they had a nice mix of solids, prints, and textures that complimented the surrounding scenery.

I'll be sharing Landin's photo session soon, (newest addition to their family) so be sure to check in again!

The other exciting bit of news to share regarding this shoot is in talking about their wedding that he catered, and my up-coming wedding, we came to a wonderful agreement to trade my photography services for his catering services for MY wedding! I'm so pumped, I was planning to have family help with the food, but this is so much better! Can't wait to develop a menu!

Interested in offering trade work? Tell me! Have any wonderful ideas for appetizers for a summer/vintage-inspired wedding? Inspire away! Like the photos? Share some blog love!

Engaged!

I am ENGAGED to the most wonderful man! Ryan proposed this Thursday, and I'm still jumping out of my skin excited! It's such an exciting thing to be engaged and I can't wait to be married to Ryan! He's a man with so much love, laughter, and life.

Now it's time to plan my wedding, and honestly, I am so uber excited it's slightly unhealthy! I've been soaking in a breadth of wedding blogs full of amazing ideas and DIY's, I've seriously got a folder with sub-folders on my computer with a few hundred images of ideas all categorized nicely! I'd like to share my planning journey with you, and believe me, there will be lots of good ideas, recommendations, and money-saving tips along the way. If you are a bride or know one, be sure to subscribe or check back often!

Back the me me me, being engaged!

Take a look at my beautiful ring he picked out...couldn't have done any better!

Felicity / Newborn Photography / Salem, OR

I am well aware of my overuse of the word cute in describing something or someone. Anyone who reads enough of my blogs will notice I use the 'c' word heavily, and I think it's high time I expand my vocabulary!

With that said, this precious little girl Felicity was a show stopper at 16-days-old! I kept thinking how darn adorable she was the entire shoot, and how she was the spitting image of her parents, Ben & Lena. If I had a top ten cute list, she'd be on it. OK, I said it, but honestly, there are too many things in this world that deserve and demand the description of cute. Like Felicity's teeny-tiny fingers and pursed lips in this first shot! Gosh I can hardly stand it!

I've learned in doing newborn shoots that they run the show, and all it takes to get those adorable shots is plenty of sleep-inducers (aka feedings) and patience. This little gal took a while to warm up to the idea of laying naked in silly poses while I snapped her picture, but eventually we worked her up to it. I'm so thankful she's got two awesome parents who trusted and allowed me to take part in such a monumental time in their life.

Congrats Howden family for the arrival of such a beautiful girl! Blessings, peace, and the hope of a full night's sleep to you!

Red Pearl Designs / Salem OR Commercial Photographer

I can't express enough how EXCITED I am about my shoot last week with Megan of Red Pearl Designs. If you haven't already, go over to her website and blog to look at her stunning wedding invitations! Megan is my dearest friend and a HUGE source of encouragement and inspiration to me daily. I'm serious when I say if she were a boy I'd marry her! Plus, we both have a Ry-Guy (meaning our guys' names are Ryan).

A word to all brides out there who want custom knock-your-socks-off wedding invitations, Megan not only is a capable of making your dream invitations come true, she's a remarkable woman who will treat you like a queen!

We had such a blast on this shoot building all the unique sets with a collection of props we found around our houses. OK, enough said...let the quality of these invitations I photographed speak for themselves!




Let me know if you are drooling over this first set as much as we were!





Lovin' Megan's shoes.


I'm secretly jealous of her gorgeous ring!




These last three are Racquel & Casey's invitations, the beautiful couple who's wedding I photographed last August.



Hope you enjoyed, comment with a shout out for Red Pearl Designs!