The Engagement Shoot

We scheduled our engagement shoot for May, after we had gotten engaged. We wanted to take pictures at our alma mater, so we decided to do it after commencement, but before tourist season. That left us with few date options.

For some reason I thought our shoot had unlimited time, but it is actually only an hour. I should have known better! So, I needed to narrow down the locations for the shoot. We are using the pictures for our Save the Dates and our wedding website, and mayeb a few other various projects. We wanted variety in locations, poses and outfits.

The Hotel area/Starting point-

We decided to create a plan:

Meet photographer on the wharf, where our hotel room is located. Take a few shots on the pier, head to Thames/downtown area, move to Salve (our alma mater)/The Cliffwalk, move to Third Beach and then depending on how we are feeling....Ocean Drive

Must have location shots:
* Take a picture on the balcony
* Take a picture on the pier
* Coffe shop shot
* Newport Wave
* Anywhere on Thames Street
* Ochre Court/Salve arches
* Hunt Hall (our freshman dorm, where we met)
* The Cliffwalk, Love is Life tunnel
* The Cliffwalk, Forty Steps
* Third Beach, various shots

Then for must have shots, not related to location:
* Holding Hands
* "The gaze", (When you stare into each others eyes), it is my dad's favorite, he always does it!
* Swinging around, Mr. Newport did this right after he proposed on the beach, so we will recreate that moment
* Save the Date, written in the sand
* Laughing picture, I don't want a fake laugh, but I love when photographers capture a really happy real laugh- since I'm hoping for it, I'll probably realize I'm laughing and ruin it!

Did anyone else plan out their engagement shoot?

The Guest List - Part Two

I made my list of cutting "rules", in my last post. Here are some of the issues with having rules:

The hard part is the friends in-between. If I only see them 2 or 3 times a year, in a social setting, should they be invited? There are a few girls from college I hang out with, but we never hang out alone. We don't call each other. I like them, but when it comes to cutting time, should I keep them over someone else that I am closer too, but don't see as often?

Salve grads at a friend's wedding, this past summer

Dates are hard, too. I was once interrogated by a bride on my love for Mr. Newport. We had been dating for about two years and we were planning on living together before the Bride's wedding. She pulled me aside at a party and was asking wherther or not I loved him (at this point he had given me a promise ring and basically announced, he would eventually propose). I thought it was clear we were in love and I didn't understand why she was so interested in our relationship. Then someone pulled me aside and explained the wedding guest list was being put together.

Jim and I at a cousin's wedding, this past summer

I don't want to have to judge people's relationships. It makes me uncomfortable. Who am I to say how in love you are at any point in your relationship? Some people fall hard and fast, while others take time. Everyone is different and I don't want to assume or ask anything.

I find this very frustrating. How do you decide who gets a date? If you have been dating for X amount of months/years, you get a guest? What are your thoughts on this one? Is there any good way to cut down the list, without hurting or offending people?