Any story that sounds “odd” to others is probably the beginning of the perfect tale in my book. Dana sent me a message back in January about an engagement session. And because it comes tied with your wedding package, of course I inquired about booking that date with her as well. To which her reply was “Well we’re not exactly engaged yet.” This is where some of you think this is odd… but since this is my 3rd run through with this timeline, I don’t bat an eye. You see she wanted her engagement in Napa, California. Ok! Let’s go to Napa! But you see she didn’t know if she was going to Napa just yet… (Hmm… ok) …she was waiting to see if she had gotten into the Napa to Sonoma Marathon (this is of course the only part I blink heavily at, since running from one city to another sounds ludicrous to me 😉 But ok, so we wait. Thankfully that all worked out, I was able to gather some high schoolers to make the journey with me for senior pics, and we ended up with the most perfect evening imaginable! See you next year!

What is your occupation?

Dana : Packaging Engineer at Ford Motor Company
Jon : Packaging Engineer

How long had you been dating before getting engaged?

He proposed on our “official” 2 year anniversary.

Where are you from?

Dana : Fairgrove, Michigan
Jon : Macomb County

Where are you going to live after the wedding?

Royal Oak, Michigan

How did you meet?

Dana : I had been working at Ford for a little over a year when I transferred to a new role in the packaging department. I had to attend a department meeting and I sat in the front of the room (like I always do) and Jon was sitting in the far back. I saw him but I didn’t know who he was or his name; I was surprised to see a younger face in the back of the room. When I left the meeting, someone asked me how my half marathon had went the day prior. Jon overheard this conversation and immediately went back to his desk and sent me an email asking me if I was a runner. From there, we started instant messaging every day, mostly talking about music and my exercise regimen. I had no idea what he even looked like for the first few weeks that we talked! I remember being really nervous the first time I talked to him in person and was pleasantly surprised to see that he was handsome!

How did you meet?

Jon : We met working at Ford Motor Company

Tell me about your first date/impression :

Dana : Once I got acclimated to my new role at Ford, I saw Jon in person more often since we had to work together from time to time. So we were pretty comfortable with talking to each other by the time we went on our first real date. I remember feeling excited to wear normal clothes (not work clothes) on our first date. He didn’t really have an idea of what my casual style was like. I took my time choosing an outfit and remember I braided my hair that day. We went to a really casual BBQ place in Clawson and then saw a movie afterward. He was EXTREMELY nervous the whole date. I thought it went pretty well but I remember wishing that he would relax!

Tell me about your first date/impression :

Jon : I was very nervous and was just hoping it would go well enough so that I could get a second date! We ate in the outside area of a BBQ restaurant in Clawson, and it ended up being windy and colder than I was hoping for. The good food and even better conversation made the weather inconsequential and we had a nice time. I really enjoyed the movie, and was excited to be holding her hand and sharing a soda with her. It obviously went well, and to be honest it is kind of a blur since then. I still get as excited about dates we have, even to this day.

What five words best describes him?

Generous, affectionate, unassuming, witty, and handsome.

What five words best describes her?

Smart, Witty, Beautiful, Driven, Sexy