People I officially have a new girl crush. Her name is Danielle and she’s a RMW reader as well as some kind of winter fashion guru. I am not even joking.
I looked through these images like one might browse a very fancy catalogue “Oh that jumper! I must buy it right away… Those red patent shoes, divine!… They shall be mine immediately…” etc etc
And then I had me a second butchers, and then a third. And then well… Quite a few more. Because Danielle and her fiancé James caught on film by Aneta Mak are quite simply breathtaking.
This is not a fancy catalogue. This is a real life love story. And those, as you know, are my favourite kind…
Danielle: I am, perhaps too modestly, very excited to be sharing our fantastic engagement shots with the RMW community, from the shoot we had with the über talented Aneta Mak back in January. I must admit I was praying for a day of no rain (as I’m sure every bride does), but more importantly, no glaring sunshine either – being a bit into photography myself, I really wanted a ‘moody’ shoot; I didn’t quite get moodiness, but the seemingly gale force winds created just the right amount of atmosphere required. It was also a lot of fun trying to stand upright and keep my hair out of mine and James’s face, whilst trying to look vaguely glamorous for a couple of hours!
We are born and bred in Felixstowe, Suffolk and as we aren’t getting married there, really wanted to have our engagement shoot at home, so we chose the Ferry as it’s so quirky and provided a great, varied backdrop. Aneta Mak suggested we bring a change in clothes and some props and I think we might have gone a bit overboard, but I love the result – the photographs really make me giggle and are so representative of us.
James and I got engaged (after being together for seven whole years) back in December 2010. The whole engagement story is quite a lovely one – the boy did good! I got picked up from work one day as a surprise, expecting to see my Mum as we had a shopping trip planned, and was whisked (driven) over to Bruges for a couple of days as I’d been ranting about wanting to go to a Christmas Fair.
I must admit the whole surprise element (he had packed my case, hidden it and everything – I can be a bit too observant for my own good sometimes!) did have me a little suspicious…and I was a little disappointed when no ring was presented to me!
So with the ruse of needing to get back for Saturday football (describing me as being slightly perturbed at this revelation is probably an understatement), we left Bruges to head home. Or so I thought…
When we arrived back in the UK, instead of driving towards home we started heading West! At this point I was just very mad that the weekend away had been cut short because of a football game and really just wanted to get home and sort the washing out, one surprise was enough and I wasn’t really up for another (and half of me just thought he was winding me up to be honest!). At the end of a very long drive, we arrived in Bath, where we had our first weekend away together all those years ago. I was happy again!
We stayed in a beautiful 5* hotel, James surprised me by booking the same restaurant that we had eaten in the first time around and then got down on one knee, 1920′s engagement ring in hand and popped the question in the dimly lit hotel gardens when we got back.
Needless to say I said ‘Yes!’… The rest is history, the wedding preparations began, and I’m loving every, single, minute of it!
Boden? you ain’t got nothin’ on these pair I tell you.
So then, who votes Danielle sets up some kind of fashion blog so we can all copy her clothes?
Me me me!
Big Gale Force Love
Charlotte xxx
Aneta how I adore thee.
Those shoes are indeed gorgeous. Loving the presence they have in the pictures. Fab shoot, fab engagement story too! Only a teeny weeny bit jealous . . .
Loving these photo’s. I live in Ipswich not far from Felixstowe, and never realised how beautiful the Ferry can be!
Also the red shoes, i want! x
Erm…those red shoes…oh my!
Charlotte – I’m joining you with the girl crush, Danielle is one foxy lady! I, too, would very much like a fashion blog please – what gorgeous outfits! And, as the fellow proud owner of a 1920′s engagment ring, I shall pass on my kudos to James for his excellent taste there too
Fab pictures, congratulations xx
Are you sure you’ve not made a mistake!? This must be some sort of fashion catalogue!? B E A U T!
@Ruthie_Ruth _ I think you should immediately post a picture of your engagement ring!!!!
@Becky – no mistake – promise!!
Charlotte xxx
I really love those groin shots.
…And no, I am not being rude. Anyone who did GCSE geography will know that those big wooden things are called groins (and they help prevent long shore drift).
I love jumping on stuff and walking along it
FUN!
It looks like a really ace day out, and the photographs are perfect.
Oh my Gawd, I think I’m wearing that pink jumper! That’s made my long old Friday
Gorgeous shoot… oh and Adam, it’s groYnes for geography groins for bodies
unless you’re an American, in which case it’s groins for all! xxxx
Adam, you make me laugh. I like jumping along stuff and walking along it too- in fact, doing just that is my earliest, earliest memory
What a simple but beautiful engagement shoot. Hope to see the wedding! xx
Gorgeous photos. Very stylish!
Such beautiful photos! She looks so stylish yet completely effortless. Very jealous, I generally look like a sack of potatoes when I attempt this look! xxx
Totally agree with all the comments regarding Danielle’s fab taste in fashion, O hello Shoes! However I must say….James (the Fiance) he too has a great wardrobe! LOVING the yellow wellies and the double breasted winter coat! What a gorgeous fashion forward couple! Can only image how amazing the wedding will be! Wishing them lots of wedding love xx
I’m seriously impressed that she’s wearing a vest top and thing cardigan in *January* We shivered in our coats and multiple layers on our engagement shoot at the beginning of January – there was no way I was taking my coat off to prance around!
@Lucy S – oh whoops… I did geography GCSE – just wasn’t very good at it!!
They were such troopers! The wind was strong and it was cold, but it didnt stop D and J looking super glam whilst waiting patiently as i changed film with frozen fingers
.! And J was such a hero saving a poor pup from a pack of other over-zealous doggies, it definitely was an eventful and fun afternoon all rolled into one! Thank you Charlotte and Adam for featuring it and thank you to D and J for being such rockstars! Xxx
This is so coooool and put a smile on my face. The bride-to-be sounds so happy and up beat. Would love to see a pic of that engagement ring too, sounds amaze…prehaps in THE wedding pics?! xxxx
Dreamy! Love these pictures.
I am also in awe… those red shoes? On a shingle beach? No idea how Danielle managed that without going A over T!
Lovely story!
Great photos. Love those red shoes!
Lovely proposal story. We also got engaged in Bath after 7 years together so this one made me smile xxx
OMG!! we’re off to the coast for our e-shoot today! serious wardrobe envy! What am I going to wear to look so chic? Hope ours comes a teeny bit close to these amazing photos! They’re gorgeous! Fingers crossed- just about to look to see if it’s raining?!?!? eeek! Wish me luck!! Xxx
…ooh yay! storm clouds and sun- bring it on! Lol! xx
Hi All, thanks so so much for your amazing comments *blush* – I can’t say I just threw those outfits together because I (we) actually thought long and hard about what to wear to appear to look a little chic (trust me, it’s not always the case and Aneta is fantastic!!).
And for those of you who want to know – my jumper is from Topshop (bargain), the shoes are actually Louboutins (another great xmas present from J) and James’s coat is an RAF one I picked up for the princely sum of £10 (yup yup yup!) at an antiques fair!!
I’m super excited about the wedding now….thank you everyone – eeek!
Love to you all D xx
Stunning!!!
I wish I had an engagement photoshoot.. What a great idea! Lovely!
Beautiful scenery and photos, and of course the clothes
Perfection <3
SHOW US YOUR RING! Mine’s 1920s too and I am a bit obsessed…
And sorry to be the boring, practical one, but didn’t you WRECK those pretty heels on the shingle? I’m anxious on their behalf…
Peridot – Ring is on third pic down! You may need to zoom in
and the shoes were wrecked the moment they went onto my clumsy feet! Bought to be worn not looked that, that’s my motto! 
)
Xx
Can’t see it in enough oggleable detail for my greedy eyes! But I take your point, and what I CAN see, it looks lovely. Yay for vintage rings!