Their Sussex County NJ Engagement Session on the Appalachian Trail in Vernon NJ

Matt and Cassie are getting married next spring on top of a mountain at Mountain Creek in Vernon NJ, right in the town where I grew up, and where they now call home. For their Sussex County NJ engagement session, Cassie and Matt wanted something outdoorsy and fun! So we met up at the perfect spot on the Appalachian trail which also happens to be just minutes from both our homes and has a view of the very mountain at Mountain Creek that they will be getting married on top of next spring!

We wandered around two locations on the trail, one more woodsy and rustic to match their vibes of being outdoosy, down to earth, and adventure loving. Matt and Cassie enjoy being out in the woods together hunting, fishing, and hiking, so it for sure made sense to go there! Then we hopped over to the Appalachian Boardwalk for a little more “fancy” photos and outfits, but still outdoorsy and natural!

These two said they were so nervous and weren’t sure what to do in front of the camera! So I encouraged a little bit of liquid courage, and had tons of movements and actions for them up my sleeve! By the end, they both said they really had fun and enjoyed it!

How they met:

Cassie was volunteering as an EMT in her hometown, where Matt is a police officer. They had known each other, but never really talked outside of EMS calls. Their mutual friends got them talking and convinced them to hangout. Matt asked her to meet him out at a local pub with all of his coworkers there, they had just had a PBA meeting and went out for drinks after. She showed up and it’s been history since that night! They closed out the place because they spent the entire night talking!

Their Perfect Date:

Their go to date night is dinner at Buffalo Wild Wings then a movie at AMC! Though they really enjoy being outdoorsy and enjoying the simple things. In spring you can find them out turkey hunting together, and in summer they are likely spending time at the cabin in NY, fishing, out on the boat/jetski and hanging out by the fire. Matt says that Fall is for deer hunting, so Cassie will either go with him, or go out with her friends! Winter they enjoy going to the cabin and skiing/snowboarding, or heading up to Vermont with friends! … Makes sense that they are getting married at Mountain Creek on top of a mountain right?!

The Proposal Story: Told by Cassie

Matt proposed Memorial Day Weekend in upstate NY. His family has a cabin in NY so we go most summers for weekends here and there between work and other commitments. This past MDW we went with his parents, 2 brothers, and his cousins who rented another cabin. We went the Lake where his cousins rented a cabin, put in the boat & jetski (BAD idea the water was freezing) and drove over to the dock at their cabin. We started our day hanging out drinking and playing lawn games, his older brother went on the boat with a couple of friends… Matt asked me to come on the dock to check to “see where they are at” I tried to get out of going on the dock but he eventually convinced me to walk out there. That’s when he proposed! I cried (we have videos from his younger brother who taped it). I didn’t know we were going to get engaged that weekend but I had an idea it was coming, Zales sent him a bright pink envelope in the mail addressed to him in April, I sent my 2 best friends a picture of it wondering what it was.. one of them told Matt I had seen the envelope. Needless to say Matt called Zales very unhappy about that. Matt told me recently that he had started saving for a ring two weeks after we began dating !!

Ashley is an Engagment and Wedding Photographer located in Sussex County NJ, and serving the surrounding tri-state area.

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