Central Valley California Almond Orchard Engagement Session

A romantic almond orchard engagement session in California’s Central Valley.

During a two to three week period in California’s Central Valley, we are lucky to experience one of the most beautiful scenes that people travel far and wide to experience in person.

Sadly, we don’t have four seasons in the valley. We don’t get to experience a typical “white Christmas” with snow. However, we do get to experience a white spring with what some people call snow blossoms!

The almond orchards begin blooming the last week of February and will last into the first or second week of March.  Being smack dab in the middle of multiple orchards I can drive for miles and miles and see nothing but rows and rows of trees covered in the most beautiful and romantic white blooms! Every season yields a different kind of crop and as agriculture goes, some seasons are better than others.

If we plan accordingly and the weather cooperates, we can set up some of the most romantic photo sessions.

Keep scrolling to see more of this sweet almond orchard engagement session and read more of Nicole & Mike’s love story!

How did you meet?

He said:

While mingling at a NATCA (National Air Traffic Controllers Association) event at Hotel Del in San Diego, I was making my round of hellos walking up the beach that was full of bonfires. As I walked by one group, a stunning woman’s face was lit up by the flames and caught my eye. I had to walk over and say hello. She was sitting low in a lawn chair in the sand, so I walked up to her and sat down in a catchers position and laid down the “charm.” We talked for about five minutes but my legs started to go numb. Before I started to look not so athletic anymore, I asked her to take a walk with me. We instantly clicked and ended up leaving the event and had a night in downtown San Diego together. When she gave me her phone number at the end of the night, I had forgotten her last name, so her name went into my contacts as Nicole Hottie. Still to this day and forever she will be my Hottie.

 

She said:

We met at the Hotel del Coronado in San Diego. My sister and Mike worked together at the same air traffic control facility and their union was hosting a national gathering at the hotel. I was sitting with my sister and some of her colleagues around the bonfire on the beach of the hotel. I remember seeing this handsome guy with the biggest smile approach our group. I couldn’t stop staring at him; I was mesmerized. He squatted down next to a few of us and started talking. I felt this intense pull towards him that I couldn’t ignore. I immediately shifted in my seat around the fire towards him and asked him, “So tell me your story.” The rest is history.

The proposal: 

It was January 29, 2018. Mike, his family, and I were getting ready to have a nice lunch for his brother Jon’s birthday (at least that’s what he told me). I got dressed up and was ready to go when Mike said he needed to go run some errands before lunch. I told him I wanted to go with him, but he was acting odd and saying I couldn’t. He left me at his mother Rosie’s house and told me he would meet me there. His sister Christine picked up Rosie and I to head over to lunch. On our way, Christine said Mike wanted to show us something at the Gardens at Monji before lunch. When we arrived at Monji, Irma (Simply Chic Events) met us at the front gate. She handed me a letter from Mike and ushered Christine and Rosie away. At that moment, I knew something was happening. I read the letter and immediately started crying. I knew the proposal was happening at this moment! I continued on the path of rose petals and pictures and picked up love letters along the way. When I reached the end, Mike was waiting for me with the final rose. I was shaking. He got down on one knee and asked me to be his wife. Overjoyed, I responded, “Yes!” Mike’s family came running out of the bushes, and we all celebrated together. As soon as we got back to the car, I called my parents and told them the news.

Congratulations, Nicole & Mike! I can’t wait to celebrate your wedding with you!

Follow this link to view their surprise proposal story! HERE