new york city engagement // alex & nicki

Engagements

Alex and Nicki are a classic story of artists falling in love. Nicki came into the summer as a dancer at Theatre West Virginia and had no intentions of dating, quite the opposite in fact. Meanwhile, Alex picked her out from a crowd right away. Nicki saw Alex from across the room in his TCU hat and cowboy boots and wrote him off, and Alex talked to her dance friends trying to find out a little bit about her.

Nicki remembers being in class one day, across the barre from her friend and hearing, “Nicki, someone likes you!” And just like high school they were off chatting and giggling because Alex LIKED her. And from there, Alex and Nicki started a slow and steady friendship, learning they had so much in common with each other. Alex a southern and Nicki a proud northerner, fiercely holding on to that status as a Northern Virginia girl. Soon enough they were officially dating and couldn’t imagine being a part. Even though the end of the summer would send them in different directions. After a spontaneous “I love you” because Alex declared that “he thinks he likes Hanson,” they were committed to making it work no matter the distance.

And now, over two years later, they’re only several blocks a part in their dream home, New York City. They’re anxiously awaiting being married and holding onto engagement as they live the 20 something artist life in Astoria. I’ve known Nicki since we were 10 or 11 and I can’t remember seeing her light up as much has she does with Alex. His charming personality and true southern gentleman character brings out the very best in her. And nothing makes Alex smile like holding Nicki in his arms.

We walked around the city for hours with them a couple weeks ago and we got to capture what life looks like in the city, walking hand in hand with the person they love. We started in their quaint neighborhood park in Astoria.