Gonzales, LA Engagement Photography - Tara & Brayden

Last Tuesday my phone rang and when I saw the name pop up, my heart dropped.  I had that moment of somethings wrong....and then a quick shift to OR something is really about to be right!  When I answered, my godchild's long time best friend/boyfriend said, "what are you doing Thursday?  Want to take a really important picture?"  Agggghhhh I was so excited!!!!!!  Of course, I'm available and are you kidding me?  YES I want to!!!  ♥

This couple right here grew up together.  As a matter of fact, I took their homecoming picture 10 years ago when they were still babies. Let me just post the pictures here as proof.  :)

Tara has had a busy several years, so wedding plans had been placed on the back burner.  She served a year as Louisiana Queen Cotton 2017/2018 and then an unprecedented 3 years as the Gonzales Jambalaya Queen throughout the Covid years.  She was also busy earning a degree in Kinesiology and then went on to get a 2nd degree in an accelerated nursing program to become an RN through Southeastern Louisiana University. 

Brayden patiently waited for her to achieve all of her dreams and goals and with the news of her completing nursing school last Tuesday.........it was finally time to change her name!!!!!  She's getting a new title y'all!  Nurse Tara Newchurch.  ♥ Boy that sure has a nice RING to it.  

There was no way to really trick Tara. So, Brayden decided the best way to really get her was to do it at what will be their new home together and have me hiding in the guest room.  She thought they were going to dinner to celebrate her passing nursing school, but as soon as she walked in the door, when she was least expecting it, he tricked her with a gift and a card.  In the card, hidden under a $20 were the words, "From 2023 to forever, Will you marry me?"  As soon as I heard ARE YOU SERIOUS?!  It was my queue to get to snapping.  

For those of you that don't know (which how could you not, because I brag on her ALL the time), Tara is my godchild.  So, this was very emotional for me, but I was able to hold it together until I got home.  Then I just cried and cried tears of joy.  Just feeling an overwhelming sense of how truly blessed I am to be a part of some of the most incredible moments with some of my favorite people on earth.  That's what photography has given me.  I'm not worthy, but somehow some way God gave me this gift.   

High School dance pics, senior pics, engagements, bridals, weddings and births with my best friends & my family........it just doesn't get any better than that for me.  Thank you, God! And thank you for my people for trusting me to document these moments with them.  It means the world to me. ♥

xoxo,

Jacé