“You Are My Rock” Love Shoot

rock love inspiration

Even though Valentine’s Day has passed, that doesn’t mean the sweet enchantment of the holiday has to end. Because every day is chance to celebrate love, don’t you think?! These talented New Hampshire creatives agree and decided to team up to create a beautiful styled shoot to celebrate the real love of one lucky couple via their fun idea for an Instagram contest. Hosted by Lauren Wells Events + Cambria Grace Photography, couples were asked to submit who their rock was and why. The response was overwhelming + the team was amazed by how many couples responded with such heartfelt and genuine stories.

The winning couple was the adorable Lauren + Dave! So the team took them out to a snow covered lake and captured their love in the beautifully deserted setting, with pretty design elements like hand lettered love notes, lush wintertime blooms + lovely geode details. Take a peek…

purple and green bouquet

purple boutonniere

snowy couple

snowy couple


We are going to share Lauren’s contest submission throughout the rest of the post. It’s so heartfelt + sweet; you won’t want to miss any of it!

I could not have stumbled across this at a more perfect time. As I read through your post I was about to close out on one of the most horrific and difficult years of my life. One I am ready to forget but will always remember as life changing. We are now almost a year from when I lost my older brother, John, both suddenly and tragically this past January of 2013. As you can imagine, it has been a grueling and difficult year for myself and my family. That being said, I am writing to tell you why my boyfriend, Dave, of almost four years has been my rock.

rocks

snowy couple

decorated branch

blue rock geodes hanging

blue rock geodes hanging


Dave and I met in the summer of 2010, thanks to one of my closest friends, just before his already-planned trip to move out to Jackson Hole, Wyoming for the winter. Dave and his close friend had planned to make the drive across country to live the life of simplicity and most importantly to ski some pretty sweet powder for the winter. We dated for a few months before he left and decided to give long distance a shot. Dave, out in Jackson, and myself back in Boston wondering if and when he would actually return was not exactly the ideal beginning to a relationship. I only visited him once (for a week) during the 7 month span, but somehow we managed to grow our relationship from across the country.

you are my rock wrap

love notes in calligraphy

snowy couple


Needless to say, he moved back in April of 2011 and we currently live together in Boston. Dave is a High-School Spanish teacher at a Cambridge Charter school where he teaches inner city kids, and even takes a group of them on a 3 week mini immersion trip to Guatemala every year. I am a Graphic Designer for a large digital Advertising Agency in Boston. As you can imagine we have very different stories at the end of each day.

love notes in calligraphy

snowy couple

geode breaking


They incorporated a break-your-own geode idea (which would make for such a fun + unique wedding ceremony tradition or even a fun favor for guests) and aren’t those hand lettered love notes by Nicole Miyuki simply beautiful!? Lauren and Dave wrote them a few weeks prior and then read them to each other during the shoot for the first time. So sweet…

geode breaking

snowy couple

lots of rocks


Only a few months after moving in to our new apartment together, I was faced with the loss of my brother, something I never thought I would ever have to go through. The “honeymoon phase” and bliss of cohabitation we thought we would be enjoying suddenly was put to the back burner. Dave stood by me and my family, did everything he could to make my life comfortable, dealt with my roller coaster emotions that were often taken out on him unintentionally. He encouraged me to stay strong, and to push myself to continue to live life and to do what I love through the worst of it. He attended and held my hand through ALL SEVEN weddings we were invited to (2 of which I was in the bridal party) just months after losing my brother, and he spent every “first” holiday with my family instead of his own to show his support and comfort me during tough times.

snowy couple

snowy couple

snowy couple

snowy couple


Dave has the patience of no one I’ve ever met before, and is a perfect balance to my emotional and sometimes stubborn Italian personality. Looking back on the past year, and where I am today, I don’t think that the saying “he is my rock” could be any more fitting for how I feel about having him in my life. I am so thankful and blessed to have him by my side, and know that we can get through anything together. I hope that you can see it too!

We definitely can! Thanks so much to the talented team of creatives below for sharing this gorgeous session with us, and to Lauren + Dave for sharing their beautiful love story today!

photography: Cambria Grace Photography // planning + design: Lauren Wells Events // venue: Windsor Mountain Summer Camp Windsor, New Hampshire // florals: Wild Folk Studio // hair + makeup: Kacie Corbelle // calligraphy: Nicole Miyuki

Explore: