Valerie Celestin and Dimitri Augustin were born in the same town, and they both attended the University of Miami. However, they did not meet until mutual friends mentioned that they would be a great couple and arranged for them to meet. When they finally met, it was like a scene from a fairy tale. Valerie recalls, “literally [everyone in the room] vanished at the same moment and we were left staring at each other.”
Their relationship from that point on was filled with enchanted moments, including their proposal. To pledge his eternal love, Dimitri decided to take Valerie on a romantic outdoor brunch behind a scenic waterfall. Afterward they rode to the beach, where they laid on the sand while Dimitri played the guitar and sang a song he wrote for Valerie. The last words to the lyrics contained Dimitri’s proposal!
Their engagement session with ArtPhotoSoul Photography was a reflection of who they are! They choose to shoot at a local beach in Miami where they incorporated red and blue colors as a tribute to their Haitian roots, and their second location was at their alma mater the University of Miami. We can’t wait to see pictures from their upcoming nuptials!
How They Met
We always wonder when we actually first met, but we know it was God’s plan. We were born in the same town, moved 1500 miles to South Florida, attended the same university, and volunteered for the same organization in Haiti. All this and it took mutual friends, who are much like aunts for the both of us, to put us in the same place at the same time. They knew our stories and started mentioning a mystery man to me. For a few days, that’s all they could talk about. One of them said we would make a great couple. Apparently, they were telling my future fiancé the same thing about me. I was baffled by the whole thing because I don’t ever recall talking about my relationship status with them. I started to have interest in that mystery man. Unexpected to their plan, they managed to introduce us to each other. They literally vanished at the same moment and we were left staring at each other. This marked our beginning.
The Proposal
Our schedules were very hectic at the time and we were not able to see each other for a few days. We finally decided to set up a lunch date; it seemed like a typical day in the middle of the week. We started with a romantic outdoor brunch behind a scenic waterfall; we had an amazing time. Afterwards, he drove to the beach, but I had no idea what he had planned. He handed me money for the meter and when I turned around I was completely shocked to see him; holding his guitar and a blanket. He said he wrote a song for me and wanted to play it. He started playing the song and I was overwhelmed with emotions as I listened to the lyrics. When I heard the last few words, I was ecstatic and wondering if I was dreaming. I felt the same way and I quickly said, yes! The song is one that only my ears have ever heard.
The Engagement Session
We wanted everything about our engagement session to reflect who we are. We started in the early morning at a local beach in Miami, Florida where we incorporated red and blue as a tribute to our Haitian roots. The beach was a reminder of our engagement venue. The second part of the engagement session occurred at our alma mater and ended with us dancing to Haitian music which left our photographer, Art Photo Soul, in tears. The entire day felt completely natural as if it was just the two of us.
Looking Forward to the Wedding
Seeing my future husband at the altar and starting our life as husband and wife.
Vendors
Photography: ArtPhotoSoul
