A super-sweet couple who can’t wait to get married? Their goldendoodle? And, rolling Indiana hills on property that means the world to the couple?
Kurtis and Cassidy’s country engagement photos in Lebanon, Indiana included many of my very favorite things, and I’m so excited to share their engagement session on the blog!
Thankfully, a mutual friend in college discovered Kurtis & Cassidy were interested in one another.
Cassidy and Kurtis met during their freshman year at Ball State University as a result of having several mutual friends and playing IM volleyball together.
Kurtis, who is an incredible groom and attended their coffee date with Cassidy to discuss wedding photography options, explained to me that as he got to know Cassidy, he loved that she was always herself regardless of who was around and that she wasn’t afraid to laugh at herself.
However, Kurtis kept his feelings to himself.
In the meantime, Cassidy was starting to become interested in Kurtis, so she asked Kurtis’s friend—who happened to be Cassidy’s coworker—if Kurtis was single.
The friend knew that Kurtis wasn’t only single but that Kurtis was very interested in Cassidy. He relayed the information, found a reason for them all to hang out, and a few days later, Kurtis and Cassidy found themselves on their first date.
Kurtis popped the question at their pup’s namesake—Zion National Park.
After dating all through college; making Lebanon, Indiana their home; and starting their careers, Kurtis and Cassidy planned a trip with Kurtis’s brother and sister-in-law to Zion National Park in August 2021.
Knowing there would be epic views and that his brother and sister-in-law would be there to take photos, Kurtis planned to pop the question at some point during the trip. His plan was to keep the ring on him until the perfect moment.
When they arrived, however, Kurtis just couldn’t wait. On their very first hike, Kurtis and Cassidy posed for a photo, and after smiling for a couple shots, Kurtis asked his college sweetheart to be his wife in the mountains!
As if their proposal story isn’t sweet enough already, when Kurtis and Cassidy got home, they added a goldendoodle to their family and named him “Zion”—after the location where his mom and dad agreed to be family forever. Just wait until you see photos of this cutie below!
Kurtis & Cassidy decided to take country engagement photos in Lebanon, Indiana at a location that means the world to Cassidy.
Kurtis and Cassidy value family above all else. Not only do they prioritize family time with both sides of their families, but much of Cassidy’s family lives within 10 minutes of one another in Lebanon, Indiana.
Because of this, Cassidy and Kurtis decided that they would love to have their engagement photos taken on Cassidy’s great grandparents’ property—a location that holds a lot of history and memories for the Shepherd family.
And, guys, this location was beautiful! I mean, Indiana is pretty flat, but this property has rolling hills and a creek that runs through them.
Between the sentimentality of this location, the fact that it was truly gorgeous, and the convenience of Cassidy’s parents just living a few minutes away so that Grandma could pick Zion up after his photos, Kurtis and Cassidy couldn’t have picked a more perfect location for their engagement photos.
Now, I do want to give Kurtis and Cassidy major props for fighting through the cold for these images. You see, because Cassidy coaches softball and most of her spring evenings are booked, it quickly became clear that a sunrise session was going to have to happen.
Indiana spring mornings are already chilly, but during the week of Kurtis and Cassidy’s shoot, Indiana decided to snow in April! Originally, Cassidy and Kurtis’s engagement session was scheduled for that snowy, wet day, so we rescheduled for the following day.
While the snow stopped, the freezing temperatures did not! Yet, Kurtis and Cassidy managed to push through. We jumped back in my heated car a few times to warm up, but Kurtis and Cassidy managed to stay all smiles, and the cold only encouraged them to be more snuggly. The future Mr. and Mrs. Markiewicz did such an amazing job that I think it’s safe to say you can’t even tell they were shivering when these images were taken!
Congratulations, Kurtis & Cassidy!
Kurtis and Cassidy, I was excited for your big day before, but now, I cannot wait for your wedding at New Journey Farms this fall!
From the bottom of my heart, thank you for trusting me to be your wedding photographer. You guys are so sweet, and I’ve loved getting to know the two of you throughout your engagement.
I hope you love these previews from your country engagement photos in Lebanon, Indiana on Shepherd family property. I cannot wait to share your full gallery with you!
Zion came for just a few photos at the beginning of the shoot. Then, Grandma—who just lives a few minutes away—picked him up. I’m so glad Kurtis and Cassidy decide to include him! 
THIS is how to accessorize for your engagement session! Cassidy, you picked the perfect hat! 
Would you ever know that these two were freezing during their shoot? They were such good sports, especially Cassidy in this adorable romper! 
