Downtown Montclair Engagement Session – Kerry & JJ

Kerry & JJ’s story began years before they were even born. Their fathers met at a bar during college and became good friends. The dads went to each other’s weddings and they all became friends, had kids, and Kerry & JJ met when she was only a few months old. Their paths crossed again in 2017 and the rest is history. Downtown Montclair was the setting for their engagement session because it’s where they shared their first home and the place that’s been home to many of their dates.

 

The Proposal

Early on into their relationship, Kerry suggested they go on a hike together at Eagle Rock Reservation. Despite the best laid plans, they hiked for about 5 minutes when JJ was over it, he “just doesn’t like hiking in the woods.” Flash forward to November 2019, they made their way back to the same spot with its views of NYC skyline. Of course JJ needed to come up with a ruse as an excuse to be back in that same area again. They stopped at a restaurant to “pick up JJ’s brother’s wallet” that just happened to be next to Eagle Rock. The two of them started walking towards the same city view from their first hike, and before she knew it, he was down on one knee.

 

They will be tying the knot at Edgewood Country Club in June 2021. Here are some favorites from their downtown Montclair engagement session!

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How did the engagement ring come to be?

K: We never really talked about rings. I think I had an idea of what I liked and what I didn’t like, but it was never really a topic of discussion for us. Maybe I’ve got too much faith in JJ, but I think deep down I had a feeling that when the time was right, the ring would be too. And right doesn’t even begin to describe it. It’s perfect. And when I found out it belonged to JJ’s grandfather that made it all the more special. I’m honored to wear it everyday.

J: My grandfather had left me his ring after he passed in hopes I would use It as an engagement ring. Before I made it into an engagement ring, my grandma and mom would wear it for special occasions so it had a lot sentimental value. It looks great on Kerry!

What are your favorite things about your partner?

K: What I like most about JJ is that he’ll always eat dessert with you. And what I mean by that is, JJ is the kind of guy who will get ice cream with you even if he’s full and doesn’t want it—just so that you don’t feel bad about eating it. And yes, that’s a metaphor. (But it’s also kind of a fact because he’s done that for me many, many times). But it goes beyond dessert.

JJ is the kind of guy that will stay up with you at night when you can’t fall asleep. He’ll get dinner ready when you’re working late, put up with you when you’re training for a marathon, spend weekends doing things with your entire family. He makes every day, even the tough ones, better. And I’m not sure you could ask for more in a partner. Yes, I love that JJ is smart, and funny, and ambitious, and handsome, but my favorite thing about him is his heart.

How do you make each other laugh? How do you complete each other?

K: JJ will fight me on this, but I’m the funnier one in the relationship… Regardless of what he thinks or who truly is funnier, since we’ve been together, laughter is never something we’ve run short on. I think we sort of bonded over a shared sense of humor and an ability to weave sarcasm and random movie quotes into everyday conversation. JJ is always making me laugh. He’s a pretty big goofball in general, but I think I laugh the hardest when he sings. He loves to belt out high pitch female vocals in the car. Gets me every time.

In terms of how we complete each other, I think we sort of balance each other out. JJ is more of the social, “life of the party” type. I’m definitely more shy and reserved. But somehow it works. He definitely has helped me to come out of my shell more and he just makes me really happy.

J: I am definitely the funny one of the the 2 of us. Not too hard. One of my personal favorites is finding the funniest Snapchat filter and sending a funny picture of myself.

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