There’s something magical about Old Town Albuquerque at sunrise, particularly in winter. For A + V’s engagement session, we met in the early morning when the holiday decorations were still displayed and not a soul was around. Arriving as early as we did allowed us to have the entire place to ourselves. The stillness, the crisp desert air, the glow of string lights — it felt as if we had stepped into a quiet little snow globe scene (minus the snow, of course).

Their proposal was simple, intentional, and meaningful — a quiet moment at the top of a mountain with sweeping views. On Thanksgiving morning, they set out for a hike on a tucked-away trail that’s particularly beautiful in spring and fall. Andrew requested a photo at the peak, said a few sweet words, knelt down, and asked A for forever. Her reaction? She exclaimed, “Yes!” and sprinted down the mountain to call everyone she loves!

A and V are the ultimate outdoorsy duo — always on the move, enjoying hiking, biking, skiing, running, and camping. You’ll find them deep into house projects when they’re not adventuring. (Okay, okay… A is doing the actual work while V is running to Lowe’s for the third time that day — but that’s what dream teams are made of!) 

I cannot wait to celebrate these two this May at their wedding in beautiful Corrales, New Mexico. Until then, enjoy some of my favorite cozy winter moments from their sunrise engagement session in Old Town ABQ, where love, laughter, and leftover holiday lights made everything feel a little more magical.