Love Doesn’t Wait — Ali + Jeremy’s Engagement Photos
When you think of engagement photos, you probably imagine wide-open fields, golden sunsets, maybe your favorite hiking trail or cozy corner of your favorite café. What you don’t picture?
Hospital grounds.
But here’s the thing about love stories—they rarely stick to the script. They zig. They zag. They take unexpected turns. And sometimes, in the middle of wedding planning, life throws you a plot twist you didn’t see coming. That’s what happened with one of the couples I had the privilege to photograph recently. And honestly? It was one of the most meaningful sets of engagement photos I’ve ever had the honor to witness.
The Plan Wasn’t This—But the Love Was
Ali + Jeremy were busy building a life together with her kids. Jeremy had planned to propose later this year, but life did that thing it does: it changed the plan. What should have been a routine surgery for Ali went sideways and she ended up with an extended hospital stay.
Typically shifts like this will slow things down, but Ali + Jeremy persevered, taking a leap of faith and speeding everything up. This left Ali planning a September 2025 Wedding from the hospital, unable to visit venues, meet with vendors or attend wedding open houses. But this twist didn’t stop her, and in fact something much more important became present – being together.
Usually, when we plan engagement photos it involves finding locations, discussing outfits and backup plans. However, being admitted to the hospital comes with a unique set of restrictions. The staff isn’t just going to let a random photographer show up and take their patient wherever she wants (even if I promise I’ll bring her back). But Ali’s care team was INCREDIBLE when they learned that Ali + Jeremy wanted to photograph part of their engagement photos right now, in the midst of the unknown.
Jeremy arranged everything so we could easily work with Ali’s care team. They were super supportive when I arrived, making sure there were no interruptions. The beautiful April sunshine allowed us the opportunity to go outside on the hospital grounds. And lucky for us, the hospital looked like something out of Ali’s favorite book series, Harry Potter.
Their engagement pushed all of our boundaries. Ali + Jeremy were trusting me to make their photos look like my other engagements, not like she was stuck in a hospital. So we got creative and found a quiet little spot just outside on the hospital grounds. I brought a few props to soften the space, but truly—their love did all the work.
It wasn’t traditional. It wasn’t what any of us imagined. But it was theirs.
Real Moments, Real Places, Real Love
This isn’t the first time I’ve photographed inside hospital walls. I’ve captured the joy of fresh new life and the tenderness of last goodbyes. Each time, I walk in with the same mission:
To preserve the moments that matter—no matter where they happen.
Ali + Jeremy’s engagement photos reminded me again that love truly shows up in the most unexpected places. There were other patients in wheelchairs and IV poles nearby. Nurses and doctors quietly walking past or trying to decompress with a book and coffee from the cases they had that day. But there were also giggles, forehead kisses, and the kind of connection that says, “We’ve been through a lot—but we’re still here.”
The emotion in that space wasn’t staged. It wasn’t polished or posed. It was raw and real and deeply human.
And you know what?
It was beautiful.
Embrace Your Story—Wherever It Happens
We often wait for the perfect moment to take engagement photos.
“When I feel better.”
“When we find the right outfit.”
“When things calm down.”
“When life looks a little more like a Pinterest board.”
But what if that moment doesn’t come? What if the right time is actually right now, exactly as you are, exactly where you are?
Ali + Jeremy didn’t wait. They chose to say, “This is our story, and it deserves to be remembered—hospital bracelets and all.”
That’s powerful.
That’s brave.
That’s love.
As a documentary photographer, my goal isn’t to make your life look perfect—it’s to make your memories last. To meet you in the middle of the mess, the magic, the unexpected detours, and say, “Yes, this moment counts too.”
Because one day, you’ll look back and see just how strong you were. Just how deep your love was. Just how real it all felt.
Your Story Deserves to Be Seen—Today
So, friend—if you’re sitting there waiting for the stars to align before booking your engagement photos, let this be your gentle encouragement:
Don’t wait.
Don’t wait for the weather to cooperate, or your schedule to settle, or your location to be “just right.” Don’t wait for perfect hair, perfect lighting, or perfect anything.
Because the truth is, you are already enough.
And whatever season you’re in—whether you’re on top of a mountain or sitting outside a hospital—you deserve to have this love story told. If you’re going through something big, something heavy, something unexpected—I see you. And I’m here to help you capture the beauty in the midst of it.
Bring the chaos. Bring the emotion. Bring the realness. I’ll bring my camera—and all the love I’ve got.
Ali, my friend. I can’t wait to watch you walk down that aisle to the love of your life. And Jeremy, thank you for loving my friend in the honest, whole-hearted way that you do. We can’t wait to celebrate with you. Cheers to the rest of your lives.
💌 Ready to tell your story—just as it is? Reach out at www.markiejonesweddings.com or message me on Instagram @markiejonesphotographyllc and let’s plan your real, raw engagement photos. I’m here to meet you where you are—literally and emotionally.
📷 Whether it’s a mountaintop, your front porch, or a hospital courtyard, your love deserves to be documented. And I would be honored to help you do that.
