The Orchard Engagement Session

Planning an engagement session at The Orchard? Yoav and Ryen’s session is proof that even a rainy forecast can create some of the sweetest memories. When the weather changed just hours before their engagement session, they chose to embrace it. Looking back, I don’t think any amount of sunshine could have made this evening feel more like them.

Yoav and Ryen met while living in Austin. Ryen grew up in Grapevine, and Yoav is originally from Kansas. After recently moving to Kansas together, they knew they wanted to return to Texas to celebrate with the people they love most. Since they had already chosen The Orchard in Azle for their wedding day, it only made sense to photograph their engagement session there as well.

Why They Chose The Orchard

The Orchard is one of my favorite venues because every season offers something beautiful. The property has open fields, towering oak trees, charming fences, rolling pastures, and elegant stone architecture, all in one location. It gives couples a variety of backdrops without ever feeling like you’re walking from one location to another.

Ryen also scheduled her hair and makeup trial for the same day as their engagement session. It was the perfect opportunity to see how everything photographed before the wedding.

A Rainy The Orchard Engagement Session

The forecast kept changing throughout the week.

One day it called for storms. The next day it looked completely clear. On the morning of their session, the forecast finally showed sunshine, so we decided to keep everything as planned.

About two hours before we were scheduled to meet, a surprise storm rolled in.

I drove the two hours to Azle through pouring rain, hoping it would clear. By the time I arrived at The Orchard, it had settled into a light sprinkle.

When Yoav and Ryen arrived, the rain continued to come and go throughout the evening.

Since they had flown in from Kansas, rescheduling wasn’t really an option. Instead of stressing about the weather, they smiled through it and trusted the process.

I’m so glad they did.

Some Of My Favorite Moments

The rain ended up becoming one of my favorite parts of their session.

We wandered through the property between sprinkles, laughed through the unexpected weather, and even pulled out clear umbrellas for a few portraits. Those images have such a romantic feel and perfectly tell the story of the evening.

One of my favorite photos happened while they walked hand in hand down the driveway with umbrellas overhead. Another favorite was when they kicked off their shoes and spun around barefoot in the rain, completely forgetting about the weather.

We also stopped near the beautiful stone building for a few quiet portraits before walking over to the pasture where the horses were grazing. The soft overcast light made everything feel peaceful and timeless.

Sometimes the sessions that don’t go exactly according to plan end up being the ones couples remember most.

Thinking About Your Own The Orchard Engagement Session?

If you’re planning your wedding at The Orchard, I highly recommend scheduling your engagement session there too. It gives you a chance to become familiar with the venue, explore all of the beautiful locations, and simply enjoy spending time together before your wedding day.

And if rain happens to show up?

Don’t be afraid to lean into it. Some of the most meaningful images come from the moments you never expected.

Planning your own engagement session or wedding at The Orchard? I’d love to help you create photographs that feel joyful, genuine, and timeless. Contact me here to start planning your day!