Golden Sunset Engagement Photos in the Sand Dunes

What do you get when you put a fashion blogger and her beau in the middle of the desert with photographer, Charissa Magno? These dreamy sunset engagement photos in the sand dunes. Yes, we said sand dunes! Soon-to-be-married Lauren and Andrew, with Charissa in tow, set out on a road trip to hunt down the most picturesque settings to highlight their engagement – and they didn’t come up empty! The vast dunes were the perfect backdrop for their photos. Just wait until you see the night sky overhead!

Charissa says, Lauren & Andrew’s engagement shoot was a unique and unforgettable experience. The bride-to-be is a lifestyle and fashion blogger, so of course she picked some of her favorite outfits and details for this special occasion to document their love. The couple has impeccable taste and I really wanted to show off their different looks in a few locations. We started out the road trip in San Diego, California and drove 3 hours towards Arizona where we would finally make it to the Imperial Sand Dunes. Each time we drove by a beautiful location, we pulled over to the side of the road and snapped some more breath-taking photos.

What was so awesome about this photo shoot was that each time we stopped, it felt like we were in a completely different state! Lake Cuyamaca reminded us so much of Lake Tahoe and the highways of Anza-Borrego reminded us of the deserts in Arizona! When we finally arrived to the dunes, the golden sun was setting just over the horizon & we could hardly believe how bright the stars were shining that night. Lauren wore her Christian Louboutin heels and later, showcased a lovely blush tulle skirt that was perfectly paired with Andrew’s light blue Tommy Hilfiger suit. During the entire engagement session, I couldn’t help but swoon over her Leon Mege white gold diamond ring. But without a doubt, the best accessory was their genuine emotion and true love for each other that was evident throughout the entire day.

From Lauren, the bride to be… I’ll never forget the day I met Andrew – I wore a floral print strapless dress that I still can’t bring myself to get rid of after all these years. In just a few short months, I will be sewing a piece of that floral dress into the lining of my wedding gown. Fast-forward eight years since the moment we met and here we are. We’ve spent every day since 2009 being best friends and partners in crime. Now we are engaged and happier than ever!

Andrew proposed at our favorite hotel in the world alongside tons of florals, romantic candles, and our song being played by a violinist. He led me to a private table with a laptop set up – a video of him asking my parents (who live in Florida) for my hand in marriage was playing. I cried ugly tears and trembled in anticipation of what was coming next. He got down on one knee and asked the question I’d been waiting to hear for all these years. I sobbed and said “of course!” without skipping a beat. As soon as I caught my breath, I wanted to call my parents to share the news, of course. After one unanswered FaceTime call, Andrew assured me that they would answer on the second try. Just as it began to ring again, my beautiful Mommy and special Daddy came walking around the corner to share the news in person. It literally just kept getting better and better. And the best part is, it only gets better from here. I cannot wait to spend the rest of my life with Andrew – he is my best friend and true love.