Sunset Sailboat Engagement Photos

Not much is more romantic than a sunset sail. So we totally agree that this was the perfect spot to host Scotti and Bryan’s sailboat engagement photos! Let alone the fact that they are avid sailers and true ocean loving Californians. Seventh Bixel planned this awesome e-sesh as an instagram giveaway and, to her delight, the pair was inspiring all on their own! The beautiful wardrobe and props don’t hurt though ;).

This couple surfs together, travels the world together, and sails the coast of California often in their sailboat they dock in San Diego. They are wanderlusts with the sweetest of personalities, and their affection and admiration for each other came through in the beautiful images Allison Maginn captured.

Back in June, I organized an Instagram giveaway to offer engaged couples the chance to win a styled shoot with a dozen vendors. Girl Meets Bongga stepped up to include hair and make-up; Wild Nova provided a vintage turquoise cuff to take home as well as jewelry for the shoot; Saltwater Luxe added women’s fashion to style looks as well as a $50 gift card. In addition, a charcuterie plate and a day of hotel room and docking space was made available by Balboa Bay Resort. Le Grand Courtage also included a $50 gift card. Custom desserts came from M Cakes Sweets and all photography was provided by Allison Maginn. Pulling this all together with creative direction and styling was Seventh Bixel, utilizing pillows and blankets from The Woven Home, vintage rentals from Archive Rentals, floral design by Bloom Babes, and calligraphy by Details, Darling.

The winners, Scotti and her fiancé Bryan first met in 2006, at Stanford University. Bryan was smitten when he discovered that Scotti knew how to surf. Their first date was surfing Steamer Lane together in Santa Cruz, CA.

Later on, in early 2013, they were engaged while surfing in Hawaii. On the fifth wave they caught, Scotti was on the shoulder of the wave and he closer to the peak. Scotti looked back and Bryan dropped to one knee with something in his hand. Once they were out of the wave, Bryan swam over to her with the ring in his hand and said, “ Will you ride waves with me forever?”

The ring, Bryan designed and whittled himself out of two types of wood he melded together: Cocobolo and Tiger wood. One wood from each of the tail blocks from their surfboards that he had hand shaped.

Planning for the wedding began immediately, but Scotti’s travel with her work became extensive and was not allowing her time to enjoy her engagement or everyday life. She quit her job, and with their savings she and Bryan decided to travel the world together and celebrate their engagement.

After some amazing adventures, they are both back at work and about to restart planning their wedding. I spent a lot of time learning about their courtship, and made sure that we incorporated lines from a poem written by Bryan for Scotti, as well as important quotes they live by and places that are of importance to them with hand lettering on vintage sea glass bottles. We also incorporated carrot cake, Bryan’s favorite, into the dessert spread.

We had the most wonderful day complete with laughing and sharing stories as we sailed the California coast until we chased the sunset.