The Mermaid Details in This Engagement Shoot Will Make You Dream of Life Under the Sea

If mermaids could live on land, this bride-to-be would certainly be one of them. Ariel (is it a coincidence that she shares her name with our favorite mermaid?) and Quinnton met in the Spring of their junior year of college while Ariel was a student at Boston College and Quinnton was at MIT. They crossed paths at a fashion show that was hosted on Boston College's campus and had a deep discussion on their very first night of meeting, followed by long text conversations. The rest was history! The two went on to finish undergrad, start their careers in Boston, then moved to New York City and finally to California, where they live now. Ariel and Quinnton have been on the journey of love for almost seven years.

Quinnton proposed to Ariel on a trip in South Africa — he led Ariel down a boardwalk on the sandy beaches of Cape Point, South Africa, and then, surrounded by calming waters, colored rocks, and herds of penguins, Quinnton presented Ariel with a letter and a gift, then popped the question.

For their engagement shoot, Ariel said that she and Quinnton wanted the experience to be "more than the traditional shoot." They combined color, storytelling, and editorial elements to create a three-part shoot that would be "timeless." They wanted the various scenes to represent them individually and together. Ariel is the founder of her own wellness brand, so some of the images incorporate her passion for health and fitness. The theme of engagement shoot (and the theme of their wedding!) is "The Mermaid Marries Her Prince." Quinnton even designed Ariel's engagement ring, and the look of the ring is inspired by the tail of a mermaid.