Young Love

Elsie Hobeika and Patrick Frangie‘s love story began at the age of seventeen when the two met at a national Lebanese-Catholic retreat. Their connection was strong, and they stayed in touch from that moment on for several years. Long story short – Pat moved home from the Navy, and Elsie decided to move to the area for medical school after a year-long of dating. 

We asked Elsie and Pat what they love most about each other. We always love hearing the different responses!

Elsie: “I love that Pat has a hunger for learning, remembers the little things about everything, and is always present with the people he shares his time with. And most importantly, I love that he is passionate, fiercely loyal, and always makes me laugh.”

Patrick: “I love that Elsie is unapologetically herself, and never feels the need to impress anyone. She is just the right amount of nerdy, clumsy, and goofy to love all the time, and never be bored.”

It sounds like they are definitely meant to be together. Being best friends is so important when it comes to marriage. 

Pat knew it was time to propose. He wanted to make it special and truly surprise Elsie with something near and dear to the both of them. So, he ultimately chose to take her to dinner at Jean-Georges Philadelphia, where they shared their first date three years ago. As you know, the answer was yes!

Philadelphia Navy Yard

For their engagement shoot, they decided the location to be set at the Philadelphia Navy Yard. It was the perfect spot since Pat was raised in South Philadelphia and is a Navy Veteran. Some of my personal favorites shots were the massive fleets sitting atop the Delaware River as the backdrop. There’s so much to explore at this place, and we highly recommend it as a day trip for anyone!

We snagged some great photos throughout the Navy Yard, and we ended the day with some golden hour shots. The sun peaked through just when I needed it to, creating breathtaking images. It was the cherry on top of the session.

From catering to DJs and venues and invitations, wedding planning can be challenging. With the difficulties that COVID-19 has brought and Elsie’s rigorous schedule with residency, there have been some hurdles when it comes to wedding planning. But by staying organized and motivated to finally tie-the-knot, almost everything is ready to go! 

You can say we came prepared for this Philadelphia engagement session. From bug spray to our handy dandy pop-up changing tent, everything went smooth. The entire shoot was a blast! We really wanted to let them be their fun, outgoing selves. Helping the couple simply enjoy the session and encourage them to have fun together helped create beautiful images they will have for a lifetime. 

Two Peas In A Pod

We wanted to share some quirky facts about Elsie and Pat:

Patrick believes he has acquired an honorary degree of “TV-M.D.” after watching several medical shows and supporting his fiancé throughout medical school. But hey, it counts, right?! He is a hookah sommelier and takes pride of his extensive hookah collection. If you ever need to know details, he’s the man! 

Now, when Elsie walks into a house, she automatically kicks off her shoes and curls up into any blanket in her path. But the poor girl deserves it with everything she has accomplished so far. I mean, medical school, residency, internal medicine… exhausting but rewarding! Elsie has an insatiable need for ice cream during times of stress. It’s almost like her second dinner nowadays.

We want to say congratulations again to Elsie and Patrick on their engagement. We hope you continue being your fun, goofy selves! It was a beautiful afternoon spent with a lovely couple, and we are ecstatic to be a part of this journey with you! 

Engagement Photography In Philadelphia

If you are interested in learning more about engagement sessions in Philadelphia, we would be happy to help you. Click here to get in touch with us, and we can chat about what you envision on your special day! We love a good love story – let us help you tell yours through photography!