but first...


Thank you all so much from the bottom of my heart for your patience on this post. For those of you who don't know, I currently own and manage three small businesses! Aside from Stories Told By AR, I also own and run FWPopnic and have recently partnered up with another amazing creative (Mariah James, Cedar and Ink Studios) to create a brand new business we are launching here in Fort Wayne on Friday! That business is called The Local Archive.


YOU all have been such an amazing support and have invested in all of these things! You've been keeping me busier than I have ever been in my life and I'm so blessed and honored to be where I'm at with all of these ventures. So let me get extremely real and vulnerable here. Everything needs a balance... while being busy has been great for business, something I strive for is making sure my family stays my utmost priority in life. So when things begin to stack up, I have to let some stuff go sit on the back burner. This includes posting all of the amazing content I have on social medias and here on the blog.


I know it took me awhile to get this post up and shared, and now you at least know why...


so without further ado...

THE ACTUAL PART 2:

The First Love Note...

"Let Love Take Flight"


None of the women knew what their dates would be, and up until the initial "debriefing" with Ben that morning, he didn't know what all they were in for either. So before each date, I told Ben which girl, and then delivered a "Love Note" to the women so that they'd get a hint of what was to come.

Since none of the girls knew who it was for, Bri went ahead and opened up the Love Note to reveal Liv was the first up for her blind date with Ben! Liv immediately got a little more pep in her step and was excited to go on her date.

I loved seeing Ben's initial reaction to each girl! Take a look at that smile, He may have liked her a little? Let's keep going...

So to understand a bit of a back story on the dates which were arranged, you have to know a bit more about Ben. He is actually studying to obtain a Private Pilots License. He loves planes and flying. While I wish that there was a budget to include a full on airlifted excursion, that wasn't quite obtainable. However, Sweet Aviation in Fort Wayne was extremely gracious enough to allow us to utilize one of their hangers for a fun photoshoot. This was so much fun and gave them time to get to know each other a little... or a lot better...

and then...

Keep in mind they just met...


I was blown away by all of this magical goodness happening in the airport hanger! It was hard for me to even believe that they had just met for the first time, or to even think that we had 2 other girls back at The Local Archive awaiting their turn at a chance to connect with Ben.

So we wrapped up and I dropped them off at Kanela Coffee so they could have some time without my camera in their face... and I also had to check in with those other lovely ladies! To deliver the next Love Note.

But you'll have to stay tuned...


I am going to be releasing both Lynsey and Bri's blind dates with Ben here shortly. But for now I'll leave you guessing as to who and where the next date will be!

Special Thanks:

Sweet Aviation, Kanela Coffee, and I Do Onsite Hair & Makeup, & Megan Sprague for helping with all of the details for this shoot! Along with my business partner Mariah & The Local Archive