Social Circle, Ga Engagement Session | Tara & Tommy

Look how amazing these two are together! Tara and Tommy met me at my little farm, Creekview Farm, for their engagement session! We had such a fabulous time in the unreal warmth we were blessed with! I met Tara through her mother, Kathy. Kathy is an exceptional painter and wall paper hanger! We hired Kathy to paint the interior of our home when I was pregnant with Olivia, over four years ago! When Kathy found out I was a photographer she brought her granddaughter, Bella, to my annual Santa mini sessions. Her session was ADORABLE! I remember during her session she had on the cutest little pj’s and she was so excited to meet Santa! The very next year, Kathy brought along her entire crew for Santa sessions and I got to meet Tommy, Tara, their daughter Remi, Bella, Amelia, Amelia’s momma, Vaneta and Bella’s daddy, David. They are the most fabulous blended family and I loved photographing them ALL! 

So, now that you know how I got to meet Tara and Tommy, let me tell you about how they met each other! Waaaaay back in eighth grade, Tara was the “new girl” at her elementary school. Tommy was the “cool guy” that hung out with a crew that he had known most all his life. While they both attended the same school, they didn’t really get to know each other until their Junior year of high school! Tommy would walk Tara to her 6th period class every day. They never dated but remained friends.

Tara ended up moving to a different high school for her senior year and once Tommy graduated he became a soldier in the U.S. Army. After two tours, Afghanistan and Iraq, a big move to New York and several huge life changing events, Tommy found himself on this new site called Facebook! As he was navigating through, finding old friends, he sent Tara a message, “Hey, we went to school together, right?”

Back in Georgia, Tara had just put her sweet daughter, Bella, to bed and was looking forward to some quiet time. As she pulled up her Facebook page, there it was! Tara was one click away from falling in love with her future husband! They chatted through messages for months and got to know each other all over again!

One day Tommy sent Tara a message letting her know he was moving back home to Georgia! Tara felt a rush of excitement and butterflies! It had been years since they had seen each other in person! After Tommy moved back it didn’t take long before they were dating and falling in love! Tommy accepted Bella, Tara’s daughter, and loved her like she was his own. The two moved in together and got the surprise of a lifetime - they were pregnant! Although they were scared, they were also very excited!

Just last year, on Super Bowl Sunday, while our Atlanta Falcons were doing their best to beat the Patriots, the halftime show was on and Lady Gaga was doing her thing! Tara was totally stoked and glued to the TV watching her performance when all of the sudden the TV gets muted and a different song replaces Lady Gaga! Jason Derulo, Marry Me starts playing and Tommy walks into the room. Shaking, he kneels in front of Tara and he asks her to marry him!!! Her response, “YES, YES, YES!!!” 

As Tara put it, “We go together like peas and carrots. Okay, I wasn’t a fan of that combo growing up - let me try this one more time, we go together like sweet peas and mashed potatoes!”

Elizabeth + Dalton | Porterdale, Ga Engagement Session

Oh Social Media! Isn't it incredible how it brings so many lovely people together!? One night, Dalton came across this beautiful lady, Elizabeth. They were "friends" on Facebook due to going to the same high school together. However, Elizabeth never knew Dalton. He sent her a simple little message that opened up a month long of conversations online. They finally set up a date that lasted beyond the hours of the Mexican restaurant! They couldn't stop talking and laughing! They knew they had something special! About three years later, at an over the top birthday party for Dalton's dad, Dalton grabs the mic to give a speech to his father. At the end of his speech, in front of about 50 of their closest friends and family, he walks over to his love, drops to one knee and asks her to marry him! Elizabeth couldn't say YES fast enough!!!

Photographing these two was such a pleasure! Their giggles and love were just so natural and beautiful! I can't wait to photograph their Indian Springs wedding in November 2018!

Surprise Engagement!!! | Social Circle, Ga

Sunday evening we were all invited to celebrate my niece, Haley and her boyfriend, Brendan, birthdays. They share the same birthday month. Well, thankfully, Brendan decided to make us all a part of their special moment and chose to propose to my sweet niece in front of us all!!! The tears started pouring when he dropped to one knee after she opened his gift to her. . .Haley's AND MINE! lol Oh, and her daddy's too! We were all a teary eyed mess! I am so, so very excited for these two!

Congratulations Haley + Brendan!!!

Kaylyn + Brett | Piedmont Park, Atlanta, Ga. Engagement Session

Kaylyn + Brett met through one of Brett's friends from his high school. His friend attended college at Georgia State, where Kaylyn went to college, and they worked at the same college newspaper. The kicker - Brett's friend doesn't know that they met through her. She tweeted out on Twitter one day that her sweet friend, Brett, is single and she couldn't understand why. Kaylyn being curious, she clicked on his Twitter profile. One message lead to another and before they knew it they were on date ice skating in Centennial Park. To this day Brett's friend still does not know how important that tweet was, and how it brought them together. The night before Brett messaged Kaylyn back, Kaylyn was chatting with her mother about the characteristics she wanted in a guy that would be her perfect match. He was handsome, funny, sarcastic, smart, adventurous, open-minded. . .This was Brett! Clearly not a coincidence that they met.

Kaylyn + Brett still laugh about how they met on a social media site, and when their friends feel silly for using social media sites to date they fully support them. ;)

While on their first date Brett picked up Kaylyn and they headed to Atlanta. She remembers hearing him speak for the first time and she said to him, "Oh my goodness, you are southern!" She thought he was the cutest, southern gentleman she had ever met.

Kaylyn was living in Decatur while Brett lived in Pike County. Their commute was about an hour long but after their first date, they saw each other every weekend. Even if it was for just a couple of hours they always would make the time for each other.

Kaylyn's father was very sick. She wanted Brett to meet him. Although it was towards the end of her father's life when him and Brett met, it was very important to Brett to be able ask her father for his daughter's hand in marriage. A week before he passed Brett had the conversation with him and Kaylyn knew about it. Her heart wanted to explode! She felt that she couldn't have asked for a better man to come into her life when Brett did.

One year later, and one puppy later, Brett completely surprised Kaylyn when he got down on one knee. She knew the proposal was coming because it was something they spoke about often. With this, Brett was nervous that he wasn't going to be able to surprise her. He was SO wrong! Kaylyn was speechless! ;) It was so perfect. Brett had Kaylyn's mom and Godmother there, hiding in the bushes and surprised her with flowers, too.

Kaylyn + Brett now live in the coziest home in McDonough with their two precious fur babies, who they consider their children. ;) They are so excited to marry each other next spring at The Mill at Yellow River.

Congratulations Kaylyn + Brett!

Makayla + Tyler | Social Circle, Ga Farm Engagement Session

It always amazes me how God's plan prevails at the most perfect timing. Makayla + Tyler grew up living about twenty minutes from one another, attended neighboring churches and were around one another from time to time during youth group activities. In the beginning high school they saw each other more often and they became good friends. Makayla considered Tyler one of her best guy friends and never expected to date him. Although she was attracted to him, she didn't think he was her type. As their high school years went by they drifted apart until their senior year when they reconnected on Facebook and Makayla invited Tyler to their family farm for a bonfire. At the bonfire, Makayla lost her balance in her chair it started to fall backwards. Tyler was right there to catch her. . .And has been catching her and sweeping her off her feet ever since that moment. That night he put his arm around her and told her that he felt God speak to him and say "this is the one". From then on they found every excuse to be around each other as often as possible.

It wasn't long after that night that the two knew they wanted to marry each other. As difficult as it was, Tyler supported Makayla when she went away to college at the University of South Carolina. Their plan was to get married after her graduation. At the end of her junior year of college they attended a wedding of a mutual friend at 9 Oaks Farm in Eatonton, Ga. They fell in love with the venue and the ambiance and knew that would be their venue one day!

Tyler began planning the perfect proposal! He knew that Makayla's sister was getting ready for a trip to Europe and wanted to make sure her entire family could be there to celebrate. Makayla is involved in the equestrian program at her college and deals with a very strict schedule. Tyler went so far as to contact her coaches to make sure she was okay to be back home. On January 22nd, while Tyler was at Makayla's family's home, he asked her to put on a dress and let her know that the entire family was going out for dinner. Makayla's family went ahead and left for dinner. Tyler left Makayla at her family's home to continue getting ready and drove over to the cabin that they are renovating, located on her family's farm, that they will call their first home when they get married.

When Tyler returned to pick her up, Makayla met him at the front door and saw on this rare day in Georgia that it was snowing! She gave him a big hug and noticed his heart was racing. He assured her that everything was okay and they left for dinner. He insisted that they needed to stop by the cabin and check on something. As they walked into the cabin, Makayla was flooded with emotions when she saw the house that her grandparents and parents had lived in, the home they spent every holiday with their family celebrating, the room that Tyler first put his arm around her, was decorated with twinkle lights draped in the rafters of the vaulted ceiling in the living room and a table with white linens and candles in front of the lit fire place.

Tyler seated Makayla at the table by the fire and gave her a menu which he created especially for them. After eating the dinner he prepared for them, he asked Makayla if she would dance with him to their song. While dancing Tyler began telling her how much he loved her and how much she meant to him. At the end of the song, Tyler got down on one knee asked her to marry him. He presented her with the most beautiful ring she had ever seen and of course she said yes!

After his proposal, the very next day, Makayla's mom gave her a wedding note book to help with her planning. As Makayla was looking through the note book she noticed a signed contract for their dream wedding venue 9 Oaks Farm! Tyler called the venue and realized there was only one available date left and that the venue was booked out for months! It just so happened to be the date AFTER Makayla's graduation!!!

I can't wait to photograph their amazing wedding on June 3rd, 2017!!!