Texas, Georgia, God's Goodness & Waffle House - Ellen + Cody

Ellen + Cody

"Anybody who hears me and Ellen' story probably thinks how crazy and random and unbelievable and lucky it is that were engaged…but God doesn’t think so. Proverbs 16:9 says “The mind of a man plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps” and that’s exactly what happened. Both Ellen and I can see God’s providence all over our relationship from way before we even met. Let me explain... 

When Ellen was applying to nursing school, she wanted to go to Augusta, but through God’s sovereignty she ended up going to Georgia College in Milledgeville and rooming with Ashah.  Through Georgia College, Ellen did all her clinical and externships in Macon, and after graduation she got a job at the hospital and moved out here. (where Ashah was now living ).While living in Macon, Ellen and Ashah would run together now and then and keep in touch. 

I’m a Texan, born and raised, and never thought I would live outside of the greatest state ever. But just like with Ellen, God had a different plan in mind. After college I decided that I wanted to be a college basketball coach. While I wanted to stay in Texas, a coach who recruited my brother was now at Mercer University and through this I was able to get a graduate assistant coaching position for Mercer basketball. In June of 2015 I packed my bags, fully focused on my “career” and nothing else in mind…Well, just one other thing in mind.

Now Ashah’s best friend Michelle and her family went to the same church I grew up in (If you want that story on how that happened ask Ashah). In March of 2015, 3 months before moving out to Macon, I was shown a picture of this girl from Michelle that I “just had to meet” when I moved. (I later learned that Ashah had also showed Ellen a picture of this stunningly handsome man moving from Texas). Being a tough guy and all, on the exterior I was like whatever, maybe I will. I don’t like to be set up, I never had been and I never wanted to, but for some reason this was different, I really wanted to meet this girl. I mean, she was really cute in the picture I was shown.  

I’m really thankful Ashah didn’t waste any time in introducing us. On my 4^thday in Macon, Ellen and I met at a movie, which was supposed to be a group setting, but by the open seats in the theater it ended up pretty much being a double date with Ashah and her husband Ben. Now Ashah and Michelle had kept telling me how “cute” Ellen was, but when I saw here for the very first time I realized “cute” didn’t do her justice. The only thing I could think of was “she is drop-dead gorgeous.” We had a really good time that night, but I wanted to take it slow and not freak her out so I didn’t ask for her number yet.

The second time we hung out with Ben and Ashah, 3 days later I asked Ellen for her phone number. After a couple days and texts later, I called Ellen and asked her out, where unbeknownst to us at the time, we both went on our last, first date ever.  We dated throughout the summer, and grew to love each other’s company and conversation more and more each day. We became “official” in mid August and our strong affection for each other grew into love.

I can’t pinpoint an exact time, but somewhere in the fall I knew I loved Ellen and wanted to spend the rest of my life with her. I started the ring shopping process in November and by February 2016 I had her ring.  With basketball season in full swing I had to wait until the season was over to propose. On Sunday, March 13^th, I couldn’t wait any longer.  We both really enjoy the outdoors, and Ellen loves to watch the sun set. We had been out to the spot before, so I told Ellen we should go watch the sun set and then go out to eat. We went out to Lake Tobesofkee, laid a blanket out on the ground and were watching the sunset. I pointed out something along the shoreline and told her we should go take a look at it. After helping Ellen up, I got down on one knee, and when she turned around I asked her to marry me. She said yes! Seeing how evident God’s providence was in me and Ellen meeting, we can’t wait to get married and see what God has in store for us throughout our life and marriage."

Cody saw a leaf, grabs it off the tree & said look it's like mistletoe! Haha!!!

This photo below is a cell phone picture from that night when we all went to the theater. Ben & I tried to make the night last longer so we invited them to go to Waffle House after;)

 OF course we had to do a remake;)

Cody & Ellen, We love you both. We are so thankful to the Lord for y'all & I CAN'T WAIT UNTIL THE WEDDING!!!;)

Macon Georgia - Kelley + Stuart

Kelley + Stuart

"I met Kelley a few years ago at Longleaf Church where I’m on staff. I remember thinking that she was really cute and probably way too cool to date a guy like me. I would see her every few weeks at church or at movie nights, and after a few months, we started getting to know each other.

     Fast forward a few more months to her birthday - February 28, 2014. At this point, I knew I liked her - liked her enough to even go to her "Pure Barrety” before her birthday dinner! Which is kind of a big deal for me. I’m not really the Pure Barre workout type. At dinner I remember her flirting with me, and I remember thinking to myself, “You don’t have to flirt with me, I like you already!” So the next day I called her and with heart racing I told her I liked her and asked her out.

     That call began the first round of a relationship that unfortunately fizzled after a few months. Honestly, I just wasn’t a great boyfriend, and I was terrified of commitment. So I bailed. She was heartbroken (I later found out). But I felt like it was the right decision. Well at least for a few months until I finally came to my senses. She was something special, and I knew I had to get her back.

     At some point in July or August, I began to pursue her again - asking her to lunch, texting her, trying to find time to spend with her even though she seemingly wasn’t interested in another round with me. It was a challenge. Eventually I found myself opening up to her about the innermost part of me - things that no one else knew about me. It was terrifying and liberating all at the same time. And the most surprising thing happened. She in turn began to share with me things about herself that that she hid from everyone else! At that point I knew I had her back and that this time was going to be different.

     We started dating again in September 2014, and 2015 was the year we fell in love. I got to the point where I couldn’t imagine spending the rest of my life without her, and all the fear and anxiety of commitment that had plagued me in the past just wasn’t there. I knew I wanted Kel to be my wife within a few months of that year, but I made myself wait to buy a ring at least until my brother got married that November. I think it was December when we talked about what she wanted in a ring, and in January I started shopping.

     I picked the ring up on February 8th which was a Monday, but I didn’t have a clue as to how I should propose. To be honest, I almost drove to her tennis match that evening to pop the question immediately. But I stopped myself. Not sure if she really wanted to be proposed to post-tennis match. So I came up with a plan. I like music and I’m an amateur video editor so I made a short video of all the pictures of the two of us from her Instagram put to the tune of Alexander Fairchild’s “Abc.” Even watching it now as I’m writing this makes my heart feel like it's beating out of my chest. And so on February 10th, I came up with a ruse for us to eat dinner in Warner Robins (we both live in Macon) and then head to the church “to check on something.” The video was ready, the speakers were on, and the lights were down. We sat on the very back row and watched as our relationship unfolded according to her Instagram. We laughed and reminisced about the good times and the bad as we watched the screens (I later found out she thought I was just doing something sweet for Valentine’s Day). But at the end of the video, I got down on one knee and asked the biggest question of my life. And she said yes! It was like floating on air. We called our families and friends and drove back to her parents’ house to celebrate with them.

     Four months out from our wedding, I’m confident in her and in us. It’s the start of a brand new journey, but there’s no fear. There’s no anxiety. Just anticipation of what God has in store for us. We’re not perfect. We fight sometimes (mostly because I’ve done something dumb), but we love each other. And I can’t wait for that love to grow and blossom into a beautiful life together."

We had to stop in at one of their favorite hangout spots, Just Tap'd. Trivia Night is kind-of their thing ;)

Kelley, I'm pretty sure your laugh is one of the best things ever...

Milledgeville Georgia Engagement - Lauryn + Nolan

Lauryn + Nolan

His

"Since we are considered “high school sweethearts”, I guess I’m supposed to start in high school, but my crush on Lauryn actually began when I first started at GMC in 6^th grade. All 4 feet, 90 pounds of me had a huge crush on the cute 8^th grade girl named Lauryn Dennard. It wasn’t until I was in 10^th grade and she was a senior when she finally started paying me a little attention. She was the star basketball player at the time and I just happened to be on the basketball team so we got to know each other through basketball. Then during baseball season she became the baseball manager so we got to spend even more time together. One night after an away game she asked me to go watch a local high school prom with her, of course I said yes, even though I had never been that nervous at that point in my life. Little did I know that would be the start of a relationship that led us to where we are now. Fast forward to over 5 years later and I experienced what is now for sure the most nerve racking night of my life. I didn’t think I’d be nervous to ask her to marry me, but when I realized how lucky I would be if she said yes I was more nervous than I had ever been. Lucky for me she said yes and I am so excited I get to spend my life with her! I will tell anyone that Lauryn is the strongest person I’ve ever met, and she has the biggest heart that you could ever imagine. I’m thankful for her and am so glad I went through the most nerve racking night of my life to get to spend a lifetime with her."

Hers

"Nolan and I first started “talking” (every highschooler’s version of dating) in the Spring of my senior year. We had known each other forever but never imagined that we would be engaged to be married! My senior year, he was the star baseball player (as a sophomore) and I was the manager on the baseball team. That’s how it all started. At first, I was attracted by his athletic ability, but the more we talked and hung out with each other, the more I started to fall in love with his other qualities. He is great with kids, easy on the eyes, and most importantly a man of God. I mean what more could a girl ask for? On April 8, 2010, after about a month of “talking” he finally asked me to be his girlfriend, “officially” (facebook and all). Since that day, I continue to fall more and more and love with him as each day passes.

Nolan has been such a light in my life. He has stood by my side through the many trials that life has thrown me. I can always count on him to give me the most sound advice for whatever I was going through. We have traveled many miles with each other and I wouldn’t want anyone else by my side through the many adventures of life. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for us as we embark on this new chapter."

Dublin Georgia Wedding Photographer - Jessica + Matt

Jessica + Matt

"Matt and I both grew up in Dublin and went to the same high school (Trinity Christian School). We didn't start dating until I was 16 and Matt had already started college. He Facebook messaged me and later we exchanged numbers.  Our first date was to Zaxby's (just a few days after I had my wisdom teeth out, so my whole face was swollen up like a chipmunk!). We continued to date while Matt attended Georgia Southern and later when I attended nursing school at the Medical College of Georgia. After we both completed college and moved back to Dublin permanently, we began talking about marriage. Matt showed me a beautiful solitaire diamond necklace that was his grandmother's and told me it would be mine one day if I wanted it.

Finally, after over 7 years of dating, on October 3rd, 2015, Matt proposed to me! I had worked the night before and normally if I don't have to go back to work that night I only sleep for a couple of hours that morning so I can enjoy the rest of the day. Well, that particular day I slept on into the afternoon and when I woke up I was fit to be tied because I felt like I had wasted my day. I went over to Matt's and sat down on the couch and when I did, he asked me "Did you not see it?" And I asked, "See what?" He said, "Your surprise!" I got back up, looked on the sofa table, and there was a ring box. Matt said, "So are we getting married?" Of course, I said YES! :) He turned a normal day when I was down in the dumps into a very special day that I will remember for the rest of my life!"

Location: Dublin, Georgia

Hahah! CHEEEESE!

Haha! I love how unpredictable dogs are! He just wanted to roll around in the grass haha!!!

Jessica & Matt, thank you so much for trusting me with capturing one of the most important times in your life! It's such an honor and I can't wait until the wedding!!! - Ashah