I have been SO excited to share this engagement session from the very moment I began shooting it! Alex, her fiance Elliot, and I connected awhile back via Facetime for our initial consultation, and I immediately knew that we were a perfect fit! Alex is quirky, stylish, and super intelligent while Elliot compliments her dynamic perfectly with wit, a hilarious disposition, and a carefree attitude. As you can imagine, I practically counted down the days until I finally got to meet them in person for their engagement session, and now find myself so looking forward to their April wedding, too!

Alex and Elliot expressed interest in scheduling their engagement session in Greenville, South Carolina where the two will also be getting married at the Commerce Club. Of course, I was more than happy to oblige – Greenville is such a cute, picturesque little town! Alex and Elliot had everything from outfits and props to location planned out so well that we had plenty of time to explore the city and discover a few unexpected places. We laughed, cut up a little bit, and all the while captured some stunning images (it helps that they are super photogenic!) I love the variety of photos we were able to achieve while also maintaining a cohesive look that highlighted this sweet couple’s style and dynamic so well. For example, they packed a bag full of Harry Potter books, a shared love of theirs, and even brought along a bundle of gold balloons tied together with a gold tassle for props!

We even got to go to the top of the Commerce Club, which is the very spot where Alex and Elliot will be having their wedding reception – and got a few gorgeous photos of the sunset that seems to wrap around the entire building’s view! What an awesome moment!

These two have so much personality that I struggle to be able to communicate it in my own words. That’s why I asked Alex to share a little about how she and Elliot met, their proposal, and their engagement/upcoming wedding! Enjoy looking through these images and getting to know this couple..and if you don’t find yourself with a big grin on your face by the end of this post, then check your pulse!

How did you two meet, and how did Elliot propose?

“The first time I ever saw Elliot was at a mutual friend’s party while we were both attending Clemson University. We both were avid rock climbers at the time, although we had never met. Our friend had built a rock wall in his garage and would often invite people over to climb. My first glance of Elliot was of him doing pull-ups and smoking a cigar, all while wearing a green speedo! It was pretty amusing and I thought he must be interesting! I found him later that night when he had re-dressed and I charmed him by simply saying “Hey, I can lick my elbow, want to see?” We ended up talking the rest of the night. He asked me go to camping a couple months later and asked me to be his girlfriend on a blanket under a star-filled summer sky. Of course, I said yes! A little over 3 years later, we went apple picking with Elliot’s brother and his wife. We arrived at a stunning spot with a mountain view and Elliot suggested we take some photos. So clueless me gave Elliot’s brother my phone and Elliot said he couldn’t live another day without me in his life and asked me to marry him!”

What has you most excited about your wedding day?

“I am most excited about the first moment seeing Elliot on our wedding day, as I walk down the isle. We’re really excited about spending the day with family and friends—both of our families are spread out across the country, so it’ll be nice having everyone in the same room celebrating with us. We are also really excited about having our reception at the Commerce Club. We had previously booked the Loft at Falls Park, which unexpectedly shut down earlier this year. Our wedding coordinator at the Loft helped us secure the Commerce Club, and we are really excited about the opportunity to enjoy such a beautiful space.”

Wardrobe selections can be the most difficult part of an engagement session! Tell us a little about what you and your fiance opted to wear…

“I decided to wear some of my favorite classic pieces: my floral skirt is by Asilio the label, my sequin dress is from Alice + Olivia, and my field outfit is entirely J.Crew plus my favorite Tory Burch boots. I also included some boutique pieces from ASOS, Shop The Mint, Maude Boutique, Modcloth, and Shop September. My jewelry and accessories are from Ann Taylor, Michael Kors, and Kate Spade.

Elliot decided to don some Ralph Lauren, Barbour, and Escarra. He was also very excited about being able to wear his new Apple watch, a beautiful Tissot I gave him a few years ago, and his Allen Edmonds penny loafers.

Our balloons and tassel were purchased through Etsy.”

What kind of a feel/aesthetic were you aiming to achieve?

“We were both going for a classic look that will remain timeless as we enjoy our engagement photos for years to come.”

What would you say is your top piece of advice for couples who are planning their engagement session?

“Definitely plan what you’d like to wear, and scout some locations before your shoot! Having a schedule will help you stress less about getting everything you want because you’ll have a set plan in mind.”

How was your overall session experience?

“Emily is a true blessing – we had a blast during our engagement session! I was pretty nervous beforehand, because even though Elliot and I have been dating for over 4 years, we never really take photos together. Emily immediately made us comfortable and it was much more fun and easy than we thought!”

Emily Chappell is a Dallas and Allen Texas Engagement Photographer based in the DFW metroplex and serving Plano, Allen, Frisco, and McKinney. She is also available for wedding photography in Central Texas and Waco, Texas as well as destination weddings.