I am so excited to introduce this amazing couple to you today! I’ve known David and Marilyn through church for quite some time, and it has been the sweetest thing to see their relationship evolve and mature across the years. It’s always extra special when friends come to you about photographing their engagement and wedding, because there is already a level of trust and comfort that exists. Plus, it’s just all the more flattering! :)

David and Marilyn chose to schedule their engagement session at Berry College in Rome, GA after the leaves began to turn. That fall palette was just beginning to make its appearance! They chose this spot because its gorgeous natural setting that sprawls across more than 27,000 acres – seriously, it’s the largest contiguous college campus in the US! David was also very familiar with Berry, having attended there in the past. Nowadays, Marilyn is OH SO CLOSE to finishing up her Sociology degree at ECU (North Carolina) and David is teaching math at Shorter College (Georgia). I’d say they have the long distance thing down pat, but luckily that won’t be for much longer!

I asked these two lovebirds to share a little about how they met, their proposal, and their upcoming wedding – you’ll love “getting to know” them, and I’m positive you’ll understand right away why I am so excited about their wedding next May!

How did you two meet?

SHE: David and I met when I showed up at his apartment for Lifegroup. This is why I always tease that he never found me, I found HIM. My good friend Kirsty brought me along, and she’ll be in the wedding as a bridesmaid. She’s totally responsible for us meeting. She also takes the cake as traveling the farthest for the wedding, as she’ll be flying in from South Africa.

HE: A month or so later Marilyn came to a Bible Study Super Bowl party, and she accidentally left her guacamole behind. When she came back to get it we ended up talking and just hanging out for a long time. That’s when things first started to become “flirty”

Tell me about the proposal…

HE: As a part of Marilyn’s early “Birthday Celebration” we went to go walk around Duke Gardens. Little did she know that I had friends stationed there to help out with the proposal. I had a gift hidden behind one of the plants which was a Viewmaster of slides about our relationship. Then once she looked up I had my guitar and started playing God Gave Me You. At the end I handed off my guitar to my friend and got the ring box from him. I went down on one knee and the rest is history.

SHE: …it was a 100% surprise. Seriously I had no idea he was proposing until I saw the ring.

What has you MOST excited in terms of your wedding itself (planning, details, logistics, etc.)?

HE: Besides actually getting married, I think we’re both most excited about it just being a whole weekend event with friends and family! The locations is beautiful and far enough from home that it has that destination wedding feel without being so far away that few people will come. We’re so excited to share the wonderful weekend with everyone!

SHE: We are honeymooning in the caribbean for 10 days, and honestly the caribbean is what I’m most excited about about (in terms of) the wedding overall.

Tell me about what you wore to your engagement session, and the overall look you were going for…

SHE: We had lots of outfits on standby, but our first outfit I have on jeans because I am ALL ABOUT some jeans. I wear them year round. A good pair of jeans makes you feel like you have your life together. Basically we wanted one casual look, and one slightly more dressy but nothing over the top because we’re just casual dressing hang-out kind of people at this stage in our lives. We wanted to be more comfortable in the photos than dressy.

HE: We especially wanted it to feel “Fall-y” with that wonderful atmosphere of being laid back and outside, but without being too rustic.

Any tips you wouldn’t mind sharing with engaged couples out there prepping to have their photos taken?

SHE: Have fun. The “magic” photos will happen when you have a good photographer (check! got that!) and when you just have fun with your partner.
Have fun, and trust your photographer.

HE: Choose a photographer that you like their personality and can work well with and take instruction from (Emily is a good choice!) Then listen to the photographer’s suggestions and be willing to follow through even if you feel silly.

How was your overall experience?

HE: It was a fantastic experience! Emily was a joy to spend time with, and she did a great job at keeping the experience entertaining and fun!

SHE: We got lots of photos, and variety, even at the very end when we went back to “are there any more shots you want to get” and just grabbed a couple more, they wound up being a couple of my favorite ones.

“…(David) is the only place in the world that I’ve ever felt truly at home. Where he goes, my home follows.” – Marilyn

Emily Chappell is a Plano 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.