Andy & Ashley | North Georgia Engagement Portraits

Engagement

Feb 21

This shoot was special. It didn’t go at all as planned. The first choice for location ended up being closed (which we didn’t know about until we got there and the gate was blocking the road), so last minute we had to come up with an alternate location, which was not at all the type of place we had talked about. She wanted mountain views, but instead we found a beautiful wooded area in the mountains with pockets of overlooks. At one point, we were on the trail and we rounded the corner where there were big beautiful pines with the sun streaming through. I knew right then those photos would be my favorite from this session. This couple was so awesome and just went with the flow.

Y’all meet Ashley and Andy! Keep scrolling, they have the sweetest story!

Ashley is twenty-four and works as a receptionist at a window company. She is a very compassionate person, so she is furthering her education in the medical field. She is mom to son Jayden. “My son is my EVERYTHING. If you know me, my conversations consist Jayden 99.99% of the time, so my only Hobby is being a mother. I wouldn’t change it for the world!”

Andy is twenty-nine and is an electrician at Koyo Bearings in Walhalla, SC. He loves the outdoors, duck hunting, kayaking, and fly fishing. He also loves teaching Jayden his hobbies.

How they met

Ashley and Andy met for the first time at Octoberfest in Walhalla, SC, although technically they never actually spoke to each other. There was a definite connection and they kept stealing glances at each other all night long, but neither could ever get up the courage to make the first move. Two years later, they met again in a parking lot. They were both getting out of their vehicles and locked eyes. As they were both walking in the same direction, Ashley glanced over at him and Andy was looking at her with the most sheepish shy grin on his face. (Ashley) “My face started to grow red and I couldn’t help but to smile back at him. My heart instantly warmed at the way he was looking at me. I knew from that moment on he would be special to me.”

How long have you known each other?

(Ashley) “July will be three years Andy and I have known each other. I don’t count the silent looks two years before that. 😂”

First Date

Ashley and Andy took their relationship slow. She, a twenty-one year old mother to her son Jayden, and Andy, at twenty-six was working an off shift so they didn’t get to see each other often. Early on, their dates consisted of hanging out in group settings with friends, and eventually progressed to their first real date to the movies.

Who said I love you first?

(Ashley) “I said I love you first. But instead of saying “I love you,” we were cuddling and I kept tracing I love you over his heart. It’s cheesy, I know. He finally looked at me and said, “Say it out loud.” So, I looked at him, and said, “I love you”.

first kiss story

(Ashley) “Ummmm... lol he decided to kiss me goodbye one night at a gas station. It was completely unexpected and awkward. I still enjoyed it.” 😉

Favorite things to do together

(Ashley) “EAT, EAT, EAT and did I mention EAT? But really, anything. Andy and I can be anywhere doing anything and we enjoy spending time together. We are best friends!”

Favorite Character Trait

(Andy) “Her eyes are the first thing I noticed.”

{Ashley} “His smile. He can smile at me and it will always brighten my day.”

proposal story

{Ashley) “Whewwww.. We were on vacation at Carolina Beach, NC with his family. Every year we dress up and all match to take pictures on the beach. We decided to go to Kure Beach a little ways down to take pictures because it is a less crowded beach. There was literally no one on that beach! We were taking family pictures and it got to just our family (Andy, Jayden, and I). Andy’s mother Jan called Jayden to come to her and I was confused as to what she was doing. She handed him a sign and he walked backwards to me and turned around for me to read it last minute. The sign said, ‘Andy loves us please say yes.’ When I turned around to look at Andy, he was on one knee.”

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

(Ashley) “Still happily in love with a bigger home, and a bigger family. Jayden needs sibling(s).”

What was your favorite part about your engagement session?

(Ashley) “Our favorite part was the fact you two made us feel so comfortable! We were nervous as to how it was going to go and you two eased our minds instantly. We opened up and had fun with it! We liked how you made conversation, laughed, and cut up with us. It made it feel like we were hanging with some friends, not two people we barely knew. We enjoyed all of it!”