Last week, I drove to McDonough to meet with Ashley, Aaron + Bella (her two year old horse) at Galloway Farms to photograph their sweet engagement session.

Ashley + Aaron met in high school back in 2007. They had a class together but that was the extent of their relationship. Until one day she really noticed him. Like really!

Ashley recalls, "It was almost like that moment we knew we were going to be together and get married, it was just a matter of getting to know each other some."

The next few weeks were a whirlwind full of phone calls and dates. Oh and school projects together ;) They were driving and talking on the phone one day when he asked her when she wanted to be his girl. She told him she was waiting on him. He them told her to pull over. They ended up in the parking lot of a True Value hardware store under an enormous oak tree. Aaron had barely gotten the truck in park before he was out, running around to Ashley's truck, and asking if she would be his.

That was Dec. 22, 2007.

On Dec 22, 2012 Ashley + Aaron packed up for a trip to the North Georgia mountains. A trip they try and take at least a few times a year. They were headed up to hike to a waterfall that they had found on a previous trip months earlier. Oddly her friend had taken her to get her nails done a few days before. Ashley remembers thinking how silly she was gonna look hiking a waterfall with acrylic nails!

They arrived at the waterfall a few minutes after 12:22 (their anniversary date and time). When they got to the waterfall Aaron was acting kind of funny. He said to Ashley "One day I am going to ask you to marry me in the very spot where we are standing because it is so beautiful." She was laughing at him wondering what was up. He acted as if he was ready to go so Ashely turned around to find the hiking trail again. He then said her full name. . .

As she turned around Aaron was on one knee with the most beautiful ring in his hand. Ashley recalls, "He took my promise ring off and in its place put my engagement ring! He asked if I would marry him, but all I could do was stand there and cry. He finally said that I hadn't given him an answer and I was like 'Of course!'"

I'm so honored that Ashley + Aaron chose me to photograph their love story! They will be marrying on Saturday, April 5, 2014 at Harvest Baptist Tabernacle with their reception at Merle Manders Conference Center.