It always amazes me how God's plan prevails at the most perfect timing. Makayla + Tyler grew up living about twenty minutes from one another, attended neighboring churches and were around one another from time to time during youth group activities. In the beginning high school they saw each other more often and they became good friends. Makayla considered Tyler one of her best guy friends and never expected to date him. Although she was attracted to him, she didn't think he was her type. As their high school years went by they drifted apart until their senior year when they reconnected on Facebook and Makayla invited Tyler to their family farm for a bonfire. At the bonfire, Makayla lost her balance in her chair it started to fall backwards. Tyler was right there to catch her. . .And has been catching her and sweeping her off her feet ever since that moment. That night he put his arm around her and told her that he felt God speak to him and say "this is the one". From then on they found every excuse to be around each other as often as possible.
It wasn't long after that night that the two knew they wanted to marry each other. As difficult as it was, Tyler supported Makayla when she went away to college at the University of South Carolina. Their plan was to get married after her graduation. At the end of her junior year of college they attended a wedding of a mutual friend at 9 Oaks Farm in Eatonton, Ga. They fell in love with the venue and the ambiance and knew that would be their venue one day!
Tyler began planning the perfect proposal! He knew that Makayla's sister was getting ready for a trip to Europe and wanted to make sure her entire family could be there to celebrate. Makayla is involved in the equestrian program at her college and deals with a very strict schedule. Tyler went so far as to contact her coaches to make sure she was okay to be back home. On January 22nd, while Tyler was at Makayla's family's home, he asked her to put on a dress and let her know that the entire family was going out for dinner. Makayla's family went ahead and left for dinner. Tyler left Makayla at her family's home to continue getting ready and drove over to the cabin that they are renovating, located on her family's farm, that they will call their first home when they get married.
When Tyler returned to pick her up, Makayla met him at the front door and saw on this rare day in Georgia that it was snowing! She gave him a big hug and noticed his heart was racing. He assured her that everything was okay and they left for dinner. He insisted that they needed to stop by the cabin and check on something. As they walked into the cabin, Makayla was flooded with emotions when she saw the house that her grandparents and parents had lived in, the home they spent every holiday with their family celebrating, the room that Tyler first put his arm around her, was decorated with twinkle lights draped in the rafters of the vaulted ceiling in the living room and a table with white linens and candles in front of the lit fire place.
Tyler seated Makayla at the table by the fire and gave her a menu which he created especially for them. After eating the dinner he prepared for them, he asked Makayla if she would dance with him to their song. While dancing Tyler began telling her how much he loved her and how much she meant to him. At the end of the song, Tyler got down on one knee asked her to marry him. He presented her with the most beautiful ring she had ever seen and of course she said yes!
After his proposal, the very next day, Makayla's mom gave her a wedding note book to help with her planning. As Makayla was looking through the note book she noticed a signed contract for their dream wedding venue 9 Oaks Farm! Tyler called the venue and realized there was only one available date left and that the venue was booked out for months! It just so happened to be the date AFTER Makayla's graduation!!!
I can't wait to photograph their amazing wedding on June 3rd, 2017!!!
