Oh, these two make me smile from ear to ear. Seriously. I remember when Taylor and I skyped for the first time to discuss me shooting their wedding. I got off the computer and told my husband, 'I feel like she and I would be good friends. We just clicked.' Well, when I met Mark, I felt the same way. These two made me feel like I had known them for years and they were so much fun to photograph...especially since their session included a sunset canoe ride!
Their love story is so special because as it turns out, her mom met him first while he was leading a middle school youth group trip for their church. Mark was a college student and brand new on staff. Taylor's mom thought he was the greatest so, she just happened to mention her daughter who was about to head to Baylor. (pretty awesome to already have parental approval before you even met :-)) The seed was planted and when these two were introduced, they hit it off, instantly bonding over their love for the Lord, for missions.... and for fro-yo and Madea movies! They were just good friends for a while but as Taylor headed off to Baylor, they began to date, both knowing that the other was the kind of person that you marry. Their friendship deepened, yet, God had things to teach both of them through His perfect timing and plan. With Taylor as a freshman and Mark as a senior, their paths went separate ways for a while, leaving both of them feeling like they had lost their best friend. Not knowing if God would ever bring them back together, they trusted Him and His perfect plan. As God so beautifully does, He in His perfect timing, wrote their stories in a way that brought them together again. At a youth group staff party, they reconnected and Mark asked her out again. This time, it all fell into place. A year later, while on a family vacation in DisneyWorld, Mark proposed to the love of his life underneath the fireworks.
When Taylor told me that she always wanted to take engagement photos in a canoe, I totally shrieked with excitement! I've always wanted to do a session in a canoe so this was a blast. Mark was SUCH a trooper to help make it happen and the three of us made quite a memory! These two are so fun to be around and they truly embody the love of Christ well. Their joy is unmistakeable. I cannot wait to photograph their wedding this winter but even more, I can't wait to see what God has in store for them in the years ahead!
Enjoy some of my faves from their lakeside session!
Happy Monday!
