A Midtown Mobile Engagement

They met at a wedding. She was the photographer. He was the brother of the bride. Just before the ceremony was about to begin, she took her place at the front of the aisle near where he was sitting. She looked down and noticed his lobster-printed socks and commented that they were nice. He thanked her. It was their “meet-cute” moment. Fans of the movie The Holiday know exactly what I’m talking about.

Before I tell you the rest of that story, I’ve got to back up a bit to fall 2016. Debby and I met online in a Katelyn James Photography workshop. I posted my introduction to the workshop Facebook group and Debby commented saying she was also a Mobile girl. We met up for coffee and immediately became friends from that first day of meeting in person. Since then, we’ve had many coffee meetings. We’ve chatted about our dreams and struggles as small business owners, our families, our friends and her adorably cute puppy Elliot. Debby has even helped me shoot several weddings and at nearly every one we worked together she would joke that one day I would photograph her wedding…but she just needed to find a groom first.

One day over the summer, Debby and I met up for coffee at our favorite meeting spot, Mars Hill Cafe. As I sat down, I asked her how she’d been since the summer busy season had slowed down. “I met a guy,” she responded with a blushing smile.  It was that day that she first told me about Richard. And I knew from that first time she mentioned him that she was head over heels in love.

The day Debby told me she and Richard were officially engaged, I was just so excited for my sweet friend. The best part was hearing her tell me the story of his proposal, which was captured beautifully by our friend and fellow Mobile Alabama wedding photographer Anna, of Anna Filly Photography. Surprising Debby by popping the question in Auburn and arranging for both of their families to be present to celebrate with them afterwards was no easy feat! Debby is very close with her sweet Momma and getting everyone to Auburn without Debby getting suspicious was a miracle! Fortunately, the proposal went on without Debby guessing Richard’s secret plan. When he presented her with the engagement ring that he designed for her using stones that belonged to her mother and her paternal grandmother, she was one hundred percent surprised.

I know this sounds like a love story out of a movie, but it’s real. It’s so lovely to see my sweet friend find such a wonderful guy to spend the rest of her life with that totally gets her. When Debby told me she and Richard wanted me to be their wedding photographer, I felt so honored. I also knew these two would be so much fun to photograph! We planned to incorporate both their love of ice cream dates and Debby’s love of historic homes into their session. Our first stop was Old Dutch Ice Cream Shoppe in midtown for some lifestyle portraits. Then we headed to The Bragg-Mitchell Mansion for some dreamy, romantic golden hour portraits. We had photographer’s dream weather and so of course I shot until we used up every ounce of light.

Richard and Debby, I had so much fun photographing your engagement session. Thank you for trusting me to capture these special memories for you! I can’t wait to celebrate with you on your wedding day in April! It’s going to be amazing!!!

Richard wore the same lobster-printed socks to their engagement session that he was wearing at his sister’s wedding! How cute is that?!

I am officially obsessed with this puppy portrait of Elliot. This little guy is just too lovable and too cute for words!

This beautiful ring was created by Lou’s Jewelry of Mobile. I love that it incorporates heirlooms from Debby’s family in the design!

Recently engaged and looking for a Mobile Alabama wedding photographer?

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Debby’s hair and makeup is by the talented Mallory Gleason of Root 43 Salon.