After over half a dozen reschedules due to covid and weather I finally got to meet Amanda and Nathan for their engagement session this past Friday. And boy was the wait worth it! We had the most beautiful sun soaked evening for their session at the Wral Azalea Garden! The hydrangeas were in full bloom and we were blessed with a stunning, golden sunset.

These two were an absolute joy to spend the evening with. Instantly upon meeting Amanda and Nathan it was like meeting friends. These two have such joyful and kind presences and their love for the Lord and for each other is so apparent. I had so much fun laughing the evening away and exploring the garden with them!

Amanda and Nathan met in their first year of dental school at UNC! During orientation everyone played an ice-breaker name game where they had to pick an animal that represented them (they chose Nathan Narwhal and Amanda Panda.) After that, they were in the same friend group and were study buddies during first semester. Amanda and Nathan spent more and more time together, both in school and outside of school. From biking together, to the NC state fair with friends, and watched a korean drama together. Their interest in each other quickly grew and soon, during the second semester, Nathan told Amanda his feelings for her and how much he cared for her. To his delight, Amanda told him that she felt the same way!

I just love Amanda and Nathan’s proposal story! Amanda’s family likes to go to Myrtle Beach every year for summer vacation with her extended family. They were all having a blast at the beach when Amanda’s cousin, David, had asked Nathan to go to the grocery store with him. So they left early from dinner at Amanda’s favorite place to eat at Myrtle Beach, Captain George’s Seafood Buffet.

A mini family photoshoot was planned for after dinner. So they all dressed up and went down by the resort’s pool. After they took a few photos, Amanda started wondering when Nathan and David were coming back so they could get a full family photo. Then, her mom pulls out a blue envelope and tells her she has a scavenger hunt to do with seven clues scattered around the resort. At each clue was another envelope and a few of her family members (acting very “natural”) The last clue led her to walk around to the north end of the pool.

There she found Nathan standing at a beautifully decorated cozy nook, complete with rose petals, candles, and string lights! He sang her one of her favorite songs on the guitar and then got down on one knee and asked Amanda to marry him. She was so overcome with emotion that she had to pause to cry a little and then yelled, “YES!!” She turned around and found not only her family surrounding them, but also their closest friends! Oh my goodness isn’t that the sweetest proposal story ever?!

Congratulation Amanda and Nathan! I am truly so happy and excited for you. I absolutely can’t wait to celebrate with you in October!