It’s been a longtime dream of mine to photograph at the gorgeous Swan House in Atlanta, and I just love that Caitlyn and Mark were just as excited about this location as I was! We met up on a beautiful (if not a little toasty) Friday afternoon, and when I pulled into the drive, I was greeted by the view below!! I’m pretty sure I audibly squealed! Not only in the Swan house itself stunning, but the gardens were at their peak & the roses along the stone wall matched Caitlyn’s dress perfectly! Mark looked very dapper in his suit from the Black Tux as well!

Caitlyn & Mark met in San Fransisco where they lived for three years before moving to Caitlyn’s home state of Georgia! And, I could tell right away that they make a great team together. I love the way Mark’s sweet love compliment’s Caitlyn’s enthusiasm! We had such a great time exploring the Swan House together, and I’m looking forward to capturing their September wedding at the Greystone in Piedmont Park! They’re sharing more of their story here today along with the details of the beachside proposal in Destin, FL! Enjoy!

“We met at a park in San Francisco (although for some reason Mark still insists it was a country music concert). We were both at the park with separate groups of friends, for a stranger’s birthday. At the end of the day, Caitlyn saw Mark as an easy target to serve as photographer and purse monitor, while the ladies all took the obligatory final Instagram worthy photo. As fate would have it, we both ended up at the same dinner party later that evening. At dinner, Caitlyn shared her Chinese food with Mark (who was apparently looking famished), which was the moment Mark fell in love. After the dinner, the group ended up going out to the bars. In an attempt to impress Caitlyn (based solely on southern stereotypes), Mark put enough money in the jukebox to play nothing but country music at the bar for next three hours. Caitlyn immediately asked that we move to a new bar. Undeterred, later in the evening when Caitlyn (again) asked Mark to snap some more photos of the girls, he texted himself pretending to be Caitlyn and asked himself out on a date. Mark then called Caitlyn the following week and said he made a dinner reservation for the date Caitlyn allegedly asked him on, and that he would be picking her up at 6:30. Being the good sport she is, Caitlyn agreed, and she was sure glad she did. When she got back, she called her mom and said ‘I am going to marry that man!'”

Caitlyn, what is it about Mark that you love the most? – “I love the way he loves me, the way I can feel the love when he holds my hand or the way I feel his love when he encourages me.  I love how I fall in love with him more every day and how I love how a disagreement doesn’t pull us apart, it makes us learn more about each other.  I love how Mark loves me from a far (when traveling for work) and when at home sitting next to me.”

Mark, what is it about Caitlyn that you love the most? – “I am in love with Caitlyn’s energy and passion for whatever it is she’s doing, whether it’s supporting her family or folding socks (yes she turns folding socks into a competition).  But what I love even more (because all that energy often keeps me up at night), is Caitlyn’s decency, her unshakable loyalty, and her unending love.”

About the Proposal – “It was close to my 30th birthday, and for the past 2 years we have always gone to the beach for my birthday. Mark made plans for us to go to Destin, FL to celebrate, and given our prior birthday celebrations, I never thought anything was out of the ordinary. Mark picked meup from the airport, as I was traveling back from a west coast work trip. When we arrived at the resort, I accidentally dropped my phone in the toilet (opps), ruining it. Still clueless, we spent all day Saturday on the beach, got ready for dinner, and went for a sunset cocktail. About 1 hour before dinner we decided to walk along the beach and enjoy the views. Mark started to walk a little slower than me and he said something… I don’t remember what he said because once he started telling me how much he loved me and got on one knee I got on my knees too and started to kiss him!! Mark had arranged for a photographer to be there to capture the moment, and set up a dinner in the sand on the beach afterwards. And it’s a good thing, because I don’t really remember dinner or the photo session, I was too happy!”

Caitlyn & Mark, I just love you guys! I can’t wait for your wedding in September at The Greystone at Piedmont Park!