From the moment we chatted on the phone, I felt like I had known Katie forever!! Her joy and energy are contagious, and icing on the cake – we both greet people with “Hi, friend!!” As she so aptly put it, “Meant to be!” Since Katie & Nathan’s story began in the Classic City, Athens was the perfect choice not only for their big day next May but for engagement photos as well! I loved hanging out with these two and their adorable pup Bailey, and over the course of one gorgeous afternoon, they introduced me to some of my new favorite photo spots around Athens! From UGA’s gorgeous North Campus to the hidden gems downtown, I loved adventuring with these two who showed me a few of their favorite local hangout spots! Looking forward to their wedding at the Foundry at the Graduate Athens with Whitewood Events in the spring! And now check out some of my favorites from their session and learn more about how Katie & Nathan’s love story began!
“Nathan and Katie met while Nathan was a cadet at the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs and Katie was a student at the University of Georgia. Nathan and one of his friends came to visit Katie’s roommate at UGA in February of 2011. Before Nathan got on the first of many flights to Athens, Katie’s roommate convinced him to send her flowers for Valentine’s Day. They may have come one day late, but Katie was still already smitten. Plus, they now have a reason to celebrate Valentine’s Day on February 15th and avoid the crowds! After Katie and Nathan met for the first time, then came the many late nights on Skype talking across the country. Katie used to ask Nathan to help her with her Calculus homework as an excuse to talk with him and he may or may not be the only reason she passed that class in college. A few months after they first met, they realized that this was more than a friendship and despite the distance, they decided to give a relationship a shot. Through the distance, skype calls, nine hour car rides, and countless flights, Nathan and Katie continued to fall more and more in love with every passing year. After three years of long distance, they finally were able to move together down to Augusta, GA with their puppy, Bailey. Their little family was complete and together and that’s all that mattered. Now, after six years of dating, Katie and Nathan can’t wait to say, “I Do” in front of all their friends and family in one of the places they fell in love, Athens.”
Nathan, what is it about Katie that you love the most? – “I love her because she’s herself: she’s everything I need whenever I need it. When I’m down, she’s there to help me through my struggles. When I’m being a recluse, she’s there to take me out of the house. I hate planning things, but she loves to plan (and she’s awesome at it), everything from mini-vacations around the country to our wedding. She has a wondrous sense of adventure, and is the perfect travel companion for me. My life would be empty without her in it. I love everything about her, and I can’t wait to go on this adventure with her.”
Katie, what is it about Nathan that you love the most? – “Nathan truly is my other half. He is kind, patient, intelligent and loves me despite all my flaws. He is everything I could ask for in my future husband and more, but what I love most about Nathan is that he is my fellow adventurer in life. I love that he wants to go explore new places and experience all that this world has to offer. Best part is I love that he wants to go on these adventures with me. Plus, no matter where we go in life or what we see, he keeps me laughing the whole way through it even at his terrible, corny dad jokes that I don’t want to admit are funny. There is no one else I could imagine by my side as we go on this journey. He is my best friend, and I can’t wait to see the rest of this wide world with him.”
About the Proposal – “Nathan and Katie are always looking for an excuse to go back to Colorado to visit. So, when two of their friends, Tim and Sarah, said they wanted to go snowboarding in Colorado in March, of course, Katie and Nathan jumped at the opportunity to go as well. Little did Katie know, a bit more planning was going on behind the scenes. Nathan went out to Colorado with their friends early that week to snowboard and Katie flew into Colorado Springs on Friday to join them. One of the things Katie and Nathan love to do in Colorado is head up to the top of the many 14,000 ft peaks, so Nathan scheduled all four of them to take the train to the top of Pike’s Peak. On the way up the mountain, Katie noticed a few strange things like Tim bringing his backpack for the train ride and being very secretive about it when Katie asked to put her water bottle in the bag. However, she really did not think much of it. When they got to the top of the peak, they hoped off the train and immediately, Katie said she had to use the bathroom to which Tim responded with, “Now?!”. Not thinking anything of it, Katie ran off to the bathroom. When she came back out they headed out onto the peak to look out at the world around them and take pictures. There, 14,000 feet up in the air, Nathan dropped to one knee and asked Katie to marry him. Naturally, she started crying and of course, she said yes. Then, the mystery of the secretive backup was revealed when Tim pulled out a champagne bottle for all to celebrate. It could not have been more fitting for Nathan to propose in Colorado Springs. He knew it was one of the two places in their love story. Come May 2018, they will have their happily ever after in the second place in their love story, Athens.”
Congrats, Katie & Nathan! I can’t wait to capture your Big Day in May!
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