Happy Holidays, friends! This time of year makes me want to put on warm socks, grab a cup of cocoa & get cozy under a fuzzy blanket, and today’s engagement session totally has those vibes! I met up with Bentlie and Will the weekend before Thanksgiving at Piedmont Park, and while it’s hard to guess when the height of the fall color will be year to year, we totally lucked out!! Orange, yellow and absolutely brilliant red leaves covered many of the trees in the Park & made for the perfect fall engagement session setting! Not only was the fall color spectacular, but the park was peaceful, quiet and surprisingly empty. It felt like we had the entire place to ourselves. How delightful!

And speaking of delightful, Bentlie and Will are an absolute joy to be around! They are genuine and sweet, and it’s so evident that they love the Lord and that He’s really guided them through the years as their story has evolved. I love their story and I know you will too! Scroll on to learn more about these two cuties and see some of my favorites from their engagement session!

Tell me about how you met & fell in love. – “It’s hard to define when our story really began because we’ve actually known each other for as long as we can remember! We grew up in Macon, GA and went to school together from kindergarten through high school, but we didn’t start dating until our senior year. It took some time, but Will finally convinced Bentlie to let him take her to lunch. From that point on, we spent as much time together as possible. Our feelings for each other were undeniable, however, with college on the horizon, we weren’t exactly sure if our relationship would have a future beyond high school. Will was considering playing football in college and Bentlie was weighing out whether to stay in state or not, but when we both decided on UGA, the rest was history! Our relationship continued to grow and our love for each other only deepened throughout our time in Athens – we knew we wanted to be together forever! Thankfully (and to our surprise), both of us ended up in Augusta after graduation for Bentlie to pursue her Masters in Occupational Therapy and Will to start medical school. Each transition has not been without its challenges and growing pains, but when we reflect on the past 6 years, we’re amazed at the Lord’s faithfulness to us through every season. It’s a testament to us that His plan is always abundantly greater than anything we could ever imagine.”

Bentlie, what is it about Will that you love the most? – “One of the things I love most about Will is that he is genuine. He never pretends to be someone he’s not, but at the same time, he is always pushing himself to be better. He encourages me to grow while staying true to myself.”

Will, what is it about Bentlie that you love the most? – “What I love the most about Bentlie is her thoughtfulness and consideration for others. She lifts people up even when it’s a sacrifice to her. Her selflessness has taught and motivated me to try to live my life that way as well.”

 

About the Proposal- “The proposal took place in Alys Beach, Florida! A group of our college friends had planned a beach trip for July 4th and it just so happened that Bentlie’s family was going to be there at the same time. On July 5th, Will went deep sea fishing with some of the guys in Bentlie’s family, while the girls spent the day relaxing on the beach. The plan was to meet up with our friends for dinner when Will got back from the trip, but right as we were leaving, Bentlie’s mom suggested we come back for drinks on the beach. We got ready for dinner and told our friends we would just meet them at the restaurant. As we walked to find Bentlie’s parents, Will stopped Bentlie in the middle of the beautiful courtyard right next to the beach to take in the view. When she turned around, he was down on one knee! Bentlie said YES and her family popped out of their hiding places with champagne! There couldn’t have been a more perfect way to celebrate our engagement – in our favorite place, surrounded by some of the people we love most!”

Congratulations, Bentlie & Will! I can’t wait for your wedding at the UGA Chapel & Georgian Hall in Athens next June!