On April 6th, 2019, Ashley got herself ready for her first date with Eric. They planned to meet at the Porch, a Dallas favorite hotspot. “I was running late, but when I walked into the restaurant, he so gingerly came up behind me, put his hand on my back and said, “Hey Ashley!” Immediately, he made me feel so comfortable and we had a wonderful time chatting over dinner on the patio.” Ashley shared. Dinner turned into drinks at the Old Monk across the street as the pair spent time getting to know each other. Ashley recalls fondly how happy she was and how much she wanted to see him again. “Four years later and I’m so thankful I went on that date! I couldn’t imagine my life without him.”
In early February, Ashey and Eric took a trip to Seaside to celebrate Eric’s birthday. Seaside holds a special place in Ashley’s heart because she grew up vacationing there with her family and it is the first trip she brought Eric on. When they first vacationed there, Ashley remembers how much Eric loved it. “I was shocked he had never been before! I could tell immediately he loved it – not just from the quaintness of the town or the beautiful atmosphere of the beach, but because it’s brought me so much joy and happy memories over the years.” It was the perfect place for a proposal. On the evening of their proposal, Ashley and Eric were preparing for dinner at Bud and Alley’s when Eric suggested they take a stroll along the beach for sunset. Unsuspecting, Ashley joined her soon-to-be fiancé for a walk on the sand when he got down on one knee and popped the question. “After saying yes, to my surprise, there was screaming and cheering in the background. I looked behind me to see my parents, my sister and his parents all smiling from the Pavilion up above. They came down and congratulated us, popped champagne, and took some pictures. We then proceeded to all eat dinner together and celebrate!” It was a special moment for Ashley, who had another milestone in a place that means so much to her and her family.
Ashley and Eric’s engagement session took place on the beautiful and historic grounds of Swan House in Atlanta, Georgia. The inspiration for the location came from Ashley’s mom, who reminded her of the beauty of the venue. “Since we aren’t getting married in Atlanta, I was hoping to try and tie my roots into our engagement and wedding story somehow. Mom truly knows best!”
On the day of their session, the sky was clear and the sun was shining down, a great afternoon for portraits. It was the ideal spring day for Ashley and Eric to explore the ground of Swan House and take photos. Looking forward to their wedding, Ashley is most excited to marry Eric and to celebrate with the people they love! “We love them and can’t wait to party on the dance floor on September 7th , 2024!”
