Engagement | Bryant Grove Recreation Area, Nashville, Tennessee
Oh goodness — where do I even begin? Emma and Chase have been some of the best parts of my time at Vanderbilt and I’ve gotten to have a first row seat in witnessing their relationship and seeing how they glorify Christ together. I simply love them both so much and I’m so SO dearly thankful for their intentional friendships, deep desire for adventure, and ability to make anything and everything FUN.
Okay so I guess I can start in the beginning. I met Chase before Emma — we were at the same e-training table my sophomore year of college (his freshman year) and he seemed nice, but we didn’t really become close friends for another year. I met Emma the classic way — by driving her to church every Sunday for two years. I got to know her in deep ways, hear about her life, and just see her grow and change in her first years of college, and it was such a joy to me.
Fast forward to the early Spring of 2020 right before COVID, and Emma and Chase started having a thing for each other. They went on the Navs Spring Break Trip and their friendship deepened there, and right as COVID hit they went on a hike together. However, Emma was about to go abroad in the fall and so they placed their relationship in God’s hands and trusted that what needed to happen would happen if they were supposed to be together. Not that long later, COVID ripped across the world, cancelling Emma’s abroad program. As awful as that was, it was also the green light for the two of them to start dating — and I guess we can say that it was worth it.
In October 2021, Chase texted me out of the blue, “You in Nash this weekend? Wanna go buy a ring with me?” and man I FREAKED OUT. We spent the afternoon with the sweetest lady (who had also met with Emma the week before and so knew exactly what Emma wanted) and we had the best time choosing a ring. For me, it was just so sweet to see how deeply Chase cared about Emma and about the intentionality and time he took to choose the perfect ring for her. We lied to Emma about what we did (she was out of town) and all was well.
And then it happened – later in October he got down on one knee and he threw a sweet sweet engagement party for Emma! Shoutout to Betsey for the best balloon arch ever and it was the greatest night of celebration 🙂 It’s so dang EASY to celebrate them.
Andddd now — their engagement session. Man oh MAN. It started out rough (the place we wanted to go was closed), but Emma thought on her feet and we found the absolute best second location (literally way better than the first honestly) and I had an absolutely wonderful time goofing around with them and capturing this straight up MAGIC.
Emma and Chase — man. I love you guys so so MUCH and I’m so EXCITED to shoot your wedding this year. I can’t freaking WAIT. Thanks for being the greatest.
