Mary & Ryan Craggy Pinnacle Engagement Session
One of my favorite parts about being a photographer is that I get to travel, meet new people, and join them in their stories. Every love story is different and it is such a pleasure to hear them all! Mary and Ryan’s story is one that I have had so much fun learning about. They have traveled all over the world to experience the richness of cultures, landscapes, foods, and languages often not found in America. It was on one of these trips that they found each other. Not looking for love, these two soccer fans came to know each other in Brazil, and the rest is history.
Mary & Ryan Craggy Pinnacle Engagement Session
We met up on the Blue Ridge Parkway and made our way up the super cool Craggy Pinnacle Trail. Reaching the peak in about 15 minutes, we had a 360-degree view of the North Carolina mountains! It is seriously such a cool spot and I can’t wait to get there again soon!
Check out the rest of the photos from this epic Craggy Pinnacle Engagement Session. Also, be sure to stick around till the end of the blog so you can read more about Mary and Ryan’s story. Hint… it is a good one!
Couple’s Q&A
Date of session and location
06/30/2021- Craggy Pinnacle Engagement Session
Future wedding date and venue
September 10, 2022- The Magnolia Venue
How did y’all meet?
We met at a hostel in Rio de Janeiro during the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
When and where did you go on your first date?
An Elton John concert in Greenville, SC. March 2015.
Tell me about your first date together?
We had been talking constantly since we met but lived in different states (PA & SC). He had visited during work trips and we knew we liked each other but didn’t know if we wanted to do long distance. When a concert we both liked came up, we decided to take the chance to spend a weekend together and see how it went. We had an amazing time at the concert and spent the rest of the weekend going out to restaurants and meeting some of each other’s friends. The 3 days flew by before we knew it, and by the end, we were both sure it was worth trying long distance.
How did you fall in love?
We still don’t know. Nothing about it was probable… We didn’t live in the same place, we had vastly different careers, and neither of us was looking for anything long-term. But as time went on and we kept talking we slowly became each other’s favorite people to talk to. When new things happened we became each other’s go-to person to tell. We started flying to see each other and the times we spent apart started to become just the waiting periods until we saw each other again. We basically just became really good friends until we realized we were in love.
When/where did he/she propose?
He proposed over dinner in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico on July 27th, 2020. He didn’t have a ring so he cut off a facemask string and tied it into a bow as a makeshift ring. A group of his family members were at the next table to celebrate with afterward.
What are you most excited about for your wedding?
We are most excited to officially be husband and wife. We are also looking forward to getting our families and closest friends together… Most of them for the first time!
Describe your relationship in 5 words
Playful, supportive, goofy, honest, caring
Where would y’all go for your dream honeymoon?
We can’t decide! South Africa, Italy, New Zealand, and the Faroe Islands have all been discussed. We both travel a lot and want to go somewhere neither of us have been before so wherever we choose is just special to us with no other associated memories.
What is your most favorite thing about each other?
He can always make me laugh even when I’m determined not to. He knows when I need him nearby and when I need alone time without me asking.
She can get along with anybody and treats strangers and friends with equal kindness. She always challenges me.
How have you grown as a couple since you first started dating?
He always says “she taught me how to emotion” lol. We have learned each other’s love languages and how to respect and honor them. We have also gone through life changes (buying houses, getting a dog, moving) and have learned how to lean on each other and make choices together.
Favorite quirk about each other
He is a tall, hairy man who points his toes and acts very dainty often. It is very cute.
She has A book obsession and will never read all the books she has before getting super excited about new ones.
How do you feel most loved by your partner?
After long shifts on my feet, he will always rub my toes or get me a drink while I kick my feet up. He knows my needs and works constantly to fulfill them which makes me feel loved and cared for.
She just looks at me and smiles all the time as if she is so happy I’m around. It makes me feel loved and wanted.
First impression of each other?
I thought he was a big goof that I’d watch some soccer with and never see again.
He thought I was a weirdo for traveling to Brazil all alone when everyone else came with friend groups.
List of vendors represented in your session
Ring from Kimball Jewelers
Note: There are so many different locations with very different views. It is a very pet-friendly location as well. From an environmental conservation standpoint, there are a lot of areas that are off-limits to foot traffic because of delicate ecosystems and rare plant species. There are even big colorful signs telling you to not cross into those areas, so please respect that if you do go to visit there! Let me know if you have any questions about setting up your very own Craggy Pinnacle Engagement Session!
If you are interested in booking Hunter Kittrell Photography for your Craggy Pinnacle Engagement Session or Wedding Photos, Contact Me Here!