Alyssa & Ryan’s Ozone Falls Engagement Session
Back in the Spring of 2008, I was introduced to a beautiful waterfall not too far off the interstate in Middle Tennessee. I had a botany professor that took us there to look at the different ecosystems above and below the falls. I was so impressed by the beauty of the natural area that I took my bride to be to go check it out the next time we were heading from Nashville back home to East Tennessee.
TheOzone Falls Engagement Session
Ozone Falls is one of those places that you could just sit and stare at for a long time. The height of this beautiful waterfall, the epic blue green pool at the bottom, and as the sun goes down in the afternoon, a perfect rainbow forms in the spray. So when I got connected with Alyssa and Ryan to shoot their engagement session, I asked them if they would be up for a little drive to meet me over at Ozone Falls. In the end, it was totally worth it to shoot their Ozone Falls Engagement Session!
We met up for their Ozone Falls Engagement Session on a Sunday afternoon and it was surprisingly busy. But that was no matter. It was still a beautiful day. Couldn’t have asked for a better! The hike in only takes a few minutes, so I decided we should hike down to the bottom of the Falls. From there, we could start shooting and then work her way back up. The afternoon sun made for some really awesome warm light shining through the trees and valley. The falling water even cast a really fun shadow on the big rock wall behind the falls.
As always, I will let the photos do the talking!
Couple’s Q&A
Date of Session
3/21/2021
Future wedding date and venue
6/22/2022 | Ruby in Nashville, TN
How did y’all meet?
We met for the first time in the line to get into Bonnaroo… or I guess technically we met at a Wendy’s in Smyrna, TN on our way to Bonnaroo when all the people we wanted to arrive with met there before driving to the festival. My (Alyssa’s) friends had camped with Ryan and his friends the year prior (2014) but I hadn’t gone. In line late at night, I got out of my car to go talk to my friend in the car behind me, and Ryan came up to me and we started talking.
He laughed at a stupid joke I made, and I was hooked and went back to my car to tell my friends that, “a cute guy had laughed at my joke”. The next day my friends and I went into a Glass Animals concert at Bonnaroo and Ryan tagged along, and from that moment on we were inseparable and hung out the rest of Bonnaroo. At the end of Bonnaroo, we decided we would see each other again, even though I lived in Nashville and he lived in Louisville at the time, and from that point on starting doing long distance (which we did for over 2 years).
When and where did you go on your first date?
Tell me about your first date together?
Well…. Bonnaroo was kind of 5 days of a first date, but after Bonnaroo I went to visit Ryan in Louisville for the weekend and we went to the Louisville Zoo, which was the first real date we went on!
How did you fall in love?
We were kinda hooked on each other from the start, and really bonded when we spent four days at Bonnaroo together. But I think we really fell in love by talking to each other on the phone almost everyday while doing long distance getting to know each other, and then spending one weekend a month together, which was never long enough!
When/where did he/she propose?
Ryan proposed on the Appalachian Trail near Fontana Village in North Carolina while we were taking a trip celebrating our five year anniversary. After a four mile hike there was fire tower at the top of a mountain where Ryan had planned to propose at the top. I was too afraid to go past the first landing (the stairs were very steep and there was very little support on the sides), so he proposed at the first landing where there was barely enough room for him to get down on one knee, but we had the most amazing view behind us!
What are you most excited about for your wedding?
Getting to bring all of our friends and family together for a special day to celebrate us!
Describe your relationship in 5 words
Playful, trusting, supporting, understanding, laidback
Where would y’all go for your dream honeymoon?
Europe – probably Scotland, Ireland, and Italy
What is your most favorite thing about each other?
Alyssa: my favorite thing about Ryan is that he puts a lot of thought into the little things and is spontaneous like myself (we don’t really plan… we just do). Ryan: My favorite thing about Alyssa is that she keeps me grounded.
How have you grown as a couple since you first started dating?
oh boy. We’ve both grown individually while also growing as a couple, and let our individual growth lead to our relationship growing.
Favorite quirk about each other
Ryans favorite quirk is when Alyssa mispronounces words confidently (this happens a lot). Alyssa’s favorite quirk: Ryans adoration and constant longing for skyline chili.
How do you feel most loved by your partner?
I (Alyssa) feel most loved by Ryan in that he always supports me no matter what, and has been willing to do whatever it takes to be with me (he’s now moved twice!).
Ryan feels most loved by Alyssa when she encourages him to do the things he wants to do in his life.
First impression of each other?
Ryan: I thought she was cute, I didn’t think we would hit it off the way we did. Alyssa thought Ryan was cute and a little clingy and really like it when he laughed at her stupid joke.
List of vendors represented in your session
Ring is vintage and was passed down from Ryan’s godmother.
If you are interested in booking Hunter Kittrell Photography for your Ozone Falls Engagement Session or Wedding Photos, Contact Me Here!
Now that is one beautiful Ozone Falls Engagement Session!