Kelly + Gareth | Engagement Session at Airlie Gardens and the Wilmington Waterfront | Wilmington, NC

Maybe it’s the southern oak trees dripping in moss. Maybe it’s the soft white sand and the blue waters of Wrightsville Beach. Maybe it’s their serious love (and I do mean SERIOUS love) for ice cream. Or maybe it’s because within 5 seconds of meeting Kelly and Gareth, I felt like I was in the presence of one of the truest loves. Whatever it is, this session literally has me sitting, chin resting in hand, staring dreamily at their engagement session images, and breathing sigh after sigh at these two. Kelly and Gareth live outside of the Raleigh/Durham area, so we decided to meet in Wilmington for their engagement session. This was my first time in Wilmington and it’s such a great place! With stops at Airlie Gardens, Wrightsville Beach, and the downtown Wilmington waterfront, we had plenty of time to get to know each other. I discovered so much about them! Not only is Gareth a West Point Military Academy graduate (where they will be holding their wedding next August at the Thayer Hotel – yay!!), but he is also an Officer in the military, is originally from South Africa (how cool!) and just returned from serving our country overseas. I think the words out of my mouth were literally “I want to hug you”. And Kelly, oh “sweet as pie” Kelly, makes me feel immediately like I am home. She is the happiest, most positive, hospitable person. Hearing their very serendipitous story of how they were set up by Kelly’s boss, and became engaged before they had even dated for a year (I think it was after 5 months, right guys??) just feels so…right. These two together just feels so right. It feels like it’s been that way, well, forever. And so I know that their wedding next August, where they will commit to spend forever together, will feel just as exciting, magical, and perfect as our day together in Wilmington did! I can not wait!

Thank you, Kelly and Gareth, for giving me the honor of getting to know you both and being a part of your journey to ‘forever after’! I could not be more excited!