Katherine + John's Charlottesville Engagement Session

By Jada Parrish

Posted: 11/18/15

Category: Engagement Photography

Location: Carter Mountain Orchard

I'm such a sap when it comes to love stories. I love movies that pull on your heartstrings and make you bawl your eyes out. Love is the most extraordinarily beautiful thing in this world, and I am constantly amazed by its power and beauty.

Every year David + I hold a contest where we give away a free engagement session. To enter the contest, you just have to share your love story with us. Every love story is so unique and meaningful. When we hold this contest we are looking for a love story that stands out from the rest and demonstrates that unconditional, forever and ever kind of love.

Kathryn + John are this year's winners! They have already proven that they are able to weather the storm together and support each other through lifes ups and downs. We headed up to Carter Mountain in Charlottesville for their fall engagement session. We drank cider beer, wandered through the apple orchards, and took in all of the gorgeous scenery.

We are so glad that these two have found their happily ever after in each other. Scroll down to read a little bit about their love story and be inspired by the beauty of love.

Congratulations to Katherine + John!

How did they meet |  John used to come into Melito's where I bartended all through college. One of his good friends would meet him there a few nights a week after work to grab a drink. The other bartenders I worked with always used to tell me to go out with him. I thought, "No way, he's wearing a suit..I'm a sorority girl with a nose ring..he's not interested." We flirted a lot and I ended up getting a drink with him after work one night at bar. We talked until we closed the restaurant, exchanged numbers and it's truly history ever since. 7 years later!!

Their Story |  John and I had our first date on a Sunday. Three days later, my sister was diagnosed with Leukemia. I told him about Becca that day when he called to ask me out again. I was a mess and told him that it was ok if we didn't see each other. He insisted that he would be here for me and he kept his promise. He was by my side the entire 11 months of Becca's battle up until she passed. He helped support and push me through finishing my undergraduate degree and encouraged me to go back to school to become a nurse. In between all of that, I helped him pursue graduate school and now he has become an entrepreneur. We are each other's rock, best friends, other half, dream team. We laugh every day and love our dogs more than anything. I don't think we would know how to function without each other. Here we are 7 years later, finally engaged and taking another huge step in our lives.