Lauren & Ben | Engagement Session



We share engagement sessions every so often and while they are always beautiful, none have stuck out in our mind as much as this one below. Lauren and Ben met their photographer, Charlie Martin, at a local brewery—ummm, so cool— where they sipped on local brews, made lovey-dovey eyes across the table at one another, and then headed to Hampton Park for both candid and posed photos. We can’t say for certain but we have a sneaking suspicion that sessions of these sort, featuring unique locations, may be trending very soon. Just something to keep in mind for all those newly engaged … But back to Lauren and Ben’s story. The pair met many years ago while discussing Harry Potter in their youth group. Ben was an avid Potterhead, and Lauren, it seems not as much so. She asked the entire group, “Why would you all even read the books when there are movies?” For anyone that isn’t aware, to only watch the movies and not read the books first is a disservice to the whole story. Well, at least that was what Ben thought when those words popped out her mouth. He remembered Lauren for that reason and that reason only and years later, when the two met again, tried “spitting game” (his words) at Lauren, teasing her about that comment. While the two bantered back and forth, they quickly realized how well they got along with one another. Two years later, Ben was proposing to Lauren in Ireland. And to recap it all, let’s hear from Ben on his seven steps for an epic proposal:

[1] Book a trip to Ireland.

[2] Surprise her by having her best friends arrive in Ireland.

[3] Really sell her that the whole surprise was her friends’ appearance and not anything else.

[4] Skip all likely places for said proposal. (Cliffs of Moher)

[5] Take her to the top of an historic castle.

[x] Make her hang upside down off the side of the top of said humongous castle and kiss The Blarney Stone.

[x] Be on bended knee when she comes back up with the ring.

Images: Charlie Martin Photography | Beauty: Pink Dot Beauty Bar | Venues: Charles Towne Fermentory and  Hampton Park |

The Wedding Row

January 4 2019
Now, we’ve run our fair share of gorgeous weddings at Magnolia Plantation & Gardens, but we swear we think this wins the award for most gorgeous to date. It makes sense, though, considering...

January 2 2019
On the heels of New Year’s we needed a classic wedding with black-tie panache to carry us through the rest of this holiday-wind-down week. Enter Vera and Brien’s dreamy day, lovingly designed by A...

December 31 2018
We searched high and low for a wedding to close out the New Year, and what better pick than Annie and Matt, whose ceremony ended with the officiant (the bride’s brother-in-law, or in this case, we’re...

December 28 2018
Here’s a little discussed fact: A great DJ can make (or break) a wedding. And the difference between a first dance that has everyone sighing and posting (instead of cringing) and a party that...

December 27 2018
Here’s the thing: Charleston’s in the tropics, more or less. And here in the jungle, it rains from time to time, which can put a damper on a portrait sesh out and about if you don’t plan well. The...

December 26 2018
Ok, people. Yes, you’re gonna love Jesse and Will’s wedding photos (al fresco reception in the Old Village? Yes, please!). But their proposal story? It might even beat the pretty out for best in show...

December 21 2018
Lindsey and José didn’t start off on the right foot (he didn’t do a double-take when he first met her at Boston College, so she gave him the same indifferent treatment, and sparks didn’t fly for...