A love story that started poolside and ended with the most perfect proposal

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If you ask me, some of the best love stories start in the most unexpected places and for Elana and Mitchell, that place was Valley Hill Country Club right here in Huntsville, Alabama. Mitchell walked in for his first shift as a lifeguard in June of 2020, Elana was the pool manager, and the rest? Well, Elana says she was smitten the moment they were introduced. I don’t blame her one bit. After a month of working side by side, spending evenings with friends, and making memories filled with laughter, Mitchell asked Elana to be his girlfriend the following month and five years later, that same date would become the backdrop for one of the most beautiful proposals I’ve ever heard about.

The Proposal

Mitchell took Elana to the lookout at Cecil Ashburn on their five year anniversary. Elana laughs now about how he kept checking the weather app at dinner, anxious about the rain. By the time they reached the top, the rain had stopped, the sky opened up, and a gorgeous sunset stretched out in front of them. Mitchell asked the question, Elana said it was the easiest yes she’s ever given.

Spending time with Elana and Mitchell during their Huntsville engagement session, it’s so easy to see just how well these two fit. They are the kind of couple who starts their mornings at their favorite coffee shop reading the Bible and praying together, and ends their evenings curled up with ice cream watching a movie. In between, you’ll find them on a hike, out on the golf course, or wrangling Elana’s four younger brothers for ice cream runs and Mario Kart tournaments

The Wedding 💗

When I asked Elana what she’s most excited about for their wedding day, her answer came fast and with about a thousand exclamation points and I loved every single one of them. “To marry my best friend!! I can’t wait to say I Do to the man I love in front of all of our friends and family.”

And the sweetest part? They’re getting married right where it all began at Valley Hill Country Club, the very place Elana first laid eyes on that lifeguard who walked in for his first shift and changed everything.

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As a Huntsville, Alabama wedding photographer, getting to walk alongside couples like Elana and Mitchell is exactly why I do what I do. If you’re planning your Huntsville wedding and looking for a photographer who will show up for every candid smile, happy tear, and in-between moment, I would love to connect.

Locations: Downtown Huntsville, AL & Huntsville Botanical Garden