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Abby and Jay’s Cumberland Island engagement session was everything a photographer dreams of: romantic, adventurous, and filled with meaningful details from start to finish.

Like many modern love stories, theirs began online. After Abby added Jay on Facebook and realized they shared nearly 200 mutual friends, he followed up by adding her on Snapchat a few days later. From there, the connection grew quickly. Within a week, Jay invited Abby to dinner at a cozy seafood restaurant overlooking the water in St. Marys, Georgia. That first date, in turn, became something special. Even now, they return every year on their anniversary to relive where it all began.

A Proposal by the Water

As their relationship continued to deepen, Abby and Jay officially began dating in June 2022. Then, on July 3rd, 2024, Jay planned a proposal that felt both thoughtful and deeply personal. While Abby was on her way to his parents’ house to pick him up, he called and asked her to help load chairs from the dock. However, as she walked closer, she quickly realized something was different. Jay was already there, waiting on one knee.

In that quiet moment, it was just the two of them. The river stretched behind him, sunlight filtered through the trees, and time seemed to slow. As a result, the proposal felt intimate and heartfelt, exactly what Abby had always envisioned.

Later that same day, Jay surprised her once more. This time, he had secretly planned a celebration at his parents’ home with both of their families. There were gifts, cake, and plenty of happy tears. Altogether, it was the perfect way to begin their next chapter.

Why They Chose a Cumberland Island Engagement Session

Because Abby and Jay love spending time outdoors together, fishing, boating, and exploring new places, choosing Cumberland Island for their engagement session felt like an easy decision. In fact, it is one of their favorite places to boat to. When Abby shared how meaningful the island was to them, I couldn’t say yes fast enough. Even more exciting, it would be my first time photographing a session there.

We met at a boat ramp in St. Marys and, shortly after, took a quick 15 minute ride over to the island. From the moment we stepped onto the shore, everything felt different. Wild horses roamed freely, Spanish moss draped the trees, and quiet stretches of untouched beach surrounded us. Instantly, it felt like stepping into another world.

Exploring the Island Together

For the session, Abby wore a breezy white dress that moved effortlessly with the coastal wind. Meanwhile, Jay kept his look timeless with khakis and a classic button down. As we explored, we wandered beneath oak canopies and strolled along the shoreline while the golden light slowly dipped lower in the sky. Throughout the afternoon, the energy remained relaxed, romantic, and completely true to who they are as a couple.

By the end of the session, this Cumberland Island engagement felt like more than just a photo experience. Instead, it reflected the peaceful yet adventurous spirit Abby and Jay share. From the wind in Abby’s hair to the sun slipping below the horizon, every moment came together beautifully. Without a doubt, it is a session I will never forget, and one I know they will treasure for years to come.

Curious about Cumberland Island? Learn more about visiting this unique coastal destination here.

An engaged couple stands in front of an ivy-covered stone wall, smiling and holding hands on a sunny afternoon.Left: A couple walks hand-in-hand between palm trees, smiling at each other in golden afternoon light. Right: The couple leans close by the stone wall, sharing a soft and romantic moment.Couple standing together along the historic Dungeness Ruins wall on Cumberland Island while their dog lounges happily in the grass beside them.Left: A close-up of hands resting together, showing an engagement ring and delicate bracelet. Right: A quiet moment along a sunlit stone wall during a dreamy Cumberland Island engagement session.A playful dip in a wide open field, surrounded by palm trees and wild horses grazing in the distance.A close-up of a brown dog lying in the grass in front of a couple holding hands, dressed in light blue and navy.Left: A couple stands hand-in-hand in front of an ivy-covered wall, sharing a quiet moment. Right: Black and white photo of a couple kissing while holding their happy dog, who’s front and center with tongue out.Left: A smiling couple embraces beside a stone wall covered in ivy during golden hour. Right: The couple shares a romantic forehead-to-forehead moment along the wall during their Cumberland Island engagement session.A woman playfully leans against a vine-covered wall as her partner smiles back from the opposite side, with their dog resting on the grass nearby.Romantic moment during a dog-friendly engagement session at the Dungeness Ruins on Cumberland Island, featuring a couple holding hands near ivy-covered stone walls, with their dog resting at their feet and a close-up black and white detail of the engagement ring. Sweet portraits from a coastal engagement session on Cumberland Island showing the couple smiling and embracing along the stone ruins, followed by a joyful moment holding their dog in soft golden hour light.Sunset engagement session on Cumberland Island beach featuring a joyful lift and kiss in the sand dunes, followed by a black and white photo of the couple holding hands and walking along the shoreline. Candid moment of a couple sitting barefoot in the sand, surrounded by sea grass during their Cumberland Island beach engagement session. Close-up of a hand grazing sea oats paired with a romantic portrait of a couple standing barefoot in the dunes, holding hands and taking in the view during golden hour. Romantic beach engagement photo of a couple sharing a kiss in the sand dunes surrounded by sea oats and greenery on Cumberland Island.Coastal engagement portraits featuring a smiling couple standing together on the beach with a focus on her engagement ring and their close, affectionate pose. Candid moment of a couple walking hand-in-hand barefoot through the soft dunes during their sunset engagement session on Cumberland Island beach.Black and white photo of a joyful beach lift paired with a cozy seated portrait of the couple snuggled together in the sand during their engagement session. Close-up of hands intertwined, showcasing the engagement ring, followed by a wide shot of the couple standing wrapped in each other's arms on the beach at golden hour. Playful and romantic beach engagement session on Cumberland Island featuring a couple dancing in the shallow water and smiling nose-to-nose during golden hour. Sweet moment of a couple standing barefoot in the wet sand, holding hands and smiling toward the camera with soft pastel skies and ocean waves behind them. Close-up of hands intertwined during a coastal engagement session, followed by a relaxed portrait of the couple standing back-to-back in the surf at sunset. Joyful dip-and-kiss captured on the shoreline during a dreamy beach engagement session on Cumberland Island, with the ocean reflecting beneath their feet.

 

Love scrolling through sweet moments like these? View this blissful Ponte Vedra Beach engagement session here. 

I am a Wedding and Portrait photographer based out of Jacksonville, Florida, with a passion for documenting love stories near and far. This space is where I share some of my favorite love stories, joyful portrait sessions, and helpful wedding tips, all captured with an artful and intentional approach.

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