As a Nashville Wedding Photographer, Drakewood Farm is one of my top five favorite Tennessee wedding venues. The first time I talked with Angie, we talked for over an hour and when she mentioned Drakewood Farm, my heart smiled. Her journey of how she met Andrew was wild. There’s no doubt that God had his hand on each of their road maps leading towards one another. Angie grew up in Illinois and Andrew grew up in FL, where they would eventually meet.

Angie was teaching elementary school in Illinois and discovered her contract was not going to be renewed. She was ready for a big life change. Angie had a friend from college teaching in Florida who encouraged her to move south and apply for a charter school job. During Angie’s first few weeks teaching in Florida, she befriended two women on school bus duty, Tracy and Morgan. Angie would eventually move in with them and learn that they were fanatics for a country duo named “Love & Theft“.

Morgan and Tracy invited Angie on a three day country cruise in 2008 where “Love & Theft” would be one of the performing acts. I’ll never forget Angie’s words as she told me the story on the phone. She said “It was hurricane season in Florida and the cruise was cheap, so I reluctantly agreed to go.” This is where Andrew enters the story. He was also on the cruise because his brother is one of the singers in the duo “Love and Theft”.  Andrew noticed Angie dancing in her tie-dye dress with no shoes on. He thought she was beautiful. After some time, Andrew worked up the nerve to tap Angie on the shoulder.  He proceeded to ask her if she’d like to join him for a smoke. She agreed. It was the beginning to their forever.

Eventually, Angie, Tracy and Morgan would move from Florida to Nashville. Andrew and Angie would continue getting to know each other and become close friends while dating other people. Even after Angie moved to Tennessee, Andrew moved in and out of the state. They always thought about one another, cared deeply for one another, but they weren’t ever truly sure if they were the right fit. Fast forward through ten years of friendship to November 19, 2017. Andrew’s sister, Rebekah, and Angie were having a weekend getaway at the family cabin in Dover, TN. On a whim, Andrew was invited over. At some point during the evening, Angie and Andrew’s first kiss happened. It was magical and they both knew they were meant to be together. Andrew asked Angie’s parents for their blessing.  He proposed on Christmas Day 2018.