Jerrica + Peyton, Atlanta In-Home & Adventure Engagement Photographer
The first time Jerrica and I talked on the phone, we laughed, we got serious, and we really connected. I felt drawn to her and to her love story with Peyton. She even joked that if we became best friends, at least I always already invited to the wedding.
Their engagement session started at their home, with their dogs and a whole lot of warmth. We took those good vibes over to a local park and well, I think the photos speak for themselves. Magic.
I asked Jerrica a few questions about how they met, their vision for their big day, and what her favorite image from the session was. You can read her answers dispersed throughout the post. I hope you enjoy their photos!
“We met in high school but were never romantically involved. Just classmates who had the same friends and a few of the same classes. We started hanging out in 2011 which was three years after we had graduated. I was having car troubles and was stuck at home with my aunt who wanted me to order a pizza for her. I ordered a pizza from Pizza Hut closest to my house. At least two hours went by and my pizza still had not been delivered. I called Pizza Hut and requested to speak to a manager which happened to be Peyton. One thing Peyton has always been known for is having a deep voice. Instantly I recognized his voice and asked if he remembered me from high school. He stated he did and explained his driver couldn’t find my house and somehow managed to save my number in the system incorrectly so they couldn’t call to get directions to my house. He stated that he would give me my pizza for free if I came to get it but if he sent a driver back out I would have to pay at least $10. Annoyed I had the pizza delivered. Still intrigued that he worked right up the street and I could get free pizza I drove up to the store and talked with him from time to time and he eventually became someone I looked forward to talking to. We began hanging out as friends all of summer 2011. I never let him meet my dad and he never made a move on me until the summer was almost over. And well the rest is history….”
“Peyton proposed to me December 2015. That year he was hell-bent on having a Christmas party at our apartment with all of our closest friends and family. I was okay with the idea but not keen on having that many people in our little apartment.We ended up throwing an ugly sweater party and majority of our friends came. Prior to the party I had gone out of my way to make what I thought was a pretty ugly sweater. It was white with some ugly decorations. Peyton had spent the first half of the party trying to perfect a punch for everyone to drink with his cousin. I was trying to hide and find any moment of alone time to take a break from the crowd. When he finally finished the punch he called me into the kitchen to taste it. I’m 5’4 and Peyton is 6’4 so he towers a whole foot above me. I’m standing beside him tasting the punch as he’s sipping on his own glass. I tasted it and told him i didn’t care for it. He in turn spills almost all of his drink on my white sweater. I just watched the red punch ruin my sweater and fall all over the floor. Peyton had previously told me that he purchased two ugly sweaters because he couldn’t decide between the two. He quickly reminded me he had one extra and went to retrieve it from our bedroom. Still standing there in shock that he had spilled his drink on me I waited for him to return. Of course all of our friends are watching. He comes back out with a red sweater that was folded up really tight. I unfolded it only to see that it read “Future Mrs. Hesson”. I instantly went to make eye contact with him and he was on one knee with a ring.”
“Our wedding vision is romantic, rustic with a little bit of DIY thrown in the mix. Peyton and I are both romantic & affectionate people. So it’s important that our wedding day reflects how we feel about love and being with one another. I’m most excited about the whole day. We have been together for almost seven years and have been picked up and thrown down by the obstacles of life. I’m excited to cry, to laugh and celebrate our growing and everlasting love with all of the people that are most important to us.”
“It’s hard to narrow down my favorite photo because they are all so beautiful and capture our love, but this one always make me feel the love between the two of us. Peyton makes me feel safe; he is home and my greatest comfort. When I’m down or going through hard times he holds me and keeps me close and loves me through any pain that I may be experiencing. This photo to me captures that part of our relationship.”
