Sweet Sentiments of Spring | Annie + Reice, Part II: Fairhope Engagement Photography

"The cure for anything is salt water--sweat, tears, or the sea." From little sobs, to ugly cries, to a good cardio sesh, to letting sand sink between my toes and feel the cool fluidity of the Gulf waters--salt water truly is good for the souuuuuuuul. When Annie mentioned that she and Reice wanted to incorporate the endearing sentiments they hold for being near the water into their engagement session, I was ecstatic.

Nine years. Living states apart. Traveling. Gaining identities as adults, both separate and together. Learning how to boil rice and buy couches. Creating memories and just enjoying this pretty little life. Three thousand, two hundred and eighty-five days. Literally. How many days, thus far, that these two have chosen one another. I’m no expert, but I’ll consider that pretty decent marriage prep…

After just short of nine years together, Reice proposed to Annie in February of this year.  Annie is my cousin, so I’ve had the pleasure of watching these two grow into adulthood together, and I absolutely couldn’t be more elated for this season of their lives. Choosing one another, day in and day out. When life gets messy, hard, sad, exciting, ugly–it always comes back to making the choice. I’m FAR from a marriage guru, but I can bet that if you’d ask any couple who’s been married for a lifetime, they’ll tell you the same thing: it all comes down to that one choice. Annie and Reice, you’ve already mastered this with exemplary grace over the past nine years. Here’s to 99 more.