There are some couples whose love stories feel like they’ve been unfolding for years, and with Mercedes and Collin, that’s exactly the case! They’ve known of each other for over a decade, but their real story didn’t begin until a high school homecoming dance changed everything.
I loved getting to photograph their engagement session and capture this beautiful season of their lives. But before I share more about their session, I have to tell you their story, because it’s the kind that makes you smile just reading it.
How They Met
Though they attended the same school, Mercedes and Collin never really talked until fate brought them together one night at homecoming. Collin was catching up with an old friend (who just so happened to be dating Mercedes’s best friend) when a slow song started playing. That’s when Collin made the move to ask Mercedes to dance!
They ended up right next to the speaker, which made conversation almost impossible, so instead, they just exchanged shy, awkward smiles. But for Mercedes, that was enough to spark something. After that night, she couldn’t stop thinking about him. She even admitted she’d dress up for school hoping he’d notice her in the hallway!
Their first official date happened to fall on Valentine’s Day. While all the “fancier” restaurants were packed, they found themselves at Cracker Barrel, which turned out to be just perfect. They talked for hours, Mercedes feeling nervous butterflies the entire time, while Collin noticed how beautiful she looked, even if she barely got a word out through her nerves!
The One
Over the years, their relationship grew through a foundation of friendship. During Mercedes’s freshman year of college, they became inseparable — walking to class together, grabbing meals in the dining hall, working out, exploring Springfield, studying, and laughing until they were sore.
For Collin, the moment he knew Mercedes was the one came during his first year of college. He had moved hours away from everyone he knew, and when Mercedes came to visit, they spent a simple day together eating donuts, watching movies, and hanging out on campus. Even though it was nothing extravagant, she made him feel like the most important person in the world, and that was everything he needed to know!
How He Asked
Fast forward to December of 2024! Mercedes had been hinting about going to see Christmas lights, and though Collin initially brushed it off, he still needed to ask her parents for permission to marry her first, he later surprised her with a date to a walk through display!
On their way into the stadium, Collin cleverly told Mercedes he had forgotten his keys in the car. About halfway back, he stopped, claiming his shoe had come untied. When Mercedes turned around, he was down on one knee! Of course, she said yes! But in true Mercedes fashion, her first thought was still about those forgotten keys. Collin finally admitted they’d been in his pocket the whole time!
Mercedes admires Collin for his kindness and the way he always puts her first, even on tough days. She describes him as thoughtful, compassionate, and humorous. Collin admires Mercedes for her patience (especially with him!) and loves that she is patient, honest, and a little silly. Together, they love working out, grabbing coffee, catching movies, and cheering on baseball games.
When I asked what they were most excited about for their wedding day, their answers made me smile. Mercedes is counting down the days until she marries her best friend and celebrates with all their loved ones. Collin? He can’t wait to see Mercedes in her wedding dress, especially since she usually has a hard time making decisions, which means her dress must be incredible!
Their Engagement Session
Photographing Mercedes and Collin was such a joy! They’re the kind of couple that makes everything feel natural, from their easy laughter to the way they look at one another, you can just feel how comfortable and at home they are together!
Their love story has been years in the making, filled with shy smiles, butterfly filled dates, college adventure and a Christmas light proposal. And now they’re counting down the days until they officially say “I do!”
Mercedes and Collin, I cannot wait to celebrate alongside you two on your wedding day!
