Symbol of Love: Elegant Engagement Session in Columbia, SC

Shaina and Kristopher met in high school. He was a football player, and she was a cheerleader. It was the perfect setting for a teenage romance.

But they would not start dating until they were 23 years old. Shaina shares, “Two months after courting, he asked me to be his official girlfriend, and I said yes! Two years later, he proposed.”

During their traditional New Year’s dinner, Kristopher popped the question in front of family and friends. Shaina reminisces, “I actually went into shock a few minutes after he asked and almost passed out! I had to go to the restroom and splash water on my face to make sure the moment was real.”

They wanted their engagement shoot to represent two different moments from their relationship. For their casual shoot, they went with a classy, yet laid back look to represent the fun, puppy love energy they felt when they first met. For their second look, they wore elegant white formal wear to symbolize their new beginning and evolving maturity.

View all of their stylish photos and read more about their inspiring love story below.

Couple: Shaina & Kristopher
Wedding date: 12/26/2020
Wedding location: 701 Whaley in Columbia, SC
Location of Engagement shoot: Downtown Columbia, SC

How did you meet?

Kris and I actually went to high school together. He played football and I was a cheerleader. We didn’t begin our courtship, however, until 2017 at the ages of 23. Two months after courting he asked me to be his official girlfriend and I said yes! Two years later he proposed.

Tell us your proposal story.

Kris proposed on New Year’s Day in front of both of our families at our traditional New Year’s dinner. I was expecting a proposal to come soon because we had talked about marriage for a year prior, but I was still so surprised because I did not expect him to do it in front of our entire family nor at that particular time! I actually went into shock a few minutes after he asked and almost passed out! I had to go to the restroom and splash water on my face to make sure the moment was real (I’ve never shared this with anyone other than Kris, but I’m sure it was obvious).

Describe your engagement session.

We really wanted to share two different moments from our relationship through our engagement shoot. We wanted to try to tell our love story. For our casual shoot we went with a very timeless and classic look. We wanted to give off the energy that we felt when we first met. The laughter, the mystery and what some might even describe as puppy love. For our second look I chose to wear white to symbolize a successful beginning. This new beginning being marriage. We wanted the formal wear to be very elegant and tasteful to symbolize our maturity within our relationship. Tiffany was able to execute everything we wanted and more!