Meet Athena and Ethan.
I met these two awesome people when Athena submitted to a photo contest I was having on Facebook. I was so excited to photograph them because they’re just gorgeous and I knew the session would be awesome. Not only did I love the session, but I loved getting to know Athena and Ethan. We hiked the Sope Creek trail in Marietta. It rained, so we took full advantage and got some pretty cool rain photos, like this one.
They were just so laid back and fun and adventurous! AKA my favorite kind of people!
Not too long after that, Athena contacted me about a podcast she was a part of that showcased women being amazing in male-driven fields. I had the amazing opportunity to capture her in her element and doing what she loves, which is welding! See those photos (here)!
Athena and Ethan were engaged when we met, and I was so hoping to be chosen to photograph their wedding. However, they already had everything planned for their day. They were planning an elopement in Yosemite National Park, which would have been amazing!! But unfortunately, due to Covid-19, that plan had to change and they decided on Cloudland Canyon here in Georgia.
Though I’m sad for them that their dream day wasn’t able to happen, I’m pretty happy with the new plan because that meant I got to capture the best day ever! And it was an amazing day!
The weather was nice and cool. I felt like I was there to just enjoy everything about the day and celebrate with Ethan and Athena, all while capturing pretty moments along the way. Adventure elopements are my favorite, and I was fully there, heart and soul, not just there to work and take photos. But if I’m being honest, I love my job so much that I never feel like I’m just there to work and take photos. People say if you have a job you love, you never work a day in your life, and I’m here to tell you it’s true! I become so invested in my couples and truly enjoy getting to know them and spending the day together. It’s more like I’m just there to enjoy the day with them, and just happen to capture pretty moments along the way. But this day was extra special to my heart because I have loved how much I’ve been able to get to know Athena and Ethen and I LOVE adventure elopements!
We saw two waterfalls. We went up and down hundreds of stairs (it felt like thousands). We climbed through branches and crawled across slippery rocks. We got almost totally soaked by waterfall mist and were probably way closer to more snakes than we’d ever want to even think about. Athena’s hair got wet. Her dress was muddy. Ethan ripped his pants (lol) and we were altogether sweaty and filthy at the end of the day, but it was amazing! I swear I was even smiling while climbing over slippery rocks. It was just such an enjoyable day. I LOVED every minute of it…except for the going back up the stairs part…
Getting your expensive wedding dress drug through the mud, paying for hair and makeup, and then getting it soaked by a waterfall, and climbing through branches isn’t the ideal wedding day for most brides, but it was great for Athena and it’s totally my favorite day too! Sometimes it’s not the details that matter so much, but the experience of the day itself. Getting to see beautiful waterfalls and having the coolest memories of the day is the best if you ask me! I woke up the following day wishing I could go back in time and just start this day over because I enjoyed it so much.
Anyway, here’s the end of the longest blog post I’ve ever typed up…it’s just because I loved everything about this day and just adore Athena and Ethan!
Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Alexander!
Photos by: Mae Grace LLC
Hair by: Brittney of Bobby Pinning Studio
Bobby’s Instagram: @bobbypinningbybrittney
Makeup by: Michaela @makeup.by_mc
Flowers and all the amazing details and decorations by: the beautiful bride, Athena! She’s multi-talented! @insta_thena
©Mae Grace LLC Atlanta Wedding Photographer – Cloudland Canyon Georgia Elopement
©Mae Grace LLC Atlanta Wedding Photographer – Cloudland Canyon Georgia Elopement
©Mae Grace LLC Atlanta Wedding Photographer – Cloudland Canyon Georgia Elopement
©Mae Grace LLC Atlanta Wedding Photographer – Cloudland Canyon Georgia Elopement
©Mae Grace LLC Atlanta Wedding Photographer – Cloudland Canyon Georgia Elopement
©Mae Grace LLC Atlanta Wedding Photographer – Cloudland Canyon Georgia Elopement
Mae Grace – Owner & Photographer
Phone: 404.966.9111
Email: mae@maegrace.photography
Main office: Douglasville, Georgia
Serving: Newnan, Marietta, Kennesaw, Decatur, Woodstock, Atlanta, Pensacola, Orange Beach, Mobile, Birmingham, Senoia, Peachtree City, Fayetteville, McDonough, Griffin, Douglasville, and all the surrounding towns and states. We LOVE to travel!
Mae Grace, LLC 