A Spray Lakes engagement session

Caitie and Mark’s Spray Lakes engagement session was a favourite from 2017. I’d worked with Caitie on a number of marketing projects before so imagine my excitement when I heard the happy news that Mark had popped the question. We headed out to Spray Lakes, a spot where these two had camped and enjoyed the scenery before. As we passed through Canmore, we couldn’t help but notice the heavy smoke from nearby forest fires that had settled into the valley. While I was sorry about the fires, the smoke added a unique and almost mystical effect to the photographs.

Caitie & Mark share a kiss at their Spray Lakes engagement session captured by Tara Whittaker Photography

Bride and groom at their Spray Lakes engagement session captured by Tara Whittaker Photography

Caitie and Mark embrace at their Spray Lakes engagement session captured by Tara Whittaker Photography

Bride and groom embrace at their Spray Lakes engagement session captured by Tara Whittaker Photography

Caitie carries a wildflowers bouquet at her Spray Lakes engagement session captured by Tara Whittaker Photography

Caitie’s bouquet: Flowers by Janie

Groom on the shores of Spray Lakes captured by Tara Whittaker Photography

Couple sit in the wildflowers at their Spray Lakes engagement session captured by Tara Whittaker Photography

The proposal

Mark and I were visiting South Africa for the first time earlier this year and about mid-way through our month long trip, we stayed at an incredible game reserve for a special night. We’d spent the day touring the reserve and seeing every animal you could imagine from rhinoceroses and hippos to giraffes and lions. After the game drive, we decided to have a quick swim in the infinity pool overlooking the valley where wild game were flocking. It was like watching Lion King live – one of those moments you can hardly believe is real. All of a sudden Mark jerked away from me and when I look over, he was on one knee. It was a mixture of nerves and happiness all in one. He said something very sweet which I’ll keep to myself, but it ended with “will you marry me” and of course I said yes.

~Caitie

A kiss during a Spray Lakes engagement session captured by Tara Whittaker Photography

Couple on the shore of Spray Lakes captured by Calgary wedding photographer Tara Whittaker

Caitie and Mark during their Spray Lakes engagement session captured by Tara Whittaker Photography

Spray Lakes engagement session – the ring

Caitie shared the story behind her beautiful engagement ring…

Mark proposed without a ring, which I hardly even noticed to be honest. We picked out a diamond in Cape Town together and had a ring made there. I’d actually found a vintage ring about a month before our trip hidden in our closet. I checked the hiding spot right before we left and it was still there, so I made up my mind that an engagement just wasn’t happening. Clearly I was wrong but it made for such an amazing surprise! Now I’m lucky enough to have two rings, a family heirloom from the past and one from the present.