For a couple with roots in North Florida, and who met by the water, it's hard to imagine a more perfect setting to document their love than the gorgeous waters of Crystal River. The bride's cousin, Anna Kirby , captured the two of them in the nature that they love and spend so much time in together. And those west coast sunset views? Epic.
Catherine and Murph met six years ago, at a surf contest in Jacksonville Beach that Murph was competing in. They briefly spoke that day, and then began bumping into each other at the beach several times over the next week; as the groom describes it, "Two strangers who grew up in the same city with many mutual friends had never crossed paths in twenty years, and now within less than a week we had bumped into each other on three separate occasions." It was just meant to be!
They wound up spending much of that first summer together and became best friends, but when Catherine left in the fall to go back to college, Murph realized he wanted more. When she came back for Labor Day, he mustered up the courage to ask her out... she said yes, of course! Five and a half years later, she said yes again; this time, to a proposal at the top of Sunset Rock in Highlands, North Carolina. Catherine describes how they celebrated aftewards: "Excitedly, he rushed me down the mountain to a vintage, quaint resort that he had secretly reserved a room for us. They served us complimentary champagne and ice cream, which was amazing since alcohol and sweets are our two favorite food groups! We went to an intimate dinner in the town and just enjoyed being engaged."
How adorable is their little dauschund-lab mix, Grayson? Says Catherine, "I got Grayson right before I met Murph, and when Murph and I started dating, Grayson was instantly adopted by him. Murph and Gray enjoy taking long naps together and working out in the yard."
“She loves me for who I am, and I couldn't love her more just the way she is. I have so much love and respect for her and I am truly blessed to spend the rest of my life with her. I look forward to sharing a lifetime of memories with her as we embark on this adventurous life as newlyweds.”
The two were married this past October at the Jacksonville church that Catherine has been attending her whole life; they celebrated afterwards in the backyard of her childhood home: "So many awesome family members and friends came to eat, drink, and dance! The weather was unreal that day, and the yard looked so good with the food and tables under a white tent, and the dance floor and band, surrounded by trees underneath bulb lighting strung above. It was the perfect way to celebrate our love!"
