When Katie told me she wanted her and Mario’s engagement session to be at a greenhouse, I got so excited! Meet Katie + Mario!
From the first interaction- we KNEW we had to shoot Katie + Mario’s wedding. Just look at the way Katie inquired:
“Hi! So this is crazy but you took a picture of my fiancé (crazy to say) (Mario Ovelar…legit making me name drop because you are friends on facebook) at Brad and Jess’ wedding when we were barely a couple. I eventually ended up following you on social media have have continued to tell Mario how much I love your work. It might be premature because we only got engaged tonight but I always told him I couldn’t wait to reach out once we finally got engaged. I have been planning on a spring wedding since I was little so that’s my time frame 3 hours into being engaged. Would love to set up an appointment I know you are pretty booked in April but pending venues and etc I would love to talk more in person! Sorry for using engaged too much…still new ya know?”
John and I photographed Jessica + Brad’s wedding five years ago and Katie + Mario were both there. I am SO glad I snapped a photo of them back then because NOW we get to photograph their wedding this August. I actually knew Mario from the dozens of mutual friends we have in common, and college. Katie is originally from Florida, so I didn’t get the privilege of knowing her until these two got engaged. Mario is a crowd favorite, but Katie totally gives Mario a run for his money, because Katie is the actual best (you know I’m right, Mario!)
These two were supposed to get married this month, but COVID19 had different plans for them. I keep trying to imagine if this was happening to John and I when we were engaged, how I’d react. I’m sure I’d chop my hair off or dye it all the neon rainbow colors, and be the angriest Kelly Ginn there ever was. While I’m sure Katie + Mario had their moments, they’ve dealt with this situation from a humorous angle. Katie posted a letter board recently that said “Almost Mrs. Overlar… again.” They spent their original wedding date (May 2nd, 2020) at their wedding venue with Coronas (the good kind) and later that night had a picnic with pizza. That day John and I got a venmo payment for Lennys (what we eat every wedding day before we get to work.) John and I were speechless. On a day that was SUPPOSED to be all about these two, Katie was thinking of us. How selfless is she?
Katie + Mario’s engagement session was a blast and eventful. We met a stray cat, got the sprinklers turned on us while shooting in one of the greenhouses, (Katie + Mario made a MAD dash outta there) we saw a rainbow, AND these two popped a bottle of Veuve (and brought cups to share- again, how selfless?)
My mom loves all of our couples, duh, but for some reason she is OBSESSED with Katie + Mario. She cried reading Katie’s Instagram post about having to postpone and said “She is the cutest bride I’ve ever seen.” She aint lying.
Katie + Mario- we CANNOT wait for August and we are throwing down TWICE as hard when that sweet day comes! XOXO
