Shelbyville, TN Engagement Photographer at Grace Valley Farm

Some love stories begin with a grand, cinematic moment… and others quietly grow from the simplest conversations into something undeniable. Laken and Chris’ story may have started online — not exactly the “cute meet story” they joke about wanting someday — but from the very beginning, something about their connection simply worked.

We met at Grace Valley Farm for their engagement session because this place already holds so much meaning for them. In just a few short months, they’ll return here to say “I do,” and after walking the property together, it was easy to understand why they fell in love with it.

With its peaceful ponds, rolling countryside, beautiful white cross overlooking the property, and endless photo locations, Grace Valley Farm is such a dream setting for engagement photos and weddings in Middle Tennessee. Every corner of the venue offered another beautiful backdrop for documenting this sweet season of their lives.

But as beautiful as the venue is, what made this session truly special was getting to know Laken and Chris and hearing more of the story that brought them here.

From Sports Conversations to Something More

What started as simple conversations about favorite sports teams quickly turned into hours of talking about everything else. Before long, they realized they had found someone who felt easy to be around — someone who felt familiar in the very best way.

Their first date took place at a local Mexican restaurant, where a casual dinner quickly turned into hours of conversation without either of them realizing how much time had passed. Well… aside from the brief pause where Laken checked into her flight for a Taylor Swift concert in Texas.

Even then, everything already felt natural between them, like they had known each other far longer than they actually had.

---

---

The Kind of Relationship Everyone Could See Coming

One of the sweetest parts of Chris and Laken’s story is that the people around them noticed their connection almost immediately.

Friends often tell them they knew from the very beginning that these two would end up together. Whether individually or together, it was obvious how naturally they fit. The way their personalities complemented one another, the way they made each other laugh, and the way they brought out the best in each other was impossible to miss.

And honestly, after spending time with them during their engagement session, it was easy to see exactly what everyone meant.

A Tennessee Titans Proposal They’ll Never Forget

Some proposals are intimate and quiet.
Others involve an entire football stadium cheering around you.

For Chris and Laken, the proposal could not have been more perfectly “them.”

Tennessee Titans games have become such a meaningful part of their relationship. From tailgates with friends to unforgettable game-day memories, football has woven itself into their story in so many ways.

So when the Titans secured the #1 draft pick in 2025, excitement for the season opener was already sky high.

Laken believed they were simply heading to the game to watch the new quarterback’s home debut. They arrived at the tailgate with their usual group of friends, got everything set up, and settled into what felt like a normal game day.

Then Taylor and Stephanie pulled Laken aside for one of their favorite traditions: taking pregame photos together.

As the girls posed for pictures, Chris quietly stepped behind them and dropped to one knee.

Surrounded by their closest friends, with cheering erupting around them, Chris asked Laken to spend forever with him.

And somehow, the day only became sweeter from there.

People staying in nearby hotels captured the proposal from above, strangers celebrated alongside them, and before long there were TikToks and Reddit threads circulating about their engagement. Once they made it inside the stadium, the Titans organization even surprised them with gifts delivered to their seats throughout the game.

It was joyful, unforgettable, and such a beautiful reflection of who they are together: surrounded by community, laughter, sports, and people who genuinely love them.

---

If you love countryside engagement sessions, you may also enjoy this War Trace engagement session.

---

A Relationship Built on Friendship, Resilience, and Joy

What stands out most about Chris and Laken isn’t simply the big moments in their story.

It’s the way they navigate the difficult ones together.

Like every couple, they’ve walked through seasons that weren’t always easy. Yet time and time again, they’ve discovered that even in hard moments, they can still find laughter, joy, and comfort in one another.

Those moments have only confirmed what both of them already know:
they are absolutely marrying the right person.

When asked what he loves most about Laken, Chris shared:
“Your heart, how strong you are as a person, how caring you are, your love for sports, your personality… and how you always make me laugh without even trying.”

And when Laken talks about Chris, her answer reveals so much about the kind of person he is.

She loves the way he intentionally makes everyone around him feel included and valued. She loves his compassionate heart and the way life experiences — including the loss of his younger brother in 2020 after a lifelong illness — shaped him into someone deeply empathetic, supportive, and loving.

Their relationship isn’t built on perfection.
It’s built on friendship, resilience, laughter, and the kind of love that makes people feel safe, seen, and welcomed.

Engagement Photos at Grace Valley Farm in Shelbyville, Tennessee

Photographing Chris and Laken at Grace Valley Farm was such a joy, and it made us even more excited for their upcoming wedding day here.

There’s something incredibly special about taking engagement photos in a place that already feels meaningful to a couple — a place where memories are already being made and where their marriage will soon begin.

Between the peaceful scenery, golden light reflecting off the ponds, and the excitement these two share for their future together, this session felt full of anticipation for all that’s ahead.

Looking Ahead to Their Wedding Day

As Chris and Laken prepare for their wedding day, what they’re looking forward to most is beautifully simple:
beginning forever surrounded by the people they love most and celebrating the start of a marriage already deeply rooted in joy, partnership, friendship, and home.

And after hearing their story and witnessing the way they love each other, one thing feels incredibly clear:

The very best parts of their story are still ahead of them.

---

Planning a Tennessee wedding? Browse more engagement sessions on the blog.