written by Dolly Marshall
It was love at first sight for Madelyn and Jimmie who met while on vacation eight years ago. Since then, this adventurous couple has traveled the world and back again and are looking forward to making even more memories when they become man and wife!
How They Met
“I met Jimmie when our families vacationed together in Florida for New Year’s Eve in December 2011. We first locked eyes at a large carnival on the driving range, and the flirting continued over the next week as our families organized many dinners and cocktail parties together. After arriving back home that January, Jimmie asked my dad for permission to date me, and it’s been an amazing adventure ever since. Eight years worth of memories later, and we’ve grown our relationship and traveled the world together: visiting churches in Italy, touring elephant sanctuaries in Thailand, and vacationing in the Bahamas.”
Madelyn shares what she loves most about fiancee, “Jimmie is my best friend, travel partner, and constant companion. Of all the things I love about him, my favorite is his motivation and passion – whether that be his motivation to help his family business succeed, his passion to learn a new skill like flying (so we can go on more adventures together), or his desire to make me smile every day. I’m so excited to begin this journey of married life with Jimmie!”
The Proposal
This past April, Jimmie organized a dinner with some friends on a Saturday night, and he suggested that we stop on our way to dinner to see a new airplane at the Reading Regional Airport. As a private pilot in-training, this wasn’t unusual for Jimmie to be at the airport. When the hangar doors opened, I saw an aisle of flowers and balloons with a harpist playing music. Jimmie got down on one knee, and I said yes! Our families came out of the airplane to celebrate with us – they were all watching through the windows!”
Engagement Session Inspiration
“We love traveling, and our favorite country is Italy. For our engagement photos, we wanted a mix of photos; some that were timeless and classy with old world architecture and fountains and others that were lifestyle and casual with soft floral and greenery backdrops. Longwood Gardens provided the perfect location for us – the gardens made us feel like we were walking around an Italian Estate.”
Wedding Planning
“We are planning a small destination wedding in the Bahamas with close family and friends, and then we are hosting a large reception back home at the airport hangar where Jimmie proposed to me! With our love for traveling and adventures, we’re looking forward to incorporating travel elements into both of our receptions with the theme “Love Is the Greatest Adventure.”
Alison Leigh Photography
“The process has been great, and Alison made us feel so comfortable during the engagement shoot. We were so excited to get the photos back, and Alison was able to edit them in a few days. We can’t wait to have Alison at the airport hangar to shoot our hometown reception.”
Vendors | Photography: Alison Leigh Photography