Georgia & Dalton’s Avalon Engagement Session | Jersey Shore Engagement Photos

Some engagement sessions are beautiful, and then there are the sessions that feel like they tell an entire love story. Georgia and Dalton’s Avalon engagement session was absolutely one of those for me. The chemistry between these two was incredible, the golden hour light was perfection, and photographing them at the Jersey Shore felt especially meaningful because the beach has been such an important part of Georgia’s life for as long as she can remember.

And after hearing their story, it’s easy to see why these two are so incredibly connected.

From a Virginia Tech Mix-Up to Forever

Georgia and Dalton met during move-in week of their freshman year at Virginia Tech. And their first meeting is pretty hard to beat.

They both thought they were heading to a fraternity party, only to discover that they had accidentally ended up at a religious club interest meeting instead. Somehow, that little mix-up turned into the beginning of their love story.

They tried to convince themselves they were “just friends,” but it didn’t take long before they became inseparable. They had chemistry together—both the class and, clearly, the other kind—and Dalton helped Georgia with enough homework that she credits him with getting her through the class.

They officially started dating in the spring of their freshman year and spent those early days exploring campus together. Their first official date was at a little Greek restaurant off campus, where Georgia remembers the spanikopita being delicious and the two of them staying so long talking and getting to know each other that they probably overstayed their welcome.

Knowing They Had Found Their Person

For Georgia, she remembers realizing during the fall of her sophomore year that Dalton was someone she could truly be herself around. He loved her exactly as she was, quirks and all, and encouraged her to pursue her career dreams even when she didn’t believe in herself. She also realized something else: she had never had so much fun simply doing nothing with someone.

For Dalton, that feeling was there from the very beginning. He had never felt more comfortable around anyone than he did with Georgia. Whether they were on a date or sitting in her dorm watching football, being together just felt natural. That feeling became especially clear after graduation.

Georgia was accepted into Physical Therapy school at VCU, while Dalton had job opportunities in other states. They had to make the difficult decision of whether to follow separate opportunities or choose to stay together. Dalton knew what he wanted. He couldn’t let go of what they had, and he knew Georgia was too amazing to ever let go. So he chose to stick with her in Richmond.

The ring wouldn’t come for another couple of years, but in that moment, he already knew she was his person.

A Proposal That Definitely Did Not Go According to Plan

Their engagement story is one of those stories that gets better every time you hear it.

Georgia and Dalton got engaged on July 14, 2024, but the picnic proposal was actually Plan C. Dalton’s original plan was to propose during a trip to Puerto Rico in March. Unfortunately, the ring wasn’t ready in time.

Plan B was a weekend at Georgia’s family’s beach house in Stone Harbor. He imagined making dinner together like they used to in college and then heading to the beach during golden hour to propose. Then a hurricane decided to have other plans.

With rain expected all weekend at the Jersey Shore, the Stone Harbor plan was out. But Dalton was determined to propose that weekend, so he moved on to Plan C: a surprise picnic at a park overlooking the city and river. He found a quiet spot, gathered all of Georgia’s favorite treats, and got everything set up while one of her friends distracted her. Everything was perfect.

Until about five minutes before Georgia arrived.

Three different groups of people suddenly showed up and sat on benches nearby, essentially creating an audience for the proposal. When Georgia said yes, the unexpected spectators even gave them a round of applause.

Not exactly the private proposal Dalton had envisioned—but, as he said, it didn’t matter. They had a lovely time, and of course, she said yes.

And because they got engaged on Bastille Day, the date has taken on a whole new meaning for them. That evening, they tried to get into one of their favorite French restaurants, only to discover they were pretty booked because it was Bastille Day. Luckily, they were able to squeeze them in, where they celebrated with champagne and watched the Bastille Day Can-Can dancers. Now Bastille Day is part of their annual engagement anniversary celebration.

Why Avalon Was the Perfect Place for Their Engagement Photos

Choosing the Jersey Shore for their engagement session was an easy decision. Georgia grew up coming to the shore her entire life, and she calls it her favorite place on the planet. Dalton shares her love for the beach and ocean—and apparently, he’s the only person who can outmatch Georgia when it comes to bodysurfing.

Their history at the shore goes all the way back to the first summer they were dating. Georgia even tried to convince her mom to let Dalton live with them at the shore for the summer while she worked as a waitress at Borghi’s by the Bay. Her mom wisely said no. But the joke is on her, because now Dalton gets to spend summers at the shore with Georgia for the rest of their lives.

They also knew they wanted to incorporate Avalon into their engagement photos because they are getting married at ICONA Windrift. Naturally, we had to include some photos with the Avalon boat to tie their engagement session into their wedding day.

Golden Hour, the Avalon Beach & So Much Chemistry

This session was one of my favorites ever. Georgia and Dalton have the kind of chemistry that makes photographing a couple incredibly easy. They laughed constantly, naturally gravitated toward each other, and were completely comfortable just being themselves.

And then there was the light. We photographed during golden hour, when the Jersey Shore was glowing with that soft, warm evening light that makes beach portraits feel so romantic. Between the ocean, the sand, the Avalon boat, and these two barely being able to keep their hands off each other, we had everything we could have asked for.

The result was a gallery filled with images that feel romantic without feeling overly posed. There are sweet moments, playful moments, and plenty of those little in-between interactions that show exactly who Georgia and Dalton are together. That’s what I love about engagement sessions. Yes, we create beautiful photographs, but more importantly, we get to capture the relationship behind the wedding.

A Beachy Fall Wedding Is Coming

After their engagement session, the countdown is officially on for September 26, 2026, when Georgia and Dalton will say “I do” at ICONA Windrift.

Their wedding vision is the perfect combination of beachy and romantic with a fall vibe. Their first dance will be Harvest Moon by Neil Young, and they’re getting married on the Harvest Moon itself.

They are looking forward to having all of their favorite people together in one place, surrounded by the energy of the beach, live music, and the people they love most.

For Georgia, the biggest thing she’s looking forward to is finally calling Dalton her husband and officially beginning their life together. And, of course, seeing him in a tux is a pretty nice bonus. For Dalton, it’s knowing that Georgia is his person for life—and getting to celebrate that with all of their family and friends.

Life Beyond the Wedding

When they aren’t planning their wedding, Georgia and Dalton love watching sports, although they don’t always cheer for the same teams. Georgia is a hardcore Eagles fan. Dalton is a Chiefs fan. Thankfully, they can always agree on Virginia Tech.

They also love cooking new meals, exercising, trying new hobbies, and spending time outdoors. Some of their favorite adventures have involved backpacking and camping around Blacksburg and along the Appalachian Trail. And their adventure list is only getting longer.

They recently moved to Raleigh, North Carolina, and are excited to travel both locally and internationally. They especially love destinations with water the color of what they affectionately call “blue Gatorade.” Someday, they hope to have a family, get their first dog, and eventually own a home by the ocean where they can grow old watching sunsets together.

The Best Is Yet to Come

Georgia and Dalton’s story started with a mistaken fraternity party, continued through college football games, Chinese takeout, chemistry homework, career decisions, long-distance possibilities, a hurricane, three proposal plans, an unexpected audience, and one very memorable Bastille Day.

And now it brings them to the Jersey Shore, where they celebrated their engagement surrounded by golden light and the place Georgia has loved her entire life. I can’t wait to see this story continue when I photograph their wedding at ICONA Windrift.

Georgia and Dalton, thank you for trusting me with such an important part of your story. Your love, laughter, and chemistry made this one of my favorite sessions ever—and I have a feeling your wedding day is going to be just as incredible.

If you’re dreaming of Jersey Shore engagement photos that feel romantic, natural, and completely personal to your relationship, I’d love to tell your story too. Click here to fill out my contact form to request more info!