The Olympia Engagement Session that Almost Didn’t Happen!

Would you believe me if I told you this Olympia engagement session nearly didn’t happen? Picture this: You meet someone online, chat for a few weeks, and finally decide to meet in person. You pick a time and place, get ready, show up—and then… crickets. No date in sight. Do you wait it out, hoping they show? Or do you accept defeat, enjoy a drink, and chalk it up as a dating horror story for the group chat?

Well, for Alicia and Mark, this scenario played out in real life. But, in the most adorable way possible.

A First Date Full of Twists

Like many modern love stories, Alicia and Mark’s began with a swipe and some solid online banter. When it came time to meet in person, Mark suggested McMenamins—seemed simple enough, right? Well, there’s just one tiny problem. Washington has several McMenamins locations, and Mark, not being a local, didn’t realize this minor detail.

Alicia, being a big fan of Tacoma’s Elk’s Temple, assumed that’s where they’d meet. Meanwhile, Mark—completely unaware—drove to The Spar Cafe in Olympia. (For those keeping track, that’s about 30 miles apart—so they probably passed each other on the freeway without even knowing it!)It wasn’t until Alicia texted Mark about parking that they realized the mix-up. Cue the awkward laughter. But instead of calling it quits, Alicia gave him a do-over, and Mark made the drive back to Elk’s Temple. And just like that, a first-date disaster turned into an amazing story they’ll be telling for years.

The Christmas Sweater Proposal

For those who haven’t had the joy of meeting Alicia and Mark, these two are full of FUN. I’m pretty sure the word was actually created just for them, and when you see their wedding post, you’ll believe the same thing.

So here they are, at a belated birthday party for Mark, where he saw the perfect opportunity to pop the question. Alicia wanted a cute Christmas card photo, but being the selfless person she is, she didn’t want to interrupt the party to make it happen. Enter Mark and their friend Jessica, who insisted she “put on the damn sweater” for the picture. Now, we have Alicia rocking a penguin Christmas sweater, while Mark sports a Busch Beer sweater (because, obviously that was the only right choice!). They posed for their photo with their friend Phil—who had fully committed to being Santa for the night—when Mark suddenly said Alicia’s name.

She turned around and realized… this wasn’t just a photo op. It was the moment. Mark down on one knee, in his Christmas sweater, surrounded by all their friends. In this perfect moment, Mark asked her to spend forever with him. And of course, Alicia said YES. (Don’t worry, one of the friends got the photo AND Alicia got her Christmas card photo too).

Celebrating their Olympia Engagement

Of course, circling back to their first date mixup, we decided on an Olympia Engagement Session—because, well, it only seemed right! As we walked along the trails, they brought the same playful, easygoing energy that made their love story so fun in the first place.

Mark even had one last request before we wrapped up: He wanted to create their album cover. (Yes, you read that right.) With Alicia as his muse, he meticulously planned out their rockstar-worthy pose—and honestly, I’ll let you guess which photo made the cut.

One thing is for sure—if their engagement session was this much fun, their wedding is going to be legendary.

Planning your own Olympia engagement session? Let’s make some magic together! Reach out here, and let’s get planning! Follow along for more love stories and wedding tips!
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