Adventurous Red River Gorge Engagement Session at Star Gap Arch

When we met Rakisha and Key we knew right away that we could be great friends based on our common interests. They told us about their love for the outdoors and that the Red River Gorge was one of their favorite places to visit. So it was no surprise when they wanted to do their engagement session at Star Gap Arch in the Red River Gorge. We are always up for a hiking adventure! The reason why Star Gap Arch is so important to them is that it is where they had their first date. It was so much fun walking along the hiking trail and having them tell us their love story. From the moments leading up to the arch to the actual rock where Key put a bandaid on Rakisha’s knee. We loved reliving all these special little moments with them. Star Gap Arch is absolutely stunning and one of the most beautiful arches we have seen in the gorge.

Rakisha and Key were nemeses in high school. Rakish went to Perry County and Key went to Breathitt County high schools. They were academic team rivals and were both the captains of their teams. At times it could get pretty heated between the teams. Rakisha said they did little more than snarl at each other with buzzers in our hands in those years. They became friends during the summer after their senior year. They both attended a 6-week pre-med camp at UK. Rakisha ended up going to law school while Key went on to medical school. Rakisha moved to Chicago for 7 years while both she and Key pursued their careers. When Rakisha returned to Kentucky Key’s best friend Cameron and his wife Brittany set Rakisha and Key up on a double date. Rakisha was reminded of Key’s charming personality and was shocked that he had never gotten married. On their first solo date, Key took Rakisha to Star Gap Arch. Rakisha fell and cut her knee on a rock and Key put a bandaid on it. They sat and talked for a couple of hours under the arch. Rakisha said, “I think I knew that very date that he would be very easy to fall in love with. I can talk to Key like I can talk to no one else. He is the funniest, kindest person I have ever known. He is the love of my life and my best friend.”

While they were at home one night holding each other and talking about how happy they both were. Key said, “This is the perfect night. I’m so happy. Would you do me a favor?” “Anything,” Rakisha said. “Will you spend your life with me?” It took Rakisha a second to realize that Key was asking her to marry him. She cried and said of course and he gave her the ring. On the sides of the ring are actual keys that Key had designed and given to the jeweler. From the beginning Key had always left a key on the love notes that he had given her. Key had planned to propose on their trip to Europe but something unexpected came up with the jeweler and so the ring wouldn’t be available until they returned from their trip. I love what Rakisha said about Key’s proposal, “The way it happened was so intimate and so private that I honestly would not trade it for a proposal at the Eiffel Tower. It was perfect, a moment that was just ours. We both refused to settle for anything less that the way we feel now with each other. I never knew what love felt like before I found Key.” We are so excited about their wedding this summer at Talon Winery in Lexington, Kentucky. Make sure to check back in May to see the rest of their love story unfold.