How They Met:
Mary and Benton originally met at Rhodes College in Memphis, TN in 2014, and reconnected in October of 2022. They hadn’t seen each other in years, but they instantly had chemistry. Benton had recently gone full time as a musician, and Mary saw him playing at Grind City Brewery. Between sets, they would talk and play bar games. Mary instantly felt at ease with him, and she appreciated his charming demeanor and sense of humor. They would meet again a few months later on St. Patrick’s Day at another gig that Benton was playing at the same brewery. Mary remembers telling her friends she had a crush on him, and it turns out it was mutual. Benton asked her on a date a few days later – it was a Monday (the musician’s weekend) and he was about to leave to go on tour for a month, so Mary made sure to make herself available. They had an incredible date and spent hours talking. Before they knew it, the restaurant was closing and they still weren’t ready to say goodbye. They spent the next several weeks staying in touch and getting to know each other over the phone while he was on tour. Benton was so intentional to prioritize talking to her – it made Mary feel so special to know that he would take time out of his busy tour schedule to call her and talk for hours. They’ve been together for three years now, and Benton is still her favorite person to talk to.
Special Adventures/Memories:
In the summer of 2024, they took a trip to Sicily for Mary’s best friend’s wedding. They ended up spending 10 days road-tripping through Sicily’s coastal towns – visiting Ortigia, Milazzo, Taormina, and Catania. The whole trip was filled with so many fantastic sites and sounds and flavors – from the giant oysters they enjoyed in the street markets of Ortigia, to getting rained on with ash during the eruption of Mount Etna, to the amazing hillside views they took in while driving from town to town, and every pasta & scoop of gelato in between, there were so many magical moments throughout that entire trip. It was their first international trip together, and they made an incredible travel team – they kept it so fun and easy-going. It will certainly be cherished as one of the most spectacular times they’ve ever had together.
They also spent time in the summer of 2025 showing each other the beach towns that they used to visit as children. Mary took Benton to Grand Haven, Michigan, and he took her to Gulf Shores, Alabama. It was heartwarming to revisit these towns that were the backdrop to their childhood summers – reliving old memories and making new ones along the way.
The Proposal:
It was a rainy evening on November 20th, 2025 – Benton’s 30th birthday. Mary had booked a reservation at one of their favorite restaurants in Memphis. Little did she know, they’d be celebrating more than just Benton’s birthday that night. Benton asked Mary to be ready to head downtown early so they could watch the sunset before dinner. As Mary was rushing out the front door (because she’s pretty much always running at least 5 minutes behind), Benton stopped her on her front porch and began reflecting on their relationship. Initially Mary thought it was his 30th birthday that was making him sentimental, but he got down on one knee, pulled out his late grandmother’s beautiful tri-stone ring, and asked her to marry him. She said yes (of course)!
Benton had arranged for one of Mary’s great friends who is a photographer, Ally Perkins, to take photos of the proposal. They spent an hour or so walking around the neighborhood, taking photos and reminiscing on how their relationship has evolved over the years. For the first 2 years of their relationship, Benton lived right around the corner from Mary, and this sweet midtown neighborhood was the backdrop to their love story. Ally captured their walk down memory lane as they made yet another lap from Mary’s house to Benton’s and back – this time as fiancés.
This is the place where Mary first told Benton that she loved him (and he loved her too). They’ve walked this same path countless times, each time becoming slightly different and improved versions of themselves. They would talk about their dreams and goals and offer each other support in the pursuit of those dreams. Together they’ve been able to accomplish many of them – Benton released his debut album Steppin’ Out in September 2025, and Mary quit her job to pursue photography full time in May 2025. Beyond just supporting each other, they’ve also been able to combine their skillsets and collaborate, with Mary creating visuals for his album. She is so proud of the ways they’ve grown as individuals and as a couple, and it was the cherry on top to get engaged in this special place.
Their Wedding Plans:
They are planning to get married in the fall of 2026 in Memphis, TN. They will be honoring their grandparents who have passed, particularly Wylene Parker whose ring was used for the proposal. They are honored and humbled to give new life to such a beautiful heirloom.
photography: Ally Perkins
