With an Australian adventure planned just a month after their engagement, Joshua and Aly let their love shine through in a playful beach engagement session on the stunning shores of Watsons Bay in Sydney, Australia.
The couple first met at a Zac Brown Band concert in the summer of 2022. Though their attraction was instant, timing was not on their side—Aly was just weeks away from leaving to film Season 27 of ABC’s The Bachelor.
It wasn’t until after the show had wrapped and Aly threw a watch party to celebrate her Bachelor debut that she and Joshua finally reconnected. Immediately smitten with one another, the couple has been together ever since.
Two years after they met, Joshua popped the question at Bones Steakhouse in Buckhead, Atlanta, one of the first restaurants he and Aly visited as a couple.
“I completely blacked out from the shock,” Aly recalls. “But it was the sweetest, most intimate moment of my life.”
Just a few weeks out from a trip to Australia, the couple decided that Watsons Bay would make the perfect backdrop for an engagement session to celebrate their love. “The location gave us everything we could have hoped for—dramatic cliffside moments, stunning views of Sydney in the distance, and a golden sunset on the beach to end the session,” Aly says.
See all the photos from the couple’s stunning and playful beach engagement session below!
- Couple: Aly Jacobs and Joshua Harrell
- Occupations: Project Manager and Law Enforcement
- Wedding date: August 2, 2025
- Wedding location: The Blue Magnolia in Houston, Texas
- Location of engagement shoot: Watsons Bay, New South Wales, Australia
Tell us how you met and all about the proposal.
We met at a Zac Brown Band concert in the summer of 2022. Sparks flew, but he was a bit shy, and I was preparing to leave for the show The Bachelor. We reconnected when Josh attended a small watch party I hosted with friends to celebrate the show’s airing. From that moment, we clicked and haven’t stopped talking since. Knowing my love for food, he took me to some amazing restaurants for our first few dates, one of them being Bones Steakhouse in Buckhead, Atlanta.
A year and a half later, on National Girlfriend Day, we returned to Bones. I thought he was just being sweet and a little corny, but as we sat near the wine cellars, he got down on one knee. I completely blacked out from the shock, but it was the sweetest, most intimate moment of my life.
Describe your engagement session. Did you have a theme?
Since we were heading to Australia just a month after getting engaged, we had a tight timeline, but we knew we wanted something breathtaking. Both of us were excited to visit their beaches and knew we wanted photos cliffside. We landed on Watsons Bay at our photographer’s recommendation.
The location gave us everything we could have hoped for—dramatic cliffside moments, stunning views of Sydney in the distance, and a golden sunset on the beach to end the session. We wanted our photos to feel timeless yet natural, capturing who we are without looking overly posed or stiff.
Neither of us takes life too seriously, so we had fun with it—laughing, twirling, and even sneaking in a few playful shots in our sunglasses. I always tease Josh for wearing sunnies even when the sun isn’t out, so it only felt right to capture that little piece of us.
What did you do on your first date?
Our first date was at Eclipse di Luna, a vibrant Spanish Tapas Bar in Atlanta. They always have live music and salsa dancing. His plan was for us to dance, let loose, and just have fun—but the moment he stepped onto the dance floor, I quickly darted away, too shy to join in. He still teases me about it to this day.
We spent the night enjoying incredible food, sipping wine, and getting lost in conversation. Neither of us wanted the night to end, so we went to Jeni’s afterward to grab late-night ice cream and talk more.
What’s your favorite thing to do as a couple?
Our favorite thing to do together is eat. Doesn’t matter if it’s a fancy restaurant or a hidden hole-in-the-wall; we love exploring new places to eat.
When we’re not indulging, you’ll probably find us hiking or at the beach. Josh has always been passionate about the outdoors, and while I may not have started as the most outdoorsy person, his love for it is slowly becoming mine too. There’s something special about getting lost in nature together, just the two of us.
How has wedding planning been so far?
Planning a wedding in Texas while living in Georgia has come with its own set of unique challenges, but overall, it’s been such a fun and rewarding experience. The most special part? This will likely be the first—and maybe only—time that both of our families will be together in one room, creating memories we’ll cherish forever.
At one point, we considered a micro wedding with just immediate family, but in the end, we knew this celebration was worth the investment. We’re especially excited about our venue—it feels like we stumbled upon a hidden gem. It’s a stunning new equestrian-inspired space, blending Texas charm with Ralph Lauren elegance. Over the holidays, we visited the construction site and even signed the beams before they were covered, a little piece of us forever woven into the foundation of the place where we’ll say “I do.” Watching it all come together has been nothing short of magical.
Tell us what you’re looking forward to most on the wedding day.
I’m most excited to marry my best friend—we have been each other’s constant from the moment we met. We’ve been inseparable since day one and just can’t wait to officially start our forever together and build a family of our own. We are also dreaming of that magical moment when the dance floor opens, surrounded by all the people we love, celebrating the start of this incredible new chapter.
Looking for more playful beach engagement session inspiration?
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Vendors:
- Photographer: Felipe Villegas Munera Photography
- Hair: Jada Works Miracles
- Makeup artist: Mac at Myer Sydney City
- Attire: Petal and Pup
- Her Accessories: Le Specs
- His Accessories: Quay
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