I've said it once, I'll say it again...
Photographing proposals brings me the MOST joy. So let's start by saying - if you're reading this and you want the perfectly planned proposal, I am your girl. And I will cry. What's fun about these moments is that you get to use your creativity in more than one way - it's not just photos. We often get to help with planning, decorating, execution, etc. What Nate + Mia's proposal lacked in my needing to plan (Nate literally NAILED it on his own), it made up for in the most raw, pure, and honest proposal. Let's start with the fact that I was not the original photographer intended to photograph this event...
Last-minute change of plans...
I received an Instagram message from a guy that I had just one mutual friend with. I didn't know who Nate was, but through my world-class Millennial social media skills, I soon deduced that I at least knew his girlfriend, Mia. She was from my hometown. Nate was wondering if I was free on Saturday. After a few messages were exchanged, I learned that Nate was proposing to Mia on Saturday (he messaged me on the Tuesday prior) and his photographer got sick and wasn't able to make it. In an odd circumstance, I was going to have family in town and intended to take the weekend off, so I was, in fact, free on Saturday. Despite my weekend plans, we HAD to get these two love birds engaged! So I gave Nate a "HECK YES! Let's do this!"
Nate was ON TOP OF IT.
When we were able to touch base via a phone call, I learned that Nate had planned every detail of this proposal with the help of he and Mia's closest friends. Mia was under the impression that she and Nate were going on a normal date night, while Nate had planned to completely re-create their first date at Klavon's Ice Cream Parlor in the Strip District in Pittsburgh, PA. He even had the sundaes they had ordered on their first date waiting for them. When I arrived, the place was buzzing with Mia & Nate's beloved friends setting the scene with candles, flowers, & confetti. Nate's sister was even preparing to serenade the couple as they entered the shop. Let it be known, too, that Nate had rented out the entire shop, so every couple of minutes we had to fend off patrons trying to visit Klavon's, despite us putting a "closed" sign on the door.
Right on time, we got the text...
The couple was one minute away. I placed myself on a bar stool so I would get a clear shot of the couple entering the shop, the friends of the couple placed the ice cream in the booth where the first date occurred, then had a seat in the back of the shop. We all grinned with anticipation as we saw the couple walk up to the front door while Nate's sister softly sang in the background. The door opened, & Mia saw the faces of all of the people she loves smiling at her, as her soon-to-be fiancé led her back to their first date...
The couple shared an intimate moment...
...well, as intimate as can be with a group of friends staring at you! They held hands across the table as Nate shared his heart with Mia. Then, the moment we all had been waiting for...Nate guided Mia out of the booth so he could kneel down and ask her to be his wife. And she said YES! The room exploded with cheers and congratulatory hugs, as Mia kept looking down at her hand to make sure she wasn't dreaming!
Nate made the sweetest speech...
...sharing his gratitude with the room. Then, the group huddled together and prayed over the couple. A moment I will never forget. A moment filled with love, unity, power, & undying Faith.
We captured group photos...
And then...
It was time to take some quick photos of the happy couple before the fun continued. Nate had planned a dinner party celebration that Mia knew nothing about! We posed outside of the shop, then I sent the happy couple on their way. This was a photoshoot I will cherish forever. Here's to forever for Mia + Nate.
