Des Moines boasts beautiful scenery in all seasons, and can be a wonderfully romantic place. It’s no surprise that people enjoy spending time with their loves here. Click through to see my 5 top spots to propose to your person!
Viewing entries tagged
Proposal
I’m still so in awe that this evening happened! (Even though I knew about it for months in advance!) Morganne has been one of my best friends since we met 4 years ago at Iowa State. We’ve walked through a lot of life together and it’s so so bizarre that we’re actually old enough to be getting married, not just talking about it. But when Morganne told us girls about Bobby (this guys she liked) and then a few months later, when we met him… we just knew that he was a great fit for her.
Treye and I met back in our early college days. We both took classes at Hawkeye Community College (photography for me, and I'm honestly not remembering what he studied!). We had some mutual friends, so out paths crossed pretty often at local concerts, old school neon dance parties, and over lunch on HCC campus. Eventually, I transferred to Iowa State and we lost touch, aside from the occasional Facebook like here and there.
I’ve know Rich for about five years now. Last fall, when I saw on Facebook that he had a girlfriend, and they kept posting photos…and new profile photos… and another one…I had a feeling that she was a keeper! ;) So, much to my surprise and delight, I got a text message from Rich a few weeks back, asking about my availability to photograph his proposal of marriage to Julia!!! Of course, I had to say yes. Not to mention his plan was to propose at the famous High Trestle Trail Bridge (just outside of Madrid, Iowa). I’d driven past it many times with friends, but never had made my way over to the actual bridge. It was so fun for me to go out there for my first time, just days before the proposal, to scout out the area.
“I don’t, no, I don’t, no, I don’t, no, I don’t
Want anybody else but you.”
Jon decided to come visit Erin for her birthday weekend. They went on a picnic date out at Big Woods Lake…little did Erin know what was to come after they wined & dined! Jon challenged Erin to a "most artistic photo" contest. While she lay on the ground photographing some flowers, Jon removed the battery from the camera he was using and slipped in a ring…and once Erin pulled out what was making the "mystery rattling noise," Jon got down on one knee...
These next photos are (selfishly) my favorite…after they'd had a few minutes, Jon yelled out, "AMELIA! You can come out now!" Erin's face & reaction was priceless. She'd wanted me to photograph this for sooooo long, but had told me multiple times she didn't think Jon knew that, or that he'd ask me. Little did she know that he'd started the conversation back in March. 4 months previous. HAH!
After more gawking and freaking out and us generally not knowing what to do next…we walked around the park area & took more photos! Because, what else are two photographers going to do? ;)
And, it wouldn't be a celebration without heading home to share news with the family & eating some Scratch cupcakes! ;) Erin & Jon, I'm so thankful to have been a part of this life-changing evening, and even more thankful to walk with you both through life for the rest of our years as friends.
Ryan and Lauren are such sweet friends. Watching them grow in friendship and love has been so wonderful! I remember standing in the RCA courtyard when Lauren told me she and Ryan had just started dating…but she wasn't sure how it would work out, since they were spending the summer and next semester beginning to date. Long distance. Well, long story short, that distance had nothing on their love. ;)
Earlier this semester, Lauren mentioned that she wanted me to shoot photos of their engagement—"whenever that happens!" She thought it would be this semester, but hadn't really much idea of the timeline. "All I want is for it to be a surprise, for Ryan to ask my dad, and for you to be there to photograph it." And thanks to some stealthy planning from Ryan and myself, and a whole lot of grace from the Lord, it went off without a hitch! Even though it was chilly, the sun came out, the Crow's Nest was empty when they arrived, and they left with huge smiles and a wedding to plan! Enjoy the 'day of' photos…part two of engagement photos to come.
