I am so excited to share this post!  It was filled with sweetness and Jesus and upon meeting this couple and their families for the first time, I knew it was the beginning of a forever friendship!   Sarah Elizabeth’s mom, Mrs. Denise, contacted me a couple of weeks ago about photographing her daughter’s proposal.  This was something she knew Sarah Elizabeth had always wanted, so she, Chase and Chase’s mom, Mrs. Lori, were going to make it happen!  At first I wasn’t sure I was going to be able to shoot the session, and I really wanted to! I was so excited when I called Mrs. Denise back to tell her I could do it!  She said she had almost decided not to bother finding a photographer, but the night before she had looked at Sarah Elizabeth’s Pinterest board and there were several pins that read “please hire a photographer to secretly shoot our engagement”, “reasons to hire a photographer for the proposal”, “have somebody catch it on camera”, etc. etc.  So, that made it clear, a photographer was going to be a necessity for Sarah Elizabeth and Chase’s proposal.

It was so fun talking the them the days leading up to the proposal and helping plan such a special moment! I could tell the love Sarah Elizabeth & Chase shared was special and I just couldn’t wait to meet them!!  I can tell you this: I was so nervous and I had butterflies! Nervous, because the proposal was supposed to take place on the beach and it was 90% chance of rain that day; so there was a Plan B in place!! Butterflies, because I knew how special this was going to be for Sarah Elizabeth… I can remember my proposal like it was yesterday & it’s just a sweet time for a girl who knows she is about to spend the rest of her life with the man God made for her (and get to plan a wedding)!

Guess what? NO rain!! It was a beautiful day in Santa Rosa Beach, Fl!!  Plan A was about to happen!  I had told them I could bring my kids in on the action and it would appear we were photographers doing a session with some really cute kids.  Again, Sarah Elizabeth did not know us at the time so she would have no idea the cameras were about to be turned on her!  Chase’s plan was for them to go to the beach before dinner and look through some scripture to pick out a life verse for the two of them and just enjoy the sunset.  He had the Bible marker at 1 John 4:19 (just a coincidence that is my photography verse) and when she opened the Bible she  would be so surprised….to find a ring!!! Ahhhhhh…..LOVED his plan!  It was a beautiful proposal and I am forever thankful that I was able to capture such a sweet, private moment in their lives! And….. she said Yes!

You can see the story unfold in the images below.  My kids did so good , they were actors for a brief moment and I got a few cute shots of them in the meantime!  Afterwards, Sarah Elizabeth said she noticed us but she just thought “awe, they are getting a head start on Christmas card photos…”  I learned quickly that Sarah Elizabeth is a girl with a beautiful smile, but this smile she has in these photos is priceless! It’s true a moment like this can not be recreated and I am sure they will treasure these images forever!

I had my side-kick, David with me and having him there made everything go smoothly AND he captured the proposal on video, which was just icing on the cake!  See the video below and feel just how special this evening was!!!

After the proposal, we were off to Part 2 of Chase’s surprise – both of their families were waiting, ready with lots of hugs and words of congratulations!  It was super sweet meeting everyone so dear to Sarah Elizabeth and Chase!  I can’t wait til their wedding in July!

Another sweet, sweet part of this photography life of mine is the amazing people God brings into my life – I love it and as always, I am so thankful!  Congratulations, Sarah Elizabeth and Chase! (High five to Chase… you did it!) Thanks for being such an amazing couple to work with.  We are so happy for you two and we look forward to many more sweet memories ahead!