Another Sister in Law...Our Family Is Growing Again!
It is with gladness I share my family is going to be growing a little bit more! Just this past Saturday, my brother Sam asked the love of his life, Abby, if she would spend forever with him! I got to witness the proposal as well as capture photos for them to remember every moment. My family traveled to Chattanooga on Saturday to celebrate the occasion. There was a surprise engagement party after the proposal that was planned by my Mom, Abby's Mom and one of Sam and Abby's friends! For a good majority of last week, we prepared lots of things for the party; from shopping for rose gold colored party things to making cheese boards and desserts.
I now share with you the story of the whole proposal.
Mom, Senator and I traveled down to Chattanooga making a couple of stops along the way. When we got there, we went to Sam's apartment. Sam was preparing to take Abby out on a date as we pulled into his apartment. The date was definitely a part of the plan to surprise Abby with the proposal. Abby had wanted to go on a date with Sam sometime over the weekend, and Sam chose Saturday. We sat at his apartment for at least an hour and then Sam was ready for his date. So he left to go pick up Abby and off they went to their date. Mom and Senator stayed for another 30 minutes at the apartment, but then headed over to Abby's house to set up for the party. I stayed because Sam's roommate, Daniel, and another one of Sam and Abby's friends, Cody, were going to take me to the location of where Sam was going to pop the question.
The proposal location was the Chattanooga SkyDiving Company. The reason Sam chose this location is because skydiving was the very first thing he and Abby ever did together. When Cody arrived to the apartment, we got everything we needed to set up the proposal scene and then left to make our way to the skydiving place. The drive there was so interesting, because we drove through Georgia a very little bit just to get to CSC. For the date, Sam was taking Abby to the Look Out Winery, which was not far at all from where we were. When Daniel, Cody and I got there, we started setting up the pretty scene and we also set up my hiding spot so that I would do whatever it would take for Abby to not see me. I hid behind some backdrops, and we had them arranged where not only Abby wouldn't see me, but I could move around. Daniel and Cody also searched for places for them to hide and video the proposal from different areas. The proposal set up was a grey blanket with a bouquet of roses with a little path of candles. It was set up in front of the garage where the plane is stored.
A little bit after we were done setting up, Daniel got a text from Sam saying they were on their way. So we lit the candles, and I was tracking Sam and Abby on my phone seeing where they were at. When they were pulling in, we hurried to our hiding spots and the song that Sam chose started playing. I peeked my head from behind the backdrops for a split second, which was just enough time for me to see Sam's head from the distance as they were entering the garage. So I hurried back to hide in between the backdrops where I could peek through a tiny space with one of my eyes. When I saw them walk by, I went around the backdrop so I could start shooting pictures. The song he chose was "La Reyna" by Penny & Sparrow. The song was playing loud enough where they could not hear my camera.
When I started shooting, the proposal really heated up. I was in full on shooting mode, focusing on taking the pictures. But I can still safely say that my heart was pounding for them both. It was pounding because I determined to do an amazing job and what the outcome of the proposal would turn out. The second he got down on one knee, my camera was literally going, "CLICK! CLICK! CLICK! CLICK! CLICK!" She said yes in just one heartbeat. The fact that there was a romantic scenery and a beautiful song playing, made it a beautiful moment. Abby was so happy, she started crying. For that solid minute, it was as if time had stood still.
Cody, Daniel and I immediately popped out when it was safe to do so. I ran straight to them, and hugged them so hard because my heart was bursting for them with happiness. After that, I took a few photos of them, and then we had to clean up. There was a woman working at the skydiving place who stayed after closing time so that the proposal could happen. Sam thanked her, because she was absolutely generous to do it. And she said she almost teared up watching the proposal.
Sam and Abby left before Daniel, Cody and I did. We cleaned up, and then made our way to Abby's house for the surprise engagement party. We did not get back in time to see Abby's reaction to seeing our families and all their friends. When she saw everyone, she broke down in tears. With a lot of overwhelming happiness, I might add. We celebrated all evening. And I took quite a bit of family pictures when we were at the party.
We are so excited for Sam & Abby! I will not be their photographer for this wedding, because this will be a wedding I will be putting my camera down and enjoy the day. October 3rd, 2020 is going to literally get here before any of us know it!
Enjoy the pictures of the proposal below!
