Typing the title to this post feels unreal. Are these really my words? Are these really my hands gracing the tops of the keyboard? My engaged hands!?
If you thought this post was going to be chill, you can pretty much forget that.
I’m a true romantic at heart, thanks to a childhood of Disney VHS and fantasy literature novels. So in true fairytale, star crossed lovers fashion, I’m going to tell you the tale of my engagement – and with MUSHY LOVEY DOVEY VIBES.
My friend and super talented photographer Danielle texted me about a month back. Initially it was a “hey, I miss you, let’s hang out, life’s nuts, it’s been so long” text. You know the kind. You adore a person but try as you might, life just gets in the way. Schedules clash, work gets cray, you get the picture.
That initial text transformed into a conversation about a styled photo shoot. Danielle had this amazing vision, a moody beach shoot with a girl holding a cluster of flowers. I hadn’t taken on a shoot in months, so I was eager to help make her vision come to life!
A few inspirational Pinterest photos later and we had our plan! With the help of Amazon Prime, (I’m obsessed, I practically furnished my entire home through Amazon) I purchased my outfit, consisting of a dusty blue tulle skirt and lace crop top. It arrived literally the next day.
I remember trying on the tulle skirt, rather bashfully, and walking around the condo. I swished my way to where my boyfriend Chris was seated and showed him the gown, half expecting a rather snarky remark (because let’s be honest, the man doesn’t exactly love poofy, feminine things).
His response was kind, his gaze approving, but not overly complimentary.
The days rolled by rather quickly and soon it was the day of the shoot! I enjoyed a slow morning to myself, drinking tea and donning moisturizing under eye pads. Closer to sunset I curled my hair and did my makeup. I added just a few extra coats of mascara and shimmer to my cheekbones. Looking in the toothpaste speckled bathroom mirror (thanks electric toothbrush), I felt pretty.
Danielle coordinated with her favorite florist Ruby Bloom to have a bouquet created. It came dripping in eucalyptus and creamy blossoms and tied all together with a white sash.
I felt privileged just to hold it.
I kissed Chris goodbye and Danielle, her husband Ricky, and I departed for the rocky beach location we had decided on. Ricky came along to do some behind the scenes videography for Danielle’s new vlog (which is so cute and therapeutic by the way, and you should check it out).
Once we got to the beach, Ricky started rolling the camera! All the while Danielle and I waved, made funny faces at him, and intermittently paused to take a look at the shots she had captured on her camera so far. The lighting was gorgeous, bright like a halo when you stood with your back against the ocean. It already felt like a special day.
At one point I was standing with my back to a small cluster of rocks in the sand. Danielle was snapping away with her camera. She directed me to close my eyes softly for the shot and I obliged.
Then all of the sudden I felt familiar arms circling around my waist.
And in that moment I knew it was my Chris. And I knew it was my moment. The moment I had been waiting for since I read my first love story, since I watched my first prince and princess fall in love on the big screen. The moment I had imagined countless times in my head.
And here it was unfolding before me. My eyes still closed, I exhaled and let a grin form before opening them to see Chris standing there.
There were already tears welling up in my eyes as I knew the magnitude of the moment. These tears only multiplied when I saw the water swimming in his eyes too.
“Taylor I love you so much” he said. “I want to spend the rest of my life with you”.
Simple words. They carried the weight of the world.
Then he knelt on one knee in the sand and presented me with a diamond ring. Through a million tears I said “yes!”.
Looking back, yes feels wimpy.
Shouting “a thousand times, in every universe, in every lifetime, YES!” seems more fitting. But hey, we can’t all be quick on our feet.
The adrenaline after you say yes to marrying the love of your life is INSANE. I was shaking, crying, babbling incoherently.
Thankfully plenty of hugs and kisses ensued and it didn’t really matter that what I was saying didn’t make any sense. I had my love.
We finished the photo shoot together, holding hands and kissing in the sunset.
“The minute I heard my first love story,
I started looking for you, not knowing
how blind that was.
Lovers don’t finally meet somewhere.
They’re in each other all along.”
-Rumi
A tremendous thank you to Danielle and Ricky for capturing our special moment for us! These two are the kindest souls and were the perfect duo to help Chris and me embark on our journey to forever.
Danielle is a professional wedding and lifestyle photographer located in San Diego, CA.
AAAAHHHH be still my heart! This is the most precious engagement story ever and I couldn’t be happier for you, dear friend! What a beautiful day and you’ll make an even more beautiful bride! So exciting! Love you!
Aww~ That's so sweet~~ Congratulation!! I'm so happy for you.
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