One of the reasons why I love being a photographer is that I get to meet new people from different places and from different backgrounds. Not only I get to capture those precious moments for all of my clients, but I also get to build a relationship with them and get to know them better. Meet my clients Anthony and Sharee, from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Anthony first contacted me a few weeks before he and his now fiance Sharee, were headed out to Aspen on a small birthday trip for her. That's what she thought! He already planned that he is proposing to her on her birthday which will be the 11th of November, Veterans Day at the Steakhouse 361 where he already made their dinner reservation. It's a nice fine restaurant perfect for occasions like this, especially surprise proposals. All she knows is that Anthony is bringing her to Aspen to celebrate her birthday and he hired a photographer (me) to do her birthday photoshoot on her birthday, not knowing he has something big already planned. The original plan is to do her birthday shoot then they will just head out to the steakhouse for their dinner and do the proposal there at the restaurant. As we are hatching a plan for the birthday shoot and the proposal he suggested Paepcke Park, where there is a gazebo that will be nice for her photoshoot and maybe he will do the proposal there but he was still unsure if he wants to do it at the location of her shoot or the restaurant, he just need to confirm with the restaurant first.
About a few days before the proposal date, they both arrived at the Denver International Airport, rented a car, and headed to Aspen where they will be staying for the rest of their trip. They went for a drive around the area just to do some sightseeing and they came upon a place near the mountains called the North Star Preservation where there is a bridge with a river running through it. He sent me a text saying this is the place, she really loves it for her photoshoot and I am 100% that I am going to propose here. Then he said, "she still has no idea about the proposal so I'm not going to text or say any more about it...LOL." We then finalized the plan and everything was good to go.
On the day of the proposal, my husband (Owen) and I headed out to the North Star Preservation about an hour early to scope the area and take test shots to ensure everything goes as plan. We got to the preservation park, it's a beautiful place with the mountains as a backdrop. It's really close to the road so there was not much of a parking area, good thing there were not many people out there at that time. As the clock is ticking, so was my nervousness...lol I was so nervous, but to be honest this happens to me every time I go out for a shoot. Probably I'm the only one that feels that way, but once I meet my clients and started shooting all of a sudden that feeling is gone.
Time has finally arrived, Anthony texted and he said they just arrived, they just have to make a u-turn. They parked right next to us, my husband (Owen), and I greeted them. Anthony pulled me to the side and he said, he is going to propose to her on the bridge, and that we should proceed as planned until the signal which is the opening of the champagne bottle.
Here we go showtime...
Birthday queen sharee
Champagne time: that's the signal
As I was continuing with Sharee's mini photoshoot Anthony suggested she open the champagne bottle. I think he's getting warmer! He handed her the bottle and told her to face the bridge railing, shake it, and then open it. Took her a minute to pry that cork out of the bottle, but she finally got the bottle open but it spattered all over her dress. She then took a sip of it straight from the bottle, hey who needs cups nowadays..lol this is a celebration!
PROPOSAL IN 3..2..1
While Sharee was busy trying to get the champagne spatters off of her dress, Anthony was already on one knee. She didn't know that in a few seconds her life is about to change forever. The minute she turned around she started crying, she's shocked, she was speechless and she did not know what to say. Her reaction is so priceless, she couldn't stop crying I myself got teary up and I almost forgot the reason why I was there, it was such an emotional proposal. She was still crying and excited at the same time, especially during an occasion like this, feelings just come all bundled up in one. I know that is how Sharee was feeling overjoyed, happy, excited and all she can do is cry. She was so happy, the first thing she told Anthony was, "please just get up, just get up," we all started laughing. He asked the question: WILL YOU MARRY ME? and she said YES!
the beginning of a new journey
This is the beginning of a new chapter in their life and I'm so happy that I was able to be part of it and to capture these special moments for them. Moments like these are moments worth capturing and it's one of those special occasions that they can look back to and remember that feeling of togetherness and the beginning of their love story. Thinking back on that day, it was an emotional occasion, her reaction is so priceless that words couldn't explain it, she shed tears of joy, love, and happiness and it's something that I know she will always cherish for the rest of her life.
