Christina & Jeff’s Secret Proposal at Magnolia Plantation

Jeff and I have been covertly corresponding about his Secret Proposal to his beautiful girlfriend, Christina, since back in March!!! It’s been so much fun coming up with the perfect plan together. It really showed me how much he truly loves this amazing young lady!

The Big Day finally arrived yesterday. As they were enjoying the House Tour at Magnolia Plantation & Gardens, I was getting the stage set and getting in my hiding place. When the tour was done, Jeff led Christina down a winding path and stopped underneath a gorgeous live oak tree. He read a wonderful speech he had prepared for Christina. Than got down on his knee to ask for her hand in marriage.

SHE SAID YES!!! 🙂

Afterwards we spent some time walking through the gardens, photographing fun engagement photos, and enjoying the evening together. Christina was so excited. She could hardly keep her eyes off her amazing new ring.  And she couldn’t stop hugging and loving on Jeff the whole time!  🙂

It was an honor and a pleasure to be a part of this special occasion for Christina & Jeff. CONGRATULATIONS to you both!!!

Super Secret Proposal

I recently had the exhilaration of photographing a SUPER Secret Proposal at Magnolia Plantation!

Due to privacy concerns, and the sensitive nature of the subject, I am not allowed to post any photos/videos of the proposal itself…especially since NOT EVEN the bride-to-be will know the whole thing was captured until he reveals it to her at their wedding reception! 🙂

However, I get a lot of questions about how I set up for Secret Proposals. Although the situation is different for each one, I thought it would be fun to share a few behind-the-scenes photos of how I set up for this particular wedding proposal.

We don’t normally provide video service. However the groom-to-be requested we add it to his package, which I was happy to do.  Here you can see the general scene as viewed from their perspective. Can you pick out my cameras from the landscape?!? I set up one Nikon D4 + 24-70 f2.8, shooting HD Video, to get a wide perspective of “the scene”. I set up a second D4 + 200-400 f4, also shooting HD Video, to capture tight shots of “the action”. And I laid in the reeds with the Nikon D810 + 70-200 f2.8 + TC14eIII to capture all the action in photos.

Normally after photographing The Proposal, the gentleman reveals to his new fiance that he’s secretly had the event photographed for her! That’s when I come out and meet them…SURPRISE!!! Then we do a fun little mini-engagement session together. In this case, since everything was being kept hush-hush and I wasn’t going to be able to meet them, I arrived early and blended in with the other tourists to capture “sniper shots” of them as they toured the property…holding hands, reading the map, taking selfies…before our timed rendezvous under the oaks.

Anyway, I thought you’d enjoy seeing a little behind-the-lens action. It was an awesome event to be a part of.  CONGRATULATIONS to the amazing couple!  I only wish I could be a fly on the wall at their reception when he surprises her with the video/slideshow from this special day!!!  🙂

Casey & Bekah’s Secret Proposal at Magnolia Plantation

It’s rare to find true love as genuine as Casey & Bekah’s!!!

A few days ago I had the pleasure of photographing Casey’s secret proposal to Bekah. He and I had been diligently planning every detail of this special moment for months! Finally the big day arrived…and it turned out absolutely PERFECT!!!

Casey had a full day planned out for the two of them, involving sight-seeing together, a picnic at the beach, and eventually a tour of Magnolia Plantation & Gardens. The grand finale of their fairy-tale day was him asking her to be his wife, on bended knee, under this beautiful cathedral of oaks.

“May you always have walls for the winds,
a roof for the rain, tea beside the fire,
laughter to cheer you, those you love near you,
and all your heart might desire.”
– Irish Blessing

CONGRATULATIONS Casey & Bekah!