Bill wrote to me via my Contact Form here on the website and told me he was going to propose to Ashley and wanted it captured in pictures. He also was looking for a location in nature. I happened to be photographing an engagement session at Gabis Arboretum the next day so he met me there before the session and we plotted out how we might pull this off.
In late November, weather is always an issue too. He told Ashley there was a “fall festival” happening that day. Problem was, the parking lot was nearly empty aside from my car and a few others and the forecast was threatening rain and snow. Mmmm…. was Ashley suspicious?
I literally was hiding behind some giant bushes of the famed nature preserve as they walked up. Perhaps it was nerves, but Bill had forgotten which path he was to take and paused briefly. I heard Ashley say “this is like a horror movie and someone is going to jump out of the bushes at any time”. Yep, that would be me!!
He told her they needed to go down this path to get to the mythic festival and off they went. He then got on one knee and presented her with a ring. I trotted up a few steps (I thought he was going further down the path) and then knelt down myself and zoomed in to capture the moment.
A surprise marriage proposal down a leaf filled path at Gabis Arboretum.
I told Ashley when she finally spotted me that I was sorry to have to ruin her hot cup of coffee but we had us some pictures to take. Bill and I had talked about certain locations at Gabis Arboretum and it was amazing how much things had changed in just a few weeks. This nature preserve is always amazing as it changes naturally in all seasons with color and more. It truly is an amazing place to shoot all year around.
Capturing romantic moments of a newly engaged couple.
Red leaves surround the happy couple as they frolic in nature.
Nature portraits after a surprise marriage proposal.
I felt tremendous as I left the park for having been able to capture this once in a lifetime moment. Thank you Bill for calling on me to be the “stalker guy in the woods” with camera in hand to forever preserve the occasion.
If you are thinking of surprising your significant other with marriage proposal photography, please contact me here and let the planning begin!!