Engagements, Photography

When I look at these pictures, I just see the goodness of God. 🤍 The clear sky (in spite of a rainy forecast)… the colors of the sunset… the sailboats drifting by in the background… the perfect outfits… but of course, most precious and valued of all: the sheer joy!!

It’s true we prepared in all the ways we could:

• texting about where to find white roses this time of year;

• learning how to roll them in your hand and open the petals just right;

• scouting and sending pins back and forth to determine the *perfect* location on Wrightsville Beach;

• planning for just the right outfits that would match the setting;

• making a timeline that would coordinate seamlessly with the sunset… etc. etc.

But, just like a wedding day, when the big moments finally come, you just have to take a step back and roll with how it unfolds, hoping and praying the elements you can’t control will be laced with kindness and beauty. I couldn’t be any more grateful that that’s exactly how this evening played out for Josiah & Taylor!

While the soon-to-be-engaged couple was out for dinner at Oceanic, I met up with their sisters and a friend and we all covertly made our way to prepare what Josiah knew to be Taylor’s dream proposal setup: the most beautiful circle of white roses and candles on the beach with the glistening blue ocean serving as a backdrop. We carefully selected the prepared roses from gallon buckets and placed them gently into the sand, comparing notes on what to adjust here and there as the excitement grew and passersby slowed their stroll to inquire what was about to happen…

The time was growing nearer and as we saw Josiah & Taylor draw closer, the girls hurried off the beach and I tried to hide in PLAIN SIGHT with not much more than a seagull to hide behind.

Against all odds, Taylor was completely surprised (no easy feat)!! To Josiah’s credit, he set himself up for success early by telling her to wear this same white dress every time he took her on a date so that when he did propose, she would feel camera-ready (take notes, men)! What she didn’t see coming was him getting down on one knee the very next date. Not only that, but he’d given her a little gift in the parking lot to throw off any scent that there was a surprise in the works.

Josiah & Taylor, you already know how privileged and honored I feel to have gotten to capture these for you, but it all pales in comparison to the joy I share with you both in the good design of God, that one of the best gifts offered to us here on earth would also be one of the best pictures of the love He lavishes on us.

Congratulations. 🤍