Imagine a day so perfect...
She didn't know it yet, but Hayden was just about to become engaged. She didn't know yet, the planning and scheming that had taken place. She only knew she was picking sunflowers at her boyfriend's family's ranch. I don't even know all the ins and outs of the planning but I here's what I do know.
John's mother emailed me asking if I'd be available to photograph her son's proposal. She informed me it would be at 1pm in July, in a sunflower field. I emailed her back yes, I'm available, but would you want to wait until later, when the sun is lower, to make the photos look perfect. Unfortunately, this wouldn't work with all the families and friends that were coming to celebrate. 1pm, in the country, in July, yikes! But let's be honest, she had me at sunflower field. Several weeks later, she informed me that her friends knew who I was and mentioned some family friends who have known me since I was a kid! Then, it dawned on me... these friends of hers had been at a wedding I photographed a decade ago, also south of Kingsville. That had been one of the most memorable weddings I had ever photographed partly because JoAnne from Oh Goodie had planned and executed the wedding, and was gorgeous, it was also on my wedding anniversary, and I was pretty sick. So I asked her if she had a daughter that had gotten married out at their ranch on Aug 13th many years ago and she said she had! It tickled me that I had gotten to photograph her daughter's wedding and now will be photographing her son's engagement!
The day arrived, I got in position and waited. I was so anxious and hoped I wouldn't be seen but also have a great vantage point to get amazing photos! John ended up proposing quite a ways away but I dashed across that sunflower field to grab the oh so romantic photos! After all that, the parents had set up a tent for Hayden and John to cool off, enjoy some champagne and let me get some photos of them. John had ordered Hayden a celebratory hat from Stetson, since she loves hats and some family friends gifted them a beautiful set of flutes for their champagne. Shortly after, everyone drove up and joined us in celebrating the newly engaged couple! Lots of tears, sweat, hugs, and laughter were had! A moment was taken to remember Hayden's father, so lovingly remembered with lady bugs!
Then it was time to party, with a mariachi band, food, and drinks. A poem was written by John's grandfather, who was unable to attend, and it was truly such a sweet moment. You could tell, this couple, John and Hayden, are so well loved.
It was a perfect day, and I'm so glad I got to be part of it all.
