Surprise Proposal at the Overland Park Arboretum
Proposals are so stinkin' fun to shoot. I've been so fortunate to witness quite a few at this point and every single time I'm always in awe at the effort these guys put it to make the moment so special. When Bret reached out saying he was going to plan a surprise proposal for Marissa, I was over the moon excited for them! But then a little panic set in, if Marissa spotted me (because she knows me personally) before she got to the actual proposal part the whole thing was going to be RUINED. So... I bought a wig, a brand new hat that had never been worn by me before, and I put on my Meta Raybans as the perfect disguise. Bret had a golf ball specially made to say "Will You Marry Me?" with a picture of them on the back. Bret placed the golf ball on a stone bench and hid in the bushes while I sat on a bench pretending to read a book, my camera hidden perfectly in a bag that had easy access. As Marissa walked down the path with her mom my heart RACED, I wasn't even the one proposing and I was getting nervous! When Marissa got just far enough down the path to not notice me grabbing my camera, Bret came out of the bushes and got down on one knee flawlessly. She obviously said "YES!" and I just kept snapping away capturing the perfect authentic moment between them. After the question was popped and answered, we bopped around the STUNNING Arboretum for a quick little cutie engagement session. Bret and Marissa are so kind, sweet, and easy going. These two were made for each other and I can't wait to see what the future holds for them!
How do you perfectly capture a proposal without ruining the moment? Patience and timing. Act too early, you interfere with the whole thing, act too late and you miss everything. This is also an instance where having a zoom lens like a 28-70 mm comes in handy, although I've shot many a proposal on an 85mm and it was also fantastic. Don't be too quick to rush in for poses and be in the couple's space right after the proposal. This is a HUGE moment for them and they don't want to look back and remember how their photographer couldn't give them just a second to breathe and process. Once they seem to be coming out of the moment a bit is a great time to offer to shoot some engagement photos so they leave with a little more of the moment.
Couple Q&A:
Bret, how did you come up with your proposal idea?
"I chose the Arboretum because the scenery is absolutely beautiful, especially that time of year when everything was in full bloom. The layout of the gardens made it the perfect spot- I was able to find a hidden place to wait so Marissa wouldn't see me coming. It gave me the chance to surprise her in a setting that felt peaceful, romantic, and meaningful. As for the proposal itself, I wanted to make it personal. I included the golf ball because golf is something we share together- we play at least once a week, and it's been a way for us to grow closer and create lifelong memories.
It just felt right to tie that into the proposal."
Marissa, what do you love most about Bret?
"How effortlessly he brings laughter into my life every single day!"
Bret, what do you love most about Marissa?
"What I love most about Marissa is the fact that she can turn my whole day around without saying a single word. She makes me smile no matter what kind of day I'm having, and every time she walks into a room, my heart melts a little more. On top if that, her voice, her work ethic, and the passion she has for her job just add to the reasons why I admire and love her so much."
What are you looking forward to most about your big day?
Marissa: "What I'm most excited about our big day is to marry my best friend and dance the night away with all our favorite people!"
Bret: " There's a lot I'm looking forward to. Being surrounded by our closest friends and family on one of the most important days of our lives means everything. We'll be creating memories that we'll hold onto forever.
But what I'm looking forward to the most is seeing Marissa walk down the aisle in her white dress. That moment is something I've pictured for a long time, and the thought of it actually happening creates fireworks in my head. I can't wait to start thing next chapter and see where life takes us together."
