If I’ve ever chatted with you about your wedding or wedding flowers, or even just your love story, then I have definitely asked you if you were surprised by the proposal. For me, the event was an absolute shock!

I’d consider myself pretty clever, having a sense when things are happening. Being aware of what’s around me and knowing how to get back to where I came from are skills that have helped me countless times. I prefer knowing the directions over needing to use a map for turn by turn directions any day. This is the opposite of my husband, as is often the case for couples. Opposites do attract!  When we get in the car, he turns the GPS on to go pretty much anywhere. I love not being restricted by the computer voice’s directions, and knowing the random streets as I navigate through Phoenix. Or when traveling, I enjoy learning the local roads and knowing how to get back to the Airbnb by retracing the route I’ve already traveled.

The Proposal Story

My engagement story begins with a visit to see my college friends who live in Brooklyn. I was so excited to disconnect and just enjoy girl time. I didn’t care about where we were going or what we’re doing, I just wanted to be with them. All of my barriers were probably down that I would usually rely on to be curious about the who/what/where/when/why of my surroundings. I was just along for the adventure of their lives in NY! No questions popped into my mind when they took me to what they said was a going away party for one of their friends at Prospect Park, close to where they lived. Little did I realize that they were actually leading me to my engagement. They camouflage Justin’s name in their phones. They made sure I dressed up and looked cute. We even did our nails, which isn’t something I normally do, especially being a florist now. Hello eucalyptus stains! We had never even done them together during college. I obviously wasn’t clued in at all.

The Question!

Leading me through a path in Prospect Park, we had just passed the the lake. I remember thinking how pretty it was. And then all of a sudden, I saw Justin, in Brooklyn, across the country. He dropped me off at the airport a few days earlier, and unbeknownst to me, he had driven home dropped his car off and came to catch a flight of his own to the Big Apple. I was so impressed that he got himself to Prospect Park, and I just couldn’t believe he was there! Even with flowers in hand. Little did we know how big a part blooms would have in our life later on!

I have a certain laugh when I am nervous or surprised. So bring on the nervous laughter because I was so surprised! When I question brides if they were surprised for their proposal, I am genuinely curious because I wasn’t expecting it at all when it came to my own proposal. I remember being on cloud nine. He caught me off guard and had me laughing the entire time. I honestly couldn’t tell you a single thing he said. Justin got down on one knee and showed me the ring, I cried, said yes and kissed him. I was so stoked. I couldn’t stop smiling and giggling at the ring, and just squeezing Justin because he was in New York with me. My friends were amazing for the part they had played, and I was so thankful that they had managed the logistics to get Justin in that spot at Prospect Park. I just felt so loved and excited for what was in store!

The Memories

A request that I had shared with Justin long before we talked about marriage was that I really wanted someone to take pictures of the proposal. Justin had remembered and arranged for a sweet photographer friend of a friend to be there to capture those precious moments. I cherish the memories I see in those photos because I’m so thankful for sweet friends and Justin’s effort to surprise me.

I love hearing engagement and love stories. Even better is getting to take part, however small it may be, in a love story by helping bring wedding flowers to life for a couple. It is truly such an honor for the opportunity to take part in their adventure.

Were you surprised by your engagement? Was it an out of this world experience, or just so dang special because the guy you love asked you to marry him?!

Photography | Amy Frances