This week I wanted to feature a very special surprise proposal that is near to my heart! Haven and Katie are my husbands and I’s close friends and I got to capture their proposal at Max Patch Mountain!
Haven and my husband have been friends for a long time and when my husband and I started dating, we quickly became a close-knit friend group. Enter Katie! She was so sweet and from the start, we all knew she was the one for Haven. I love getting to be a part of my couple’s love stories through photography, but getting to witness the start of a love story is extra special, especially when they are your friends.
Haven was ready to propose to Katie and I couldn’t have been more excited to be involved in planning this surprise proposal! Haven and I talked multiple times to make sure we had a tight plan together for the proposal. He wanted the proposal to take place at a beautiful location and so I asked the two of them to “model for a new location” for me. We drove 4 hours from home to shoot at Max Patch Mountain in North Carolina.
We all hiked up the mountain together and got to laugh at how out of breath we all were! Once we got to the top of the mountain, I started photographing them as if it was a normal couples session. It was chilly up there but Katie braved the air in a beautiful black dress! I gave them my usual prompts and had them wander and play around the top of Max Patch. As most know, this is a super popular mountain so it was crowded. Once I found an area that would be quiet enough for the proposal, it was time to set it up!
I had Haven and Katie pose back to back and look out into the distance. Then I had them separate and told Katie to take a few steps forward. That’s when Haven got down on one knee and was ready to pop the question! Katie turned around and doubled over with emotion once she saw Haven. After the proposal, she told me that she had a feeling this might be happening. It was an incredibly special moment that I’m so grateful I was able to capture for them. Not only as a couple but as my close friends!
After the proposal, we continued with the session, but this time we got to show off Katie’s new ring in the photos! Once we were done with the session we drove off the mountain to stay at a nearby hotel. In the morning we went to see the elk in Cherokee which was a great ending to our surprise proposal adventure.
I’ll never be tired of being involved in so many important moments for my couples. Whether it’s a proposal, engagement session, or wedding day, I love that I have a small part in telling your love story and capturing it for years to come. If you’re ready to have your own story told in photos, contact me today! I’d love to help plan your own surprise proposal or talk about your wedding day!
-Darian
You can also view their surprise proposal here featured on The White Wren!
