October 26, 2018
Even now, it feels a little crazy to write this. For almost a decade, I have been documenting love stories for so many amazing couples. It’s been a thrilling ride but now, I get to share the beginning of our story.
Matt and I have been dating for a little over a year now and honestly, it’s been one of the best years of my life. Our year together has been full of amazing adventures and so much joy. We’ve had to be by each other’s side through a few hard times and have grown stronger together with each passing day. It feels like we’ve known each other our whole lives and he’s become my best friend. I couldn’t ask for a better partner.
We love going on trips, even if it’s just a day trip to one of our favorite places. Last Friday, we drove up to Door County to look at all the beautiful Fall colors, hike around outside, and stop by our favorite restaurants. We started at Base Camp for a chai latte then took photos along the Windy Road. Gray clouds hung in the sky which made the colors pop even more in contrast. It was misting for most of the day, so everything felt so calm and peaceful.
In the afternoon, we entered Peninsula State Park so we could experience the amazing views of the Bay. After exploring a few areas, we stopped at Eagle Terrace to take a few photos and enjoy a little quiet time away from the other hikers. We sat on a bench next to each other in serene tranquility, soaking up the moment. Well, at least I was serene, little did I know Matt was super nervous about what he was planning next.
As we got up to leave, Matt turned to me and said, “I have one more thing to say.” He held my hand in his and got down on one knee. I stared at him, completely stunned, as he told me how much he loved me and how he wanted us to spend the rest of our lives together. I couldn’t believe what was happening, I was so excited! He pulled out a gorgeous ring box from his pocket and opened it to reveal an even more gorgeous ring! Shaking, surprised, and completely ecstatic, I said “YES!” and he slipped the ring on my finger.
After that, we hugged for what seemed like forever as I took in what had just happened. I kept asking if this was real. I was standing in the middle of my own proposal story and didn’t even believe it! It was the most beautiful moment, exactly how I had hoped it would happen. No crazy surprise parties or hidden photographer waiting to capture my reaction, it was just us. Just myself and my best friend taking the next step in our journey of life together. So perfect!
Once I finally realized this was real, I couldn’t help but start crying. I hoped one day to find someone I could share my life with and when I met Matt, everything changed for the better. Once I pulled myself together and stopped crying for a little while, we left Eagle Terrace and went to enjoy a wine tasting at Stone’s Throw Winery so Matt could tell me all about how he planned this. Once we finished our wine and called our parents to share the big news, we went to dinner to celebrate at my favorite restaurant in Door County, Parador. Matt planned that all too! He emailed the owner ahead of time to set it all up! We drank champagne and toasted to our next adventure!
It’s been one week since we’ve been engaged. During this time, we’ve been enjoying every moment. I already had planned Fall photos for us on Sunday which turned into the perfect opportunity to take a few photos to announce our Engagement. We have no wedding plans or date set yet. We just have the love in our hearts and the promise to spend forever together. I cannot wait to see what happens next!
Thank you to all of our sweet friends and family members who have reached out to share well wishes. Your love and support blows us away! We are so lucky to have so many amazing people in our lives!
Congratulations, Shaunae and Matt! Shaunae, Adam and I are so, so excited that you get to have your own love story. I’m super glad you blogged about it, because I’m shamelessly following your engagement on Instagram. :P
Congratulations to both of you! Youve brought so much joy to people through your photography and now its your turn. Wonderful!