An Offbeat Surprise Proposal in Atlanta, GA // Ryan & Jon

P I N this to pinterestYou guys. This proposal makes my heart so happy.

Ryan contacted me a few weeks before the event and gave me the scoop: she was planning a surprise proposal in Atlanta for her man, and wanted me to play ninja {a specialty of mine} and capture it in secret! I love, love, love surprise proposals, and what I love EVEN MORE is capturing them!!

She and I met up at the Majestic Diner, discussed our plan of action, then I took on the part of “artsy Atlanta photographer”: taking pictures of flowers, textures, signs, random people, everything to make it look for all the world like I wasn’t a part of this whole thing. I even hid behind things, and PEOPLE! {That guy was such a help!}

Once the question had been popped and I was revealed {TADA!}, we ducked inside where Ryan had set up an adorable booth for the two of them.

I loved being a part of this. Thank you, Ryan & Jon!

Jon to Ryan: “You are made of lady magic.”

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Tell me about when you first decided to propose: June 21st is the day I made the decision to propose. Jon and I had started seeing each other romantically, again, for a few months and it was clear that despite of (or because of?) our time apart the relationship had matured a lot. I was daydreaming about the possibility of he and I getting re-engaged one day and thinking about how I wished that I would end up with the romantic yet casual sort of proposal I’ve always hoped for… and then it clicked, suddenly. If it’s what I want, why don’t I just ask him? It was a whole new kind of exciting to realize that I could be the one to plan the moment of surprise and to show him that I was truly dedicated to the sentiment as opposed to waiting around for him to ask me or participating in a diplomatic kind of non-asking like we had done together the first time around. I scoured Ebay that evening and purchased a ring the next day.

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How did you decide on the plan?: I knew immediately that I wanted to do it at The Majestic Diner, where we first met. We had already planned to have a date there before I made the decision to propose. We both have really clear memories of our first date, how I got there a bit before him and waited on the sidewalk outside to meet him. I guess I wanted to do it right there on the sidewalk because it’s like saying, “Here we are, back at the beginning. Let’s fall in love all over again!” Also, being outside on the sidewalk seemed both more open and more private than being inside the diner. I contacted the manager of The Majestic to let him know what I was up to and ask permission to come early and decorate a table for us. I contacted the wonderful Raven on the advice of common friends to make sure we’d get properly sweet documentation!

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Most memorable or funniest moment from the day?: Most memorable has to be the time between the first words out of Jon’s mouth being, “I’m so nervous!” for a reason neither of us could quite put our finger on up until the moment I asked him and he said “Yes!” repeatedly. Funniest has got to be the big reveal that Raven was standing by snapping photos the whole time! Shock and delight.

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What advice you would give to other couples planning a proposal?: Hmm.. although something super-spontaneous might end up super-perfect, I’m a fan of planning ahead. I didn’t write down or script what I was going to say or how I was going to ask, I just considered what was most important for me to say in that moment and made sure to express those feelings in whatever way felt right at the time. Also, I only got down on one knee because it felt right in the moment. The most important thing to plan ahead is just to choose a location where you can both feel comfortable (both physically and mentally) and not rushed.

P I N this to pinterestP I N this to pinterestP I N this to pinterestP I N this to pinterestP I N this to pinterestIf you could do it all over, would you change anything?: I wouldn’t change anything at all. It was just right.
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