My husband and I were in the middle of moving from California to Arizona when I received a text from Chad:
"I am planning to propose to Gabby soon...is there any chance you can be up here next weekend?"
My heart leapt, knowing that this sweet friend of mine had been eagerly anticipating her engagement for awhile. It was an easy yes for me. Fast forward that week, we had just finished unpacking our boxes when my husband dropped me at the airport. 1.5 hours later, I'm in the backseat of a very surprised Gabby and accomplished Chad. The surprise had been a success.
I've known Gabby for almost a decade. College years blurred into adulthood, and we have kept up sharing what the Lord is doing in our lives, what jobs we are working, what adventures we have planned, and what boys we went on dates with. She was the Maid of Honor at my wedding back in October 2024 and shortly thereafter she met Chad. I got to hear all the stories of how he pursued her heart, how he inspired her independent spirit to follow his lead, and how he was oh-so-clear with his intentions of marriage. Over the past year, I witnessed my best friend fall head over heels in love.
Getting to surprise her with an engagement shoot was honestly one of the most special memories I have.
We picked a location down the road from her parents' home and spend a little over an hour laughing, exploring, and sharing testimonies while I snapped away. I got to hear Chad express his admiration for Gabby's heart, and Gabby's excitement for all their future holds.
During this session, Gabby had a few ideas of poses she wanted to try. We were aiming for "romance novel- PG edition". We found a fallen tree for a prop, then another redwood as a backrest. A few red-faced giggles later we had achieved that novel-esque vibe she was hoping for.
