About 1 month before the proposal day, Ellie texted me and asked if I wanted to be a model for a photoshoot with her. She told me she got a new lens and wanted to play around with it, and do some training for their new assistant photographer, Julie. I happily agreed and immediately began looking for a pretty new dress to wear for this fun photoshoot.

I thought nothing was out of the ordinary, because it was something Ellie and I had talked about. Mike had been telling me for months that our engagement was not going to happen for about another year, and he seemed very confused by the idea of me being a model so I had no idea he planned this whole shoot.

The day of the photoshoot, I ate breakfast with my parents, who were in town to move my younger sister to LA, then went to meet Ellie to get ready for the photoshoot. Mike told me he was working all day, so I assumed I would see him after the photoshoot. Ellie and I got manicure and then she started doing my hair and makeup. Everything seemed perfectly normal.

We got to White Point Beach and were taking pictures and having fun, everything still seemed normal. I happened to turn around and see Mike walking towards us. My first thought was, “Maybe he’s gonna propose,” which was immediately followed by, “Savannah stop being silly, he’s told you so many times it isn’t going to happen any time soon.” He walked up and told me he got off work early, so he and Julie coordinated to surprise me with him in some of the pictures.

I was excited to see him, and to see how taking pictures together would go since we aren’t normally a picture couple. We spent 5-10 minutes taking pictures, which solidified in my brain that Mike was not there to propose. Then, Ellie asked Mike to stand behind me and place his hands in his pockets and told me to face away from him and swish my skirt. After a few shots like that, she asked me to turn around and look at Mike. I turned around and saw him down on one-knee with a cute grin and the ring-box open.

My immediate response was to ask, “Are you serious right now?” He nodded, and said “I love you so much,” followed by words I don’t remember because I was in shock, and he ended with, “will you marry me?” I told him yes, of course, and spent the rest of the evening feeling shocked, overwhelmed, and ecstatic. It was a type of proposal I never would have guessed, but it was more perfect than I could have ever imagined.

Being able to go back to his mom’s house and celebrate with our families made it that much more amazing. He truly thought of everything, and I could not have been more surprised. I could not be more excited to marry this man, and I am so thankful to Ellie, Julie, and Sun & Sparrow for being there to capture these incredible moments. I love that we get to have them forever!