The Engagement

Around Spring of last year Austin let us know that he was planning to propose to his girlfriend Taylor on our annual NYE trip to Bald Head Island.

It was months of having to keep the secret and we all almost slipped up multiple times. The plan was for her parents to come down from Ohio, all my kids to come home from college, Taylor’s aunt, uncle and cousins to come in from South Carolina. Without her knowing.

In the past we have made this trip as a long weekend with Austin and Taylor, Blake and Sofie, Taylors best friend and some of their other Ohio friends. So that part was easy. We got in the day before Austin and Taylor were to arrive to make sure all our plans were set.

Taylor and Austin arrived on Thursday and I honestly don’t remember what we even did. I was nervous about the whole thing falling into place. It’s not easy to get everyone over to a little island, especially when half hadn’t been there before. But Friday came and everyone got there ok and we only had one major code red when Taylor wanted to go to the market and we knew her parents and cousins were there picking up food. No one was answering their phones and we were running out of reasons for her not to go. It all worked out after we got through to one of the cousins. Whew.

Taylors best friend and I told Taylor it would be fun to do a “photoshoot” down at the beach with them and their boyfriends so they both packed nice clothes for the pictures. Being a photographer I thought that Taylor wouldn’t be suspicious of this. I don’t think she was because her BFF told me that at first she wanted to do it in a bikini and she had to talk her out of it!

We snuck off to all go down to the beach while the girls got ready. Blake has been into shooting film lately so he was doing some test shots

Austin nervously paced around

We started getting the luminaries ready and finding the best angles for pics/video

Eva and Cole leaving little Sea Urchins along the path while Andy strung lights along the beach path

Austin nervously checking his phone

Old Baldy Lighthouse in the background

And then we see her come over the dune

She see’s her parents and family

We are all crying at this point

Inside the box was a Sea Urchin. Years ago Taylor found a Sea Urchin on BHI and gave it to Austin to bring home to keep it safe. He ended up stepping on it or sitting on it and then one of our dogs ate the pieces and she was so mad. The ring was under the Sea Urchin.

Her face 🙂

Ok I am crying looking at these again. Taylor and her mom

And her dad

And then the cousins- Taylor is an only child so very close to her cousins

Her Aunt

And Uncle

Eva

Blake

Cole

Her best friend Vanessa who helped pull this off

We were so relieved to no longer have to keep it a secret!

Still so many happy cries when I look at these

I could go on and on with the pics

It was a perfect day

Always excited to grow the family

And if you want to watch the video you can see it here