Zeb & Emilie // Twin Lakes Park, Greensburg, PA // Proposal Photography

Most days, I’d gladly (and immediately) trade my current circumstances for a day at Disney World, but this past Sunday, there was no where I’d have rather been than hiding behind a tree at Twin Lakes Park in Greensburg, PA while my cousin Zeb popped the question to his gorgeous girlfriend, Emilie.

Ever since photographing Blake & Ashley’s proposal, I’ve been dying to photograph another! It was the most exhilarating, nerve-wracking, incredible set of moments to capture and I’ve been counting down the moments to when I get to shoot another proposal! So, when Zeb texted me last Monday & asked if I was available on Sunday afternoon for some “engagement photos” and then swore me to secrecy, I was literally bursting all week long! How do you keep that kind of a secret in?

Friday night was Braelynn’s birthday party & that’s when we set our plans into place. I would be the hidden photographer, my sister Amy would be the hidden videographer, and Zeb would be the one doing the proposing (obviously). We rode out Saturday morning to walk around the upper lake at Twin Lakes & pick the perfect spot.

We fell in love with this long walkway lined with these tall straight pines. It was directly across from the parking lot, so not only would it give Zeb & Emilie a little ways to walk, but it would allow Amy & I to see them coming! Plans set in place – we all hunkered down to count down the hours until 2pm on Sunday.

It was so exciting to watch them pull up and know that it was all about to happen!!

So, obviously, when you’re proposing, you don’t want people to be right up on top of you. I’m not even sure where these people came from, because they aren’t in the above photo, but as Zeb & Emilie sauntered down the path, suddenly this couple appeared behind them. Thankfully, Zeb had enough of a head on his shoulders (remember, he’s proposing in a matter of minutes, he was literally floating on clouds!) to realize that he needed to stall & let them pass. So, he casually sat down on a bench to “tie his shoe.”

Back up & walking our way again!

And then, another pause & another “shoe tie” – we found out afterward, that when Zeb stopped to tie his other shoe & was down on one knee this time, he looked up at Emilie & said, “Wow, this would be such a beautiful spot to propose, wouldn’t it? Too bad I don’t have the ring.” That made her kind of mad & really threw her off the scent – good job Zeb!

So, that wasn’t a lie: Zeb honestly did not have the ring. We had it, or actually, Zeb’s sister Lydia had it. She was along for the ride since she already knew it was happening – which, by the way, how special is that? That Zeb wanted to bring his little sister along to witness such a monumentous occasion? So, so sweet!

Obviously, we couldn’t place the ring on the ground too early – what if someone walked by & stopped to pick it up? In fact, there was a group of little kids that kept running up and down the path when we arrived, so we were really hoping that they would be gone by the time Zeb arrived & thankfully, they were. So, as we saw Zeb & Emilie rounding the bend, Lydia & Amy dropped the ring in place & casually walked off.

And here we go! Green light! Showtime!

(if you hadn’t figured it out yet, she said YES!)

From where we were so far away, we couldn’t hear what was being said at all, except we could hear Emilie saying over and over again, “Is this real? For real? Really?!” She was so excited!

After a few moments of celebrating, Zeb pointed us out.

It was something that Emilie had really wanted – a photographer there to capture the moment! But she had no expectation of a videographer being there as well! And then when she saw Lydia, it was the icing on the cake.

“Is this really real? Really?!”

After a good long celebration period, we all realized just how cold it was out. Like, literally freezing. Definitely a huge difference in how the weather was just one week prior for Ellen & Jonathan’s wedding!! So, we decided to walk back around the lake to the car, and along the way, we stopped for a few photos – a “mini” engagement session!
Fresh joy! Overflowing love! It was simply the best. Photographing people who are so sweetly in love is why I love what what I do so much.

So, it was really special that Lydia was there, but Amy being there was equally special. She & Zeb are very close in age and have always been best friends – from birth! Amy has also become good friends with Emilie – from coffee dates & breakfast Bible studies, to Emilie getting Amy a job working with her – they have a really sweet friendship now too. So, the fact that she was able to be there to celebrate with them – so so special!

I’ll end with my favorites! We were just finishing up, when I made a comment about how they now have new titles! They are no longer each other’s boyfriend & girlfriend, but fiances! And when Emilie made the connection – well – see for yourself!

I cannot say it enough: I am SO excited for them! They are literally the sweetest & I cannot wait to celebrate their wedding with them! 6 months & 12 days to go! WOOHOO!!

I LOVE photographing proposals!
If you are a guy, planning a surprise proposal for your girlfriend: let’s chat!
If you are a girl, waiting on a surprise proposal from your boyfriend, let him know that you want me to be there to capture it!
If you know someone who is planning a proposal or waiting on one, let them know it’s one of my favorite things – I’d be so excited to hide in a bush or behind a tree to photograph those special moments!