For Whitney & Reggie, a casual friendship turned into love. They both attended James Madison University, but didn’t meet until they started working together at the mall. What started as a friendship quickly became more, though neither really realized it at the time. Reggie graduated first and moved back to North Carolina while Whitney continued with school, even studying abroad in Spain during her last year. It was then that she realized how much he meant to her and how much she missed him. Shortly after her return to the States, Whitney and Reggie were reunited with each professing their love for each other and vowing to never be apart again. Little did she know that a proposal was in the works.

And not just any ordinary proposal, either. It was one that Whitney calls “the most memorable experiences” of her life. Having gone to dinner one evening, a caricaturist was drawing for the guests when Reggie suggested that they have one drawn. Always game for most anything, Whitney was expecting a cute but funny rendering of the happy couple. What she did not expect, though, was a drawing of Reggie on bended knee proposing. Shocked, she turned to see life imitating art in that moment — the love of her life really was down on one knee beside her holding “the most beautiful ring.” Of course, she said “YES!” as all of their family and close friends ran out to share in the happiness of that moment that was the beginning of the rest of their life together.

Here are a few of my favorites from their North Carolina Museum of Art engagement session!