MEET KARA AND YATES. They’re newly engaged. As in yesterday. Less than twenty-four hours! And I think if they could get married tomorrow, they would. But for now, they’re still trying to share the news with all of their friends and family — and let the fact that they’re e-n-g-a-g-e-d sink in just a bit!
I am incredibly honored to have been asked to photograph the whole proposal. Yates called me months ago to ask if I would capture it for him (“well, of course I will!”) and then he went into planning mode. He wanted it to be very special and something that Kara would always remember so he planned to go to one of “their spots” – the falls at Lassiter Mill in Raleigh. He worked tirelessly for two weeks leading up to this weekend to prepare the area in front of the falls – clearing trees, raking pebbles (seriously folks. The man raked pebbles on the “beach”!) – all in anticipation of the big event.
And then it happened. A tropical storm started brewing. And brewing. And brewing. Tropical Storm Andrea blew into town, dumping about 5 inches of rain and leaving his perfect pebble beach in front of the falls about 12 feet under water. Two days before the proposal. After many prayers for the water to subside, Yates moved on to plan B: he would propose at his family’s farm just outside of Oxford. He spent all morning preparing a site that would rival anything to be found on Pinterest – creating and hanging hundreds of Polaroid-looking photos and lanterns among trees, a table filled with candles and a brand new Bible for Kara. And then he waited –nervously – for her to arrive.
And here is how it all unfolded…
Setting up…this man is good. He’s real good!
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Seriously?!?! How sweet and romantic is this!? Pinterest – you got nothin’ on Yates!
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The photo in the middle is from the night they met...
Wow! Just wow.
Nervously phoning Kara for an ETA…
Oh she had no clue how her life was about to change!
“Is this for real????”
Oh yes, Kara. It’s for real!!
I just love Kara’s reaction when their families (who, unbeknownst to her, were watching the whole thing) came out of hiding…
Best. announcement. EVER!
After their families had a chance to congratulate them, we took a few minutes for some photos of the happy couple out on the farm…
Congratulations, Kara and Yates! I hope your engagement is filled with lots of fun, happiness and excitement. This is such an amazing new chapter in your lives – I hope you cherish each and every minute of it! Much love! OXOX ~R
