You know that when you feature an engagement session of a budding wedding planner that it’s going to be a goodie, and this Tennessee winery shoot by MELANIE GABRIELLE is certainly testament to that. Chasing the last rays of sunlight, Lauren and her fianc Brandon took Melanie to Arrington Vineyard and captured some magic! Read on to hear about the very romantic proposal from the bride-to-beééò
ééòEverything about our proposal was magical. I always told Brandon that I would want to be near my family whenever he proposed since we lived so close to his in Tennessee ééò and would undoubtedly have a Nashville wedding. So when we were taking a week long trip to my parents house in New Jersey last summer I had an idea that something may be up his sleeveééò especially since it was my birthday that week.
We woke up at 6:00am that Wednesday morning to get to the Barnegat Lighthouse early enough to where the blistering heat wouldn’t be an issue climbing to the top of the gorgeous tower. After a two hour car ride of holding sweaty hands and racing through yellow lights we finally reached the salty aired coast. Over the tree tops poked the tip of the lighthouse. We parked the car and started walking along the sand dusted path through the garden dotted with yellow and orange flowers. The view was breathtaking and everything I could have hoped for. Through the arch of the trees you could see the emerald sea and boats passing by.
We reached the lighthouse where the door was still closed ééò which was odd because Brandon told me they opened at 9:30am and it was now 9:45. He knocked and a few seconds later it cracked open with a woman explaining they didn’t open for another 15 minutes. He nodded his head and said, ééòWell I’m Brandon.ééò Pause. ééòI called earlier this weekééòééò She smiled and opened the door wide for us to come in. The gig was up. I instantly knew what was going on. We climbed for what seemed like an eternity but in reality was probably only a few minutes. After awhile Brandon handed me a white envelope with shakey writing that spelled out ééòMiss Stefanskiééò and told me to wait where I was and not to open it until instructed. I could hear him racing up a few more flights of stairs… which was apparently farther than he expected. We both laughed when he popped his over the railing to tell me to come up a few more flights. He told me to wait by the window that overlooked the inlet.
I finally heard him say to start reading my letter ééò my fingers couldn’t fumble it open fast enough. Reading the memories that were enclosed made my eyes flood with tears and my heart beat uncontrollably with happiness. As I was reading the letter Brandon opened the door at the top of the lighthouse and the wind started cascading red rose petals around me. It was like experiencing something out of a Nicolas Sparks book. After finishing his heartfelt and encouraging words I couldn’t get myself to the top of the stairs quick enough.
I reached the top and saw a burlap banner that read ééòMrs. Emerson?ééò. I looked to my left and Brandon was already down on one knee. We both can’t remember the things he said to me ééò but we both know that I answered ééòYes!ééò We embraced for a long moment and wiped the tears from my eyes taking in the most amazing moment of our lives. Its every girls dream to be asked in the most romantic and thoughtful way possible ééò but I honestly would have been happy just because it was him asking me.ééò
