I don’t believe in coincidences — I’m a firm believer that everything happens for a reason. You know how you plan your life to work out one way, and suddenly you decide it isn’t what you thought it would be? You graduate high school, go away to college, move in with roommates, graduate college and start your career, only, it feels like something is missing. So you decide it’s time for a radical change to move back home and go back to school. That’s how it all started with Andrea and Alex.

 

Andrea was ready for a “change of life”, decided to move home, and go back to school. She picked up a part time seasonal job where she met a guy in the break room who joked about how he went to the bars (to her relief: she wasn’t big on the bar scene either), and exchanged numbers to hang out. Within two weeks of dating Alex, they knew they were the ones for each other.

 

That was two years ago. For the past several weeks, Andrea has been on high alert: she’s a smart girl and she knew something was up. But Alex has been throwing her off and confusing her. Kellie, Alex, and I were extra careful not to do anything Andrea might suspect. Which included Alex turning off the phone’s bluetooth connection to the car on the ride over from the restaurant to the beach club where Andrea’s mom, Kellie, and I were hiding out. So when it started pouring rain at the exact time when Andrea and Alex were going to arrive, and Kellie and I redirected to a Plan B indoor location, Alex didn’t get the texts!

 

And like I said, I’m a firm believer that everything happens for a reason. Everything happens just as it’s meant to.

 

When Andrea and Alex arrived (right after it poured rain for 30 minutes!), they walked up the beach club ramp overlooking the beach, and Alex got down on one knee, asking for Andrea to spend the rest of her life with him. (Of course, she said YES!) Their moment was private and perfect. A few minutes later, spotted by a photographer and mom who were hidden indoors, Andrea heard the “click click” of a camera and saw us capturing her and Alex’s sweet moments together. She was so surprised! In that moment as she covered her face in excitement and shock, Alex looked at her with such pride and love. They gladly re-enacted their proposal for us (and were awesome actors!).

 

When I told Andrea we would be taking some engagement photos (with her now FIANCE), she quickly turned sideways with hands on hips and responded with “with a Sailor Moon pose?” and right away I knew she was my kinda gal (if you’ve been hanging with me on Instagram, you know I was formerly (and still secretly) obsessed with Sailor Moon in my pre-teen years!).

 

Andrea and Alex, congratulations on your engagement! I’m so honored to celebrate a part of your story with you! From the moment I met you, it was clear how connected you two are with each other. I loved how silly you could be with each other (those giggles in your photos are proof!). I hope these photos from your proposal and engagement session will grace the walls of your home and be a constant reminder of the love you have for each other. God bless you both!