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Surprise proposal at Salton Sea State Park

June 21, 2013
surprise proposal at Salton Sea State Park | photo by Lace and Likes | 100 Layer Cake

We’re ending the week and kicking summer off with this rad shoot styled by Rachael of Lace & Likes, photographed by Keith Savage, and filmed by Max and Molly Films. It wasn’t just some regular shoot though. They’d asked their friends to model for it and amidst the planning, Brandon (the faux groom) told Rachael he wanted to use the shoot as a cover to propose to Kate (no longer to be a faux bride). From Rachael,  I obviously lost it and helped him plan the whole set up. Kate had no idea but everyone else knew and needless to say, everyone was high on emotion and adrenaline that day! When he actually got down on one knee I think we all lost it. Ok, let’s see how it all went down…

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This shoot just keeps getting better! Check out how it all came together in the moving picture by Max and Molly Films

From Kate… I met Brandon at a mutual friend’s house sometime in July or August of 2010. We were strictly friends for the year that followed. We kept each other in a kind of limbo, not pursuing anything but not opposed to the idea either. We went to a beer festival at the local fair in June of 2011 and I guess you could say those beer tastings helped us move things along. We ended up holding hands. 

Fast forward to almost the exact day two years later and you will find us counting down the days until our November wedding. 

Falling in love with Brandon was the easiest thing I’ve ever done. He is the best person I’ve ever known and the greatest blessing my life has ever been bestowed. I’ll stop there because I don’t want to make anyone throw up. I knew that I wanted to spend the rest of my life laughing, adventuring and growing with him, I just didn’t know when that rest of my life was going to start. Turned out to be the moment I least expected it. My best friend Rachael had asked us to model for her “end of the world” themed wedding shoot and despite plenty of protest her and Brandon got to me commit. PS i tried to break that commitment the day before the shoot was scheduled. So there it happened amidst a lace and likes themed wedding shoot surrounded by loved ones, our friend and photographer Keith asked me to stare out into the water for some shots of the back of my dress.  Around sunset out at the Salton Sea in 105 degree weather after a long day of shooting, thinking mostly about pizza and beer, I turned around to find Brandon on one knee with a small black box in his hand. 

I thought it was part of the shoot until I saw the emotion on his face. I’ll never forget that moment. That’s the only photo I cannot share because it is inside my head. I was the only person who actually got to see brandons face despite five onlookers with 4 cameras. 

I obviously said yes. But the shock didn’t wear off for a few hours maybe even a few weeks. I’m still pinching myself today as well as reeling from all the love and support we have received. Starting with all of the beautiful and talented people who put hours and hours into the planning and post production of this shoot where the love of my life asked me to be his wife. 

I know when talking about love you run the risk of cliche but honestly when it comes to relationships you get it wrong until you get it right. And when you get it right you marry the heck out of that person.

From Brandon… I first met Kate a few years back through some mutual friends. I immediately thought she was an incredibly genuine girl with the looks and a heart to match. However, it wasn’t till about a year later that I finally won that heart. And all it took was a spark. A spark that started from a simple day at the fair full of photoboothing, craft beer, and laughs. I distinctly remember navigating through the crowd hand in hand and feeling a sense of joy that can’t be described. It was shortly thereafter that we started dating and from there launched the adventure. 

On April 28th, I asked my best friend and the love of my life to marry me. It took a lot of planning and a handful of courage, but I managed to squeeze out the words. This all happened, by much surprise to her, out at the Salton Sea during photo shoot that the two of us were participating in. Despite the 105 degree heat and the awful smell of the sea, I couldn’t have been happier when she uttered the word “yes”. This made it all worth it. And believe me, she’s worth it.

Beautifully put you guys! Huge congratulations to the both of you!