All Sam's Planning Paid Off Big Time: She Said "YES!"
About a month ago I got a call from Sam asking if I photograph proposals. “Of course,” I replied. “I love them.”
Sam planned to ask his girlfriend Katie to marry him in early January. He wanted to surprise her with the ring while I documented the moment from afar. Once Sam decided to propose at Orpheus Brewing, where the couple had their first date three years ago, Sam and I worked with Alicia from Orpheus to set up the surprise. The trick was to have me close by, but inconspicuous.
This morning Alicia opened the brewery a half hour early, so Sam could propose to Katie in relative private. Sam texted me when he and Katie grabbed an Uber to the brewery and again when he arrived. Alicia gave me a tasting cup of their Atalana, a sour saison, so I could look like a customer hanging out.
Sam and Katie brought a couple of beers to a side deck of the brewery that overlooks Piedmont Park. I was on an upper deck, pretending to talk on my phone waiting for the knee drop. Once Sam started to propose, I started down the steps to the deck they were on to get a better view of the reaction on Katie’s face.
Katie was so excited when she saw Sam on one knee opening a ring box. There was no doubt in anyone’s mind what the answer would be.
After celebrating together for a while, the pair decided to FaceTime Sam’s parents to share the good news. Katie’s parents already knew. I didn’t ask, but I think Sam had asked for their daughter’s hand in marriage before he proposed.