A little less than a week before Joe and Lauren arrived to Charleston for their weekend getaway I got a Facebook message from Joe asking if I was available to help with his proposal. I knew adding another session to my weekend would require scouting, some planning, and some upcoming late night editing, but proposals are so special and rewarding that it makes it totally worth it. 

They had never been to Charleston but he knew he wanted to be somewhere near the water when he got down on one knee with a great place for dinner not too far away. We discussed some more popular spots downtown, the beach, but I suggested Pitt Street Bridge and after he looked it up, he knew that was the perfect spot. You can't beat the sunset at Pitt Street Bridge with views of the marsh and The Ravenel Bridge. From there I did a walk visual walk though for him via email and sent him links to all the great restaurants in the area to take a look at. Our plan was a go!

The ViewView of the Ravenel Bridge from Pitt Street Bridge in Mount Pleasant, SC Typically with a proposal there needs to be somewhere to "mark the spot" of where everything needs to happen. It helps the photographer be in the right place at the right time waiting for the perfect moment. Joe decided to have the numbers "01.01.18" written, a special date to them both. It was the date they met at an Eagles game attending with friends. Joe said "we've basically been inseparable ever since". 

X Marks The Spot!

I arrived around 5:55pm with the anticipation of Joe and Lauren arriving around 6:20pm. There were a TON of people there so I started to panic a little as a walked to the spot where I knew I wanted to write their date. At first I tried writing it on a palm tree... NOT a great idea, ended up with a huge splinter and barely visible writing. So i chose the post right next to the tree. I'm sure everyone around thought I was a lunatic. Then came the waiting game. This is when the photographer starts to get as anxious as the guy who is about to propose. We wait we heart rates elevated and trying to not be too obvious. I paced a little, took some scenic images, paced some more. The couples relaxing, fishing and enjoying the view around me all ended up in on the plan. At least that way they knew I wasn't crazy. 

Finally I saw them, it was about 6:15pm. He was early but I was so ready! I tried to act like I was taking pictures of the bridge, and actually did, while looking out of the corner of my eye waiting for him to walk to the date, and make her blush. I saw her hug him a few times, kiss, he was obviously buttering her up hard! And then finally... IT HAPPENED. He lowered to one knee, her hands to her face. I turned my camera and just started snapping. She was looking around at everyone looking at her in a panic second and right back to Joe. She lifted her sunglasses, leaned in to kiss him and said YES. 

ERP_0230 ERP_0242 ERP_0233 ERP_0279 ERP_0283 I gave them a moment, I could see the tears and knew she must be shaking with excitement. I finally joined them and Joe and I let her in on our planning. Once the sun began to finally set a little and the moon rose on the opposite side we began to shoot the best images of the night. The fun and the romantic portion of the proposal, the engagement! 

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Lauren said she hates being the center of attention but she truly rocked this session and knew exactly what to do. 

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I am so happy for them both. They fell hard and they fell fast. Let the rest be history!