Real Engagement: A Breakfast Picnic

I've admitted this before, but I'll say it again. I am a sucker for proposal/engagement stories. I love Love, and always reading these stories keeps me inspired! These photos come from Chelsea Patricia Photography and they are so loving! Chelsea had this to say about the couple:

Virginia's family has owned the land, barn, etc. that we took the photos on for over 100 years! She used to play in the barn as a kid, and her parents and grandparents still live on the land. The church that we took photos in is a small, VERY Southern chapel that her great (I think) grandparents help build by hand. She and Josh were unable to get married in the church because of size limitations (the first of her family to not get married there), so we took these photos specifically for her grandmother :)

Now let's hear from the bride-to-be!

We met in Teague Hall, a dorm at Auburn University, in the fall of 2004. I was an excited college freshman living on the second floor right beside the stairs. Josh was a sophomore who specialized in singing at the top of his lungs from his room at the bottom of the stairs. Obviously, this meant that our paths frequently crossed. Although we had certainly taken notice of each other, it wasn't until his suitemate invited me to come play poker in the lobby that interest in each other really began to take hold. Of course we had many fun and interesting nights as a group getting to know each other and driving our RA absolutely crazy.

At some point in October, Josh and the guys decided to take on the milk gallon challenge (if you don't know what it is, look it up). It was then, as Josh vomited all over his shoes, that I realized I truly had a little crush on the dorm jokester (talk about romance!). That Halloween in 2004, Josh had the same epiphany about me. On November 9 we made it official and have been together ever since!

Since we have been dating for five and a half years, I did not think it was possible for him to truly surprise me with his proposal. I was wrong. On May 14, the morning of my graduation for my Master's, my mom called insisting that I go all over campus to take pictures. Among these places were the Student Center and Teague Hall. I was a little annoyed with all this because I felt like we had already taken all these for undergrad and that it was too hot to do it again. Josh encouraged me to just pacify my mom and go along with her. The two of us arrived at Teague sans parents. I really couldn't figure out why we didn't all just ride together, but for some reason it never occurred to me that something might be up.

I went huffing up the stairs and basically was like "let's get this over with". Josh took the picture, then said he couldn't get the whole shot in the frame. With that, he got on one knee as though he he was going to get the name of the building in the picture. Suddenly, he put the camera down, reached into his pocket, and pulled out a ring box. I was shocked. I think I said something like, "Really? Like, right now?" It was all so surreal! I walked down the stairs to where he was kneeling, he said some very sweet things, then asked if I would marry him. Of course I said yes! I couldn't imagine a more perfect way to start this new chapter of our lives. I know that Teague Hall will always be very near and dear to both of our hearts.

I think when it comes down to it, Josh and I love just how simple it is to be with each other. Although we are the opposite in just about every way, we hardly ever fight and can almost always guess what the other is thinking or feeling. Our relationship is something that grew and developed as we were still developing ourselves, so that now I think we are in a place where we can truly appreciate each other. I love that he is so very funny, intelligent, and supportive. He says he loves that I'm passionate, loving, and diligent. I think we both know that we could not be the people we want to be without each other. So for that reason, among many others, we are so very thankful for each other and feel so blessed that we have the opportunity to live this life together as husband and wife!

Congratulations to Virginia and Josh! Many thanks to Virginia for sharing her story and to Chelsea for sharing her work with us!

Photography by Chelsea Patricia Photography submitted via Two Bright Lights