New York City Proposal at the East River Park in Manhattan

Belinda and I met when we played varsity volleyball together in high school.  Since then we've kept in touch, seeing each other at different events.  It was a pleasant surprise when her now-fiance, Omar, reached out to me to photograph their proposal. Omar told me that he kept me in mind ever since Belinda once showed him my work and told him that she liked it!  (*^__^*)  

Omar decided to propose at a local park (East River Park) where they used to run together.  This past week has been raining like CRAZY.. so on Christmas eve-eve, Omar and I met up and scoped out the "spot" - mind you...it was raining cats and dogs-- and we were a little worried that on Christmas eve, the big day, it would be raining... but the heavens opened up and the weather was pretty awesome!  It was a perfect moment and the sun even beamed down on Omar and Belinda during the proposal!  It was awesome and I was so glad to capture it as their new york city wedding photographer! Here are some of my favorites from their moment:

A New York City Winter Snowstorm Proposal

Ah!  I was so honored to be able to document this monumental moment.  Stephen has been a good friend of mine for many years, and we've joked and talked about "that day he would get married" - (luckily I beat him to it first- haha jk!!!) but I was so happy when he revealed to me when he met someone wonderful!!  Ester has been an amazing addition to Stephen's life, and both of them make such a power couple.  Their romance brought them all the way from San Francisco and now to New York City. My husband and I love spending time with them.. they're so easy going, down to earth and fun to hang around...  I am so excited for their marriage and know that it will be blessed and fruitful!! Now let me tell you about this photographic experience. It was definitely my first "snowstorm" proposal shoot and never experienced anything like so.  But it was so worth it!  New York City has been experiencing a LOT of crazy snowstorms, we seem to average about one per week these days... so this was last Saturday, 2/15/2014.  The park was a location over on 67th street and 1st avenue, which was close by to the restaurant that Stephen had planned to celebrate with Ester afterwards.  The park was a pretty flat space.. so it was really difficult to find a proper hiding place.  So when they walked in, I literally was sprawled out behind small corner of a gate, trying to get a good angle on the happenings.

Here are some photos of the event and a short little photo session we had after!  They were seriously TROOPERS with withstanding the fast whipping snowflakes!! Enjoy!!

And... then here's my favorite shot of the shoot!: 

Finally warmed up at a nearby cafe:

Stephen bought Ester diamond earrings and a gold band as her engagement "ring"- this was something special to her and he got her exactly what she wanted! So cute and different!

A New York City Proposal with Korean BBQ

Christy, Dan and I spent a lot of time together in college.  They were my two best friends and pretty much my "parents" during those brutal winters in Rochester.  We had a lot of potluck parties, rescues from bug infested homes and random adventuring, eating amazing food (korean food is our fav) and wandering around Rochester and slipping and falling during entrances to stores.  It was awesome.  Every time Dan would gchat me, I would get really excited and be like, "ARE YOU PROPOSING?!" --  and many, many times I've been disappointed- hahaha... UNTIL! a couple of weeks ago! Dan FINALLY asked me to help him plan out his proposal! So, I made plans with Christy to get our nails done but instead of me picking her up, Dan showed up on her doorsteps and popped the question!  It was actually really sweet and a COMPLETE surprise for Christy.  It was a really bittersweet moment for me. Dan had gotten a new job at Amazon, in Seattle, and his time in NYC was almost up.  So here I am, watching two of my best friends committing to begin their new life together and also knowing that in a few months, they will be married and moving across the nation to the west coast.  I was happy and a bit sad, but mostly happy because this is what life is about.  Moving on, growing up and reaching different milestones in our life. So very fittingly, we went out to celebrate and had some delicious Korean BBQ and also got a few moments to snap a few shots of this happy couple on their big day (until the wedding day)!

THIS IS THE BEST GIF THAT TOTALLY DESCRIBES THEM <3

New York City Central Park Zoo Proposal

Angel loves animals!  Which is why Gary chose the New York City Central Park Zoo to propose. Gary enlisted his friend Tim, who came from out of town to visit the Central Park Zoo.  Although it was February,  NYC was finally beginning to warm up, and it was a sunny beautiful winter day.  As Gary, Angel and Tim walked into the Zoo, they stopped at the bird section first- Angel spent time enjoying the birds and even fed them!  After they exited the birds section, they were approaching the 'destination' and Tim had to "duck out to use the restroom".  Gary then led Angel to the middle of the Zoo, gave her a hug and began his journey towards the big question.  Giving her a book of "Why I Want to Marry Angel", let her soak it all in, then he bent down on one knee to ask for her hand in marriage.  It was awesome!! I love that even in New York City there are such beautiful havens and spaces for animals and people! I love being a New York City wedding photographer!  Here are some highlights :D