On September 11th, I got this email from a guy named Gino:
“Hello Kari, I have been searching online for photographers for several weeks and I really like the style of your pictures. I am interested in a photo shoot with my girlfriend. I would like to surprise her and propose to her during the shoot so I we can have pictures to remeber it. Would this be something you would be interested in doing? Thanks, Gino.”

Of course, I was all over the idea, and thrilled to be a part of it! I’d always wanted to do a shoot like this. So we discussed the details, decided on Battle Creek park on October 1st, the 1 yr anniversary of Gino and his girlfriend’s first date.
A couple weeks later, my meddling pal Mandi decided it was time for Bob and I to get engaged, so she started posting not subtle at all comments on both of our myspace pages, telling Bob he should buy me an engagement ring. Little did she know he had already done so and was putting together his sneaky suprise all the while.

But, he did notice the comments and texted me with a sarcastic “Did you put her up to this?” to which I said no of course.

Our text message conversation that night ended up going to where he wrote, “I’m under pressure to ask you in a way that won’t be lame”, and then “I don’t want it to be a holiday thing. Maybe this spring”.

To which I said, ” Spring? Don’t tell me this stuff, it ruins the suprise and I’d go insane wondering.”

Well then he said, “Ok, it won’t be spring. I’m going to stop talking now before I do any more damage.”

At that point, I started getting suspicious. Based on that response there was definitely a plan in the works….

The next day, he changed his myspace status to “sneaky”, which totally tipped me off, and things started to come together in my mind. I talked to my mom over the weekend and told her I had my suspicions, but wouldn’t say anything just in case I was wrong.

Cut to Wednesday, October first. Bob got ready for work and left at his usual time. At 4 o clock, I arrived at Battle Creek Park for the shoot, a little suspicious but still planning on documenting a special moment for a couple I had never met before. They arrived a few minutes later and we started a couples engagement style photo shoot.




Anyway, the plan was to meet at one end of the park and take pictures as we walk toward the other end, where he’d have a table set up with flowers, and that’s where he’d propose to her. So I went along with this as planned, and ended up at the decorated table.


So she sat down on the bench, and he got down on one knee and proposed. She gave him the funniest look, and I was thinking “oh crap, she’s going to say no!” and then she said, “What are you doing? We’re already married!” and said this over and over again.

See Bob, sneaking up in the background? I saw that and was pissed that some guy kept getting in my shot, lol!
At this point my suspicions had subsided a bit during our shoot, and when she said they’re already married I started thinking of a drunken scenario in Vegas that he must have forgotten about, lol! But just as I had this elaborate story forming in my head, Bob showed up and handed me a white rose, told me some very sweet things that I couldn’t repeat because I was too caught up to really pay attention to what he was saying.
Then he got down on one knee and asked me to marry him! Of course I said yes!
He stood up, I gave him big kiss, then looked over to my right to see my friend and assistant Shawna snapping pictures.

Wow, I must say, he definitely put in a great effort. I think I’ve got a keeper!
It looks even better in person.

So it ends up that Gino is a guy who worked with Bob at the airport several years ago, and who I’ve never met, obviously! Nice work Bob, it was definitely a very memorable moment!

By the way, we’re looking at either May 23rd or 30th for our wedding date. Now, the planning!……….

Kari Layland

Thank you for visiting! I love what I do, and am honored to share it with you! I've been a photographer for 12 years and am loving it! I started out working in studios where I gained experience while learning and developing my skills independently. I've taken various classes on a variety of photography related topics to enhance what I'd already learned from experience. I began working on location independently part time in 2001 with dreams to open my own studio down the road. After I became mom to my first daughter Nina in 2005, I decided to take another big step and go full time with my business. I'm so glad I did! Please take a moment to visit my main website: http://www.kariphotography.com

This Post Has 31 Comments

  1. Awwww, I am SO HAPPY for you both! There is so much love between you two:) Thank you for letting me be apart of your special momment:)

    Shawnna

  2. CONGRATULATIONS!!! How sweet and exciting for the both of you! I am in tears! Have fun planning!!

  3. OMG! HOW EXCITING!!!! I am just THRILLED for you guys- you are such a perfect couple! And what a beautiful story… Bob, you’re so sly! Can you come give my hubby some lessons? LOL

  4. WOW! I am crying and am so impressed by Bob’s sneaky plan! You guys totally are meant for each other and I am so happy for all three of you! (You will be a gorgeous bride and Nina will be one cute mini-bride!) Congratulations!!!

  5. Congratulations Kari!!! That is so romantic… What a wonderful surprise for you!!!

  6. Wow!!! You’ve got a great… fiance!!! that is so romantic!!! Congratulations!!

  7. Congrats and I love that you have photos to go along with the story. That is just awesome!
    Cari

  8. Congratulations!!

  9. This is such a great story and Bob seems like such a great man. Congrats to you both!!

    At first I thought he had a bag on his head and I had to keep looking to figure out it was an umbrella lol.

  10. HUGE congrats to you! What a ring.

    I think it would be so much fun if we all came and photographed your wedding…can’t you just imagine 20 photographers all running around;)

  11. Wow!That is an amazing story!!! =D Just beautiful. Congratulations!!!!! Who’s gonna be your photographer? Everyone always asked me that. Just curious who you’d want to capture your big day. Good luck with planning! It’s so much fun. Blessings~ Jenny Bedard

  12. Wow, how incredibly cool! That is so sweet and so romantic…. congratulations!!

  13. Congratulations to the two of you, and what a wonderful story/photojournaling of this sweet event.

  14. very fun!! Congrats to you both!

  15. That totally made me cry!! How sweet and sooo super creative!!

    Lovin’ the bling too!!

  16. Kari, what a wonderful story. I am so happy for you both. You are going to make a drop dead georgous bride that is certain. Congratulations to you and Bob and little Nina! Kathy

  17. Awww! That is just the neatest story! I laughed and got all choked up too. Way, way cool! Kudos to Bob for putting on such an awesome surprise! Congrats to all of you.

    Soooooo – who was the married couple after all that? Did Shawna and Bob hatch that bit too? Very memorable proposal that’s for sure!

  18. Congrats. I am so happy, excited, etc. for you. It couldn’t have happened to a better person.

    Great memories to have and to share.

  19. OMG!!! That is such an awesome story!! I just sat here with a silly grin on my whole face the entire time I read this. Sounds like it is straight out of a romance novel. You have one great guy on your hands!!! Congrats!!

  20. What a special event to caputre. They look like such a great couple.

  21. AMAZING!!!!!!! What an awesome way to propose!!!! I love her response too! haha! I just love everything about this post!

    CONGRATS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  22. Congrats! Love this story.

  23. OH WOW! What a perfect proposal! I am SO happy for all three of you! Congratulations!!!

  24. Congratulations to you all! What a great way to propose. I can’t wait to see the wedding photos. I’m sure they will be beautiful.

    Sue

  25. Holy cow that gave me chills!! How ROMANTIC!! CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  26. Congratulations!! How romantic and fitting.
    Hugs, smooches to both.
    Aunt Deb

  27. What a fantastic story! Congratulations Kari! I hope you have a wonderful, long, happy marraige (and maybe more babies too :)).

    Take care.

  28. congratulations kari! that is an AWESOME story!! i LOVE IT! wow, big points to bob for masterminding such an elaborate and well thought out plan – it was soooooo perfect and so fitting for you! i just love it! i’m so glad you shared it all in great detail! i can’t wait to hear the upcoming details of your wedding planning, who will shoot it, etc. you will hopefully have a team of photographers there to capture it all! kari, you are so deserving of this happiness! very happy for you 🙂 teresa

  29. Very Cool, Congradulations! I wish the best of love and life to the both of you always! Gods speed,
    Aunt Lisa and Family

  30. YA!! We are very happy for you Kari! Congratulations!

    Susan, Matt, and Rachel Block

  31. Oh my what a story, I loved reading it, it brought tears to my eyes I am also a photograher and I love your pictures,so I was browsing and found you and I am glead I got to read your beautiful story.
    Keri

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