photo | Sarah Kate, Photographer

CLAIRE + JOSCH

Josch proposed to me right around my birthday. He had planned a “birthday dinner” for me on Saturday night. Ten minutes before he was supposed to pick me up, he called to tell me a car was coming to get me. and he would meet me at the restaurant. An old white vintage car pulled up. Inside were flowers and a sweet note. The car took me to SMU’s campus where Josch was waiting. He proposed! We took some pictures with the photographer after and had a wonderful engagement party back at my parents’ house. It was the most special day, and I was so surprised!!

photo | Nate and Grace Photography

ASHLIE + ANDREW

We had just celebrated our two year anniversary and were about to spend the next week in Colorado. Our first day there, Andrew told me that we were going to a nice lunch after we walked through Garden of the Gods park, so we needed to dress up. We got to the park, and it was an absolutely beautiful day. Andrew walked me around some of the trails until it was just the two of us on this trail in front of the kissing camels rock. He said so many sweet and wonderful things to me before he got down on his knee. It was the easiest yes I have ever said! It was so special just being the two of us and then we were able to enjoy the rest of our trip as a newly engaged couple! We made so many great memories together that we will be able to share together for the rest of our lives.

photo | Jen Symes Photography

ANASTASIA + SHANKAR

Shankar proposed to me at St. Martin’s Wine Bistro in Dallas, the restaurant where he took me for our first date. It was planned as a nice family dinner with the two of us, my mother and my grandparents. Originally, I suspected he was going to propose on this night, but he somehow managed to convince me otherwise. Needless to say, I was caught off guard when he led me out of the booth we were sitting in and got down on one knee, ring in hand. My mother and grandmother were smiling from across the table, and my grandfather, who had the best view, was beaming at us as he witnessed his “beh-beh-goh” say, “yes,” to the man she’d been waiting her entire life for.

photo | Brittany Clark Photography

ALYSSA + MITCHELL

I met Mitchell when we were seated next to each other in eighth grade algebra. He was a class clown, and I was a straight A student. As we proceeded to date other people throughout high school, we continued to have classes together. Mitchell always made me laugh, and I always thought that he was special. As we neared graduation and were set to go our separate ways for college (1238 miles apart), everything changed. It all started one Friday night when I was having some friends over for a pajama-party-movie-night complete with Mean Girls and Skittles. One of our mutual friends (now a groomsman), Hayden, asked if he could invite Mitchell. For the first time, we were together outside of the four walls of a classroom, and for the first time, we were both single. We sat next to each other on the couch that night. Years later we discussed the fact that we were both distinctly aware that our knees were touching.

It all started from there. The type of summer that movies try to capture. A group of carefree friends playing beach volleyball, vowing to watch every American Pie sequel before we go off to college, swimming, grilling, roasting marshmallows, so on and so forth. About two weeks in, Mitchell took me out on our first date to Mama’s Daughters’ Diner. Throughout the summer, we ignored the fact that in a few short months, I would be leaving for Texas A&M and Mitchell would be traveling to Florida Atlantic. We ignored the fact that it is a terrible idea to embark upon college with a two-month-old, very long distance relationship. All we knew was that we were going to be together. Our freshman year consisted of care packages, phone calls and surprise visits. Fully prepared to endure four years of missing him, Mitchell surprised me with a phone call towards the end of our second semester. He informed me that after his research, Texas A&M would accept the majority of his transfer credits, and they have an excellent ocean engineering program. Our remaining three years of college, we were together at last.

Again as graduation neared, this time college, our new chapter began. Mitchell and I met our two families at my ranch in east Texas for Easter weekend. Mitchell woke me up on Easter-eve with a basket, inside was an egg. The egg had a clue leading us to find the next. One after another, the clues led us around the property until we arrived upon a beautifully set picnic table with candles, individually stacked s’mores, chocolate covered strawberries and a lit fire pit. This is where Mitchell revealed the final egg that contained a love letter. He then proceeded to ask me to marry him. Thrilled, I said YES! We called our families on the walkie talkies to tell them the news, and they came racing up to the picnic area where we all celebrated over hot dogs and marshmallows.

photo | Megan Kay Photography

ALEXIS + PAUL

Paul and I met my junior year of college at Oklahoma State University. My roommate and I went out to dinner one night and bumped into a group of guys that she knew. Paul introduced himself to me, and I was instantly charmed by his wit and sense of humor. He was so handsome, warm, intelligent and made me laugh. There was something different about him than anyone else I had ever met, and I was so drawn to his charm. We ran into each other a few more times at OSU football games, and every time we left each other, I couldn’t wait until the next time we would see each other again. Eventually he gained the courage to ask for my phone number and study dates turned into real dates, and the rest is history!

Fast forward almost five years. Paul and I made plans to go see my younger sister, Natalie, at OSU for the weekend. We had planned to have lunch with Natalie at The Rancher’s Club, a restaurant on OSU’s campus. Paul drove us over to the campus, and we walked around, making our way to the restaurant. He says he was really nervous, but he did not show it at all. I really had no idea that anything was up and was just enjoying getting to take a walk with him on such a beautiful day. As we walked in front of the library, Paul started to talk about how much this campus meant to him because it was where we met and started our lives together. I still had no idea he was going to propose and just thought he was being really sweet and sentimental. He suddenly grabbed my hand and got down on one knee. Neither of us remember what he said – we both kind of blacked out – but I do remember him asking, “Will you marry me?” I said yes of course and didn’t even give him a chance to stand before I started hugging him.

I heard squealing coming from the bushes beside us and saw that Natalie and Paul’s brother Travis, were hiding in the bushes taking pictures of the proposal. I was so happy that they were there for that special moment. We headed back to Natalie’s house and to my surprise were greeted by our families and a bunch of our friends. It meant so much to me that Paul had invited everyone up to share the special day with us. It was the happiest day of my life, knowing that I was going to spend forever with Paul and getting to celebrate with people I love.

photo | Kelly Costello Photography

ABBY + PARKER

Our families both love to travel to the islands, and this summer we had the opportunity to all be there at once. Little did I know, Parker had a plan in place and people were assigned jobs to help pull off the perfect surprise proposal.

We already had a couple of great days there, then the morning of July 4th. we sailed around more islands, snorkeled a little bit, stopped off at some island bars and just enjoyed the day. Then before heading to our island dinner destination, we stopped off at our favorite little island (emphasis on little) called Sandy Spit. It is literally just a spit of sand – it used to have a few palm trees, but no more… thanks Irma! Some of the family were tasked with distracting me, while others set up the proposal site.

Parker had used message in a bottle placed on a Turkish towel surrounded by photos that captured some of our favorite memories. He led me down a “path” which started with a bottle of champagne with a label on it saying, “It’s Happening!” (because let’s be real, we had dated for 5 years!). All of the sudden it hit – it’s REALLY is happening!

At the end of the path was a handwritten letter inside of a bottle. Parker’s heartfelt words about our relationship and future together brought me to tears. He got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. One of the best parts was that our families were there to witness and to celebrate this huge milestone for us. Next came champagne toasts, lots of hugs, happy tears and lots of dreamy photos.