How She Asked
“I remember you said you wanted to come out here and take pictures one day when it was empty. That’s why I had you get up so early”
We had initially scheduled the photo shoot date for Monday before the Sonder concert, but Irma’s scheduled arrival for Atlanta forced us to move it up a day. It was early. I’m talking before people are out doing their morning runs early. Before praying grandmothers rise early. The sun hadn’t even began to peak out yet, and there were still two skaters out practicing.
Climbing down into the concrete ramps I gained a whole new level of respect for skaters, it is steep and not easy to walk down or up and I couldn’t even imagine riding a skateboard down even the beginner side.
I tried to and failed to climb up to the center of the ramps several times, sliding back down in defeat. I made a mental note to maybe NOT wear Fenty bow slides next time I need to climb up something and decided I wasn’t going to let this beat face go to waste and slayed in the pit of the skate park instead.
The sun finally decided to begin to poke his head out as we were headed to the next location she picked, the Jackson street bridge. The bridge offers unpatrolled views of the city and it’s not uncommon to see photo shoots taking place there. In fact, a couple with an adorable King Charles Cavalier was taking pics when I first began to pose.
When they wrapped their shoot , I helped Dani with the camera settings before she had me turn to catch to take a few shots with the rising sun reflecting off the skyline. I have been living in Atlanta almost 3 years now, and I never grow tired of that view. I was so caught up in the morning air and how quiet a normally very busy area was that it took me a moment to realize that she was telling me to turn around to see if she liked the pics she’d taken so far. That’s when I turned to find her on her knee with the most beautiful and perfect ring I’d ever seen .
Jumping, and screaming, and ugly crying ensued.
We then headed to our favorite flying biscuit in Candler Park to celebrate with carbs and mimosas only to be thwarted by being reminded that it was Sunday and we couldn’t drink until 1230 (in the restaurant, I made sure I got it poppin as soon as I got home). Over breakfast she shared how she was able to keep her proposal from me, including scheduling the ring delivery from FedEx when I was off running errands with Harlem. The universe was on her side that day cause the delivery was a little late and it just so happened to be the day Amazon launched instant delivery with free breakfast item promo so I took longer than expected cause I was way too hype about free cereal.
She told me about how she was nervous and my girl Blu helped ease her nerves before she called my parents to ask for their blessing. And she detailed the ring process to me. I had found the jeweler, Princess Bride Diamonds, months ago on Instagram and had been obsessed with their unique pieces ever since. Each ring is custom made and takes 4 to 6 weeks to receive. Dani said working with Sarah for such an important purchase was an amazing experience and they even sent a handwritten note with the ring.
For now we are basking in the freshly engaged love feels and any wedding ideas are fairly abstract, but I’ll admit I’ve doubled my time spent on Pinterest already. Her proposal was perfect and lowkey, and she made sure to pick a ring as unconventional as me.
