Imagine this....You are on vacation on a beautiful island enjoying a private horseback ride and you find a bottle with a message enclosed. You read the message and realize it is a letter sent from a ship-wrecked man in desperate need to get home and be with his love....
Well that is how it happened...KINDA
It all started about a month ago, Alex contacted me with an interest in having his well-planned proposal captured like a story. He had some details set, but was working on the rest. He knew he wanted to bring her to Amelia Island; her childhood vacation spot, and ride horses on the beach, all of which she would know about, but the rest would be a surprise. We coordinated the proposal details with Stan, owner of Happy Trails Walking Horses, LLC, quickly found someone with beautiful writing to write the letter, set up a "mock session" with a current client so it would not be obvious that a photographer with studio lights was on the beach, and continued communicating often with Alex.
Alex and Christine had fantasized about finding a message in a bottle, so Alex knew this had to be done. 
He decided to have two parts to the letter, one a fictitous story about a ship-wrecked man, of Russian decent just like Alex, longing for a rescue and a mention of him missing his "soon to be fiance' ", with a name of Polish decent just like Christine. The end of the letter would say, "turn over for more instructions". Then the "proposal" and expression of love from the "real Alex" to the "real Christine". All went as planned on September 9th, 2013 and Alex, like a true romantic, was down on one knee after she read the letter and turned around. After saying, "Are you serious?" She said, "Yes"!
Alex and Christine met at Penn State in the library about 5 years ago and have been going strong since then. Who knew that after an arguement that ended with Christine saying, "prove to me you're a gentleman" and then Alex replying, "Then go out to dinner with me", they would be planning a wedding. They are currently living in Pittsburgh, PA with their 2 cats and a rabbit and plan to marry in about 1.5 years.
12 Comments
Oct 1, 2013, 9:13:59 AM
brenna - i love you both! and that picture does not do that custom ring justice IT IS BEAUTIFUL xoxoxox congrats guys
Sep 17, 2013, 6:38:03 PM
Saedeh - Dear Alex and Christine, I am glad to have known you and honored to be your friend. Alex, your proposal was sweet, I liked the idea behind it and how you put it together! Good job! Christine, you are a sweet and lovely person and I couldnt be any happier than to hear this great news! I am happy for the both of you and I wish the best in life for you both! take good care of each other! Congratulations!!! <(")
Sep 17, 2013, 4:30:05 PM
Lauren - Alex!! This is very sweet of you to actually listen to what Christine truly wanted. Congratulations to the both of you! I wish you both a life full of love, happiness and compromise! Cheers to you both!
Sep 16, 2013, 3:13:27 PM
Steve - Thought Alex would get kicked in the head by the horse. Long live Lock jaw!!!
Congrats!!!
Sep 13, 2013, 9:20:20 PM
Fran - That's my baby Christine. I love both her and Alex very much and I am so glad they found each other. I am looking forward to being the mother of the bride.
Sep 12, 2013, 8:36:30 AM
Aysegul - How beautiful, wish you both lifetime happiness!
Sep 12, 2013, 8:31:55 AM
Kari - Wow...A very thoughtful proposal! It's awesome you were able to capture pictures for them to have for years to come. It would make a great little book : )
Sep 11, 2013, 11:05:38 PM
Jill - Such a beautiful love story! Congratulations and wishing you a lifetime of beautiful memories.
Sep 11, 2013, 3:00:40 PM
Maggie - What a great story. And about Penn State alums (which I am one as well)!!! Congratulations! For the glory.
Sep 11, 2013, 11:18:02 AM
Lori Van Lennep - How romantic and wonderful!! Always remember the romance and go the extra mile for each other. I wish you a lifetime of happiness.
Sep 11, 2013, 11:11:47 AM
Sara Terry - Beautiful story! Congrats on your engagement!
Sep 11, 2013, 10:55:39 AM
Melinda Etheridge - My oh My, I am in complete Awwww!!!
This has to be the most amazing engagement story I have ever read..even better is having the pictures to guide you through the story!
Christine..back to the start this so far has been by far the best argument ever and Alex, whooooo you proved yourself!!
Congratulations to both of you on your engagement and all of your future endeavors!