September 18, 2015. One of the best days of my life thus far.

I started following Natalie, from Natalie Jayne Photography, a couple months ago on Instagram, and in July, she held a contest for a free couple session. At this time in my life, I was in Stone Harbor, New Jersey with MJ and my family on vacation. I was about to have my last day of work at Radford University, and start this new adventure and journey with MJ in Ashburn, Virginia. In this contest, she asked for everyone to submit answers to a questionnaire she made. The questions consisted of what is your love story, why do you want to win this contest, etc. I decided to submit our love story, and believe it or not we actually won! When I had told MJ that our love won, this was his response… “Great, two hours of photos.” I thought it was going to be like pulling teeth to get him to have fun at this session, but little did I know, he messaged Natalie the day after I had won the contest and asked her if it could be a proposal!! She happily said yes, and his planning began.

I still cannot believe all the planning and details that went into creating this day into one I will never forget. For two months, he researched diamonds, stalked my Pinterest page, and schemed his perfect plan for the most perfect proposal. It’s like he lived this other life that I had no idea about! He even asked my parents for my hand in marriage without me knowing, and my mom kept it a secret (this might be the most shocking part hehe). MJ and I have talked about marriage, but he convinced me that he wasn’t going to propose for at least another year, so that he could save up money. I totally understood and never imagined our couple session would turn into a proposal/engagement session.

On the Friday of our couple session, I was so nervous. I wanted to make this session perfect for Natalie because she chose us and our love out of 95 other submissions, and so I decided to buy super flowy and beautiful dresses and get my makeup professionally done. (I even wore lip stick, and yes this is a big deal in the life of Corrin.) When we got to Meridian Hill Park in DC, we started our session like any other session. Nothing out of the ordinary. Natalie asked me to change into my other dress, and this is when MJ and Natalie came up with a code word for when MJ would propose. I came out of the bathroom in my other dress ready for the second half of the session, still 110% clueless. After Natalie posed us, she told us to just hang out and say sweet things to one another so she could capture some candid shots. (I say the same thing to my couples, so I never assumed anything was strange or out of the ordinary.) Let me just tell you, he was saying the sweetest and most genuine things to me. In my mind I was thinking, “Man, he is doing such a good job right now.” He then asked, “If I were to propose right now, would you say yes.” Without a blink of an eye, I said yes, of course! He began to go on one knee, and my first thought was, “This isn’t funny; get back up.” I then saw the ring, and knew he was being serious. The play by play is captured perfectly down below. The rest of the session was filled with so much shock, happiness, love, and pure joy.

That day was the most perfect and amazing day of my life, and I want to thank everyone who made it so great. Natalie, I cannot even begin to express how thankful I am for your talent, your kindness, and your love. Thank you for truly capturing every hug, tear, and smile of our proposal. You will forever hold a special place in our lives! Jana, thank you for not only helping MJ with picking the most amazing diamond and ring, but for raising a man that is so incredibly kind, funny, and caring. I cannot thank you enough for all that you do and have done for him and for me. Mom and Dad, thank you for your approval and love for the both of us. It means the world to me. I love you both from the bottom of my heart, and I am so eternally grateful for all that you have done for me and for raising me to be the woman I am today. And MJ, (insert tears), every day you make me smile, laugh, and enjoy life because you are simply in it. I never knew what love was until I met you. You are my first and last love of my life, and deeeee that just makes me so happy. Your proposal was beyond thoughtful, beyond every girls dream, beyond perfect. I am the luckiest girl in the whole world to have you in my life for now and forever. Thank you for being the most amazing friend and fianceeeee (still not over it). I love you are only simple words to how I truly feel about you. I can’t wait to see what else this crazy life has in store for us.

Now that this is by far the longest post I have ever written, enjoy some of my favorites from our proposal!

xoxo

Kellie, my very honest sister, said I pulled off the model face. If you know Kellie, this means that I truly pulled off the model face.

Here is a play by play of what was going on my mind, from what I remember. . .

“What do you think you are doing?” “This isn’t funny.” “Oh my goodness, you are being serious.”

“Ah, you are seriously doing this!” “Noooo way, no no no.” “I mean, yes.”

Here come the tears.

Lots and lots of tears.

And happiness.

And more tears.

I may be the ugliest crier with eight chins, but I love each and every one these photos. I was just so shocked and happy and loved, and so when this happens I cry. Obviously.

He was explaining each and every lie he had to tell to scheme up this proposal. I will admit, some of these lies, I got pretty mad at him for , but hey I forgive him now hehe!