A Magical Proposal at Historic Tuckahoe: Dylan & Kara’s Story
This was such a sweet and fun session!! While we were a bit anxious about the weather, it turned out romantic and just perfect! Sometimes, the weather adds a touch of magic to a moment, and that was certainly the case for Dylan & Kara’s proposal session at Historic Tuckahoe in Richmond, VA. I just love this location - it was the boyhood home of Thomas Jefferson, and being from the Staunton/Charlottesville area, I just love that! It was so misty out, and as I arrived at the location, I couldn’t help but wonder if the rain would hold off long enough for the surprise Dylan had carefully planned for Kara! Thankfully, the rain didn’t come until just after our session was over – meant to be!
This was a random Tuesday (well, random to me!). Dylan reached out to me requesting that this proposal happen on this particular day of December 10, 2024. Dylan and Kara met in Harrisonburg, VA, and everything about them being together involves the 10th day! They met February 10th, started dating April 10th, and shockingly enough, Dylan even asked her dad for Kara's hand in marriage on November 10th! Wild! Dylan said that the 10th just feels like "their day" and wanted to keep it going!
Before Kara arrived at the venue, Dylan and I had a quiet moment to review our plan. He was SO thoughtful and prepared, even bringing press-on nails for Kara in case she was concerned about how her nails would look! So sweet! He had told Kara that they were doing a simple couples photo session for Christmas, which was the perfect cover for the surprise proposal he had in mind. He even proceeded to tell me that he had a grammy-winning moment with her the night before and even almost shed a tear in her presence when she questioned him about a possible proposal, and he told her he just didn't have the money for a ring right now! Applause!
We started with a few basic poses to ease into the session. It was a wonderful chance for them to relax and warm up, and the overcast, misty weather added a romantic touch! About 15 minutes into the session, the real fun started! As we moved into a kneeling pose for the proposal set-up shot, I said, “Alright, great! You can stand up now!” But Dylan didn’t stand. Instead, he turned toward Kara, stayed on one knee, and asked her the biggest question of his life! She was SHOCKED! I mean, just look at the following images. The best!
I was so lucky to witness this beautiful moment – Dylan had truly planned the perfect surprise! You can tell by the look on her face that Kara was overjoyed, and it was such a sweet, intimate moment between the two of them! Right after he proposed, I stepped back, giving them some space to have their own moment together, while I quietly photographed their candid emotions. There were so many beautiful, genuine moments between them that I was able to document!
After the proposal, we transitioned into what became their engagement session! Kara was glowing and looked absolutely stunning with her GORGEOUS oval diamond! As a photographer, it’s such a privilege to be a part of moments like these :)
Dylan, you nailed it! Kara, I’m so happy for you both. You make the cutest couple, and I can’t wait to see what the future holds for you two!
*If you are interested in having your OWN proposal session and/or engagement session, I am here for you! Let's make it special! Contact me HERE!
