The Root Photography Blog

Lorie + Jon : Proposal

July 2, 2010 by Jensey 17 Comments

So, remember when I blogged about our awesome TN vacation yesterday? If not, you should go read that, first. :)

Here’s the thing about Lorie and Jon- They’ve had a wedding date and location set for years, based around the 2010 World Cup (Jon is sorta kinda the biggest soccer fan I’ve ever met.) While they were already the definition of engaged (“pledged to be married”), they weren’t engaged. Like, the down-on-one-knee-I-love-you-so-much-here’s-something-pretty-to-wear kind of engaged. Which, in my opinion, is just as important as the whole “pledged to be married” part. Lorie had sent Jon photos of rings she liked, and obviously she knew the proposal was coming soon, but she kept saying she didn’t wanna know when it was coming. Does that makes sense? One of Jon’s best traits is that just like Nate, he’s honest. To a fault. That kid just can’t lie for the life of him! I knew the whole proposal thing would be tough, because as most of y’all know, it always takes some lying to make it happen. Like, some old-fashioned, stare right into your face-lying, the type I knew Jon just couldn’t do.

While Lorie and Jon are having a small destination wedding in Africa (only their parents and us are there!), they’re planning on coming back and having a reception for family and friends at this barn in Franklin, TN. Lorie had never actually been there, so she wanted to check it out, but she was 99% set on the place. We planned to take the guys there before dinner on our last night in Tennessee.

As soon as I knew this and the specific date, I went behind Lorie’s back and met with Jon while she was at work one day. I pretty much told him I had the most perfect proposal idea ever, but telling him about it would ruin a big surprise. So I told him about Lorie and my plan to surprise him and Nate with a trip to Tennessee. It was pretty much certain that this may be the only way to truly surprise Lorie- She’d never expect Jon to propose when she was surprising him with something. :) It was also perfect for Jon, because since he didn’t “know” about the trip up there, Lorie would never mention it to him, so he didn’t have to lie at all- That was all on me! :)

Still confused? Here’s the abridged version- Lorie and I planned a surprise trip. Jon proposed on said trip. Get it? Good! :)

The set up story was so easy since they’re used to us doing impromptu shoots with them on vacation- I told Lorie I wanted to take some long shots of them in front of the barn. :) Nate and I were really far away, so we couldn’t hear Jon’s speech. :) I love these first two photos, because Lorie still had no idea what was going on. :)

And then Jon went down on one knee. :)

My favorite!!!!!!!!!!!! Gah, I really wanna shoot more proposals!! :)

She said YES!

I believe this is when she yelled, “JENSEY! Why didn’t you make me wear waterproof mascara?!”

After 6 months of lies, I was thrilled to have a clear conscious again. :)

The final surprise of the whole trip- Jon, Momma Phu (Lorie’s mom), and I arranged to have their parents surprise her at dinner afterwards. She was teary through the whole engagement, but seeing her Mom brought the real waterworks. :) I should also mention that Momma Phu isn’t the best liar, either, but she was so great at keeping everything a secret, too! Lorie kept trying to call her parents to tell them when we were driving to dinner, and I told Momma Phu no matter what, don’t answer your phone! She did a great job. :)

As soon as hugs were done, the Moms whipped out their cameras for some ring shots. :)

The end. :)

Tennessee : Travel

June 30, 2010 by Jensey 19 Comments

This one’s gonna be pretty image-heavy, so make yourself comfortable! ;) So here’s the story- For almost a year (I believe), Lorie and I were planning a surprise trip for our guys. :) Nathan had never gone and stayed in a cabin before, or seen east Tennessee, let alone in the fall, so we knew where we wanted to go immediately! The whole trip was full of surprises (more than Lorie knew, even), so when we put the guys in the car, they had no idea where we were taking them! Our first surprise for them was a day at Dollywood, which none of us had gone to before. :) Being a total Disney snob, I thought we’d be laughing at it, but I looooooooved it!!

This was the front entrance:

Dollywood had to be the most beautiful amusement park ever. I mean, even waiting in line was gorgeous. :)

While part of Dollywood is rides and attractions, the other has an actual chapel, and a lot of craftsmen making furniture, guitars, brooms… A little of everything. It’s kind of like a permanent crafts fair.

Santa’s brother talking with a scarecrow.

I loved the gift shop up front. :)

Prettiest parking lot ever!

So after that surprise was done, we threw the guys in the car and headed to secret spot #2.

Ta-da!! Well, turns out we didn’t get a photo of the front of our cabin, but this is the bedroom Nate & I stayed in.

It was absolutely gorgeous- I can’t wait to go back. :)

The view from the kitchen window…

… And the view from the 3 back porches. (Yes, 3!)

Another view from the back porch- I love autumn leaves when they’re soaked. :)

The view looking down from the top porch.

I didn’t include photos ’cause we didn’t take any, but we also surprised the guys by taking them to the Dixieland Stampede that night. (Yeehaw!) After the show was a big moment for me- It was the first time in about 5 months that I had just sat down to watch a movie. Lorie and I watched Stepmom (one of my favorites to watch around Autumn), and the guys went downstairs and played pool.

Nate and Jon went for a hike around the cabin the next morning. :)

I loved taking these roads!

What it looks like from a car window. :)

The NEXT surprise was on Halloween, actually… We went to the University of Tennessee, where Lorie, Jon, and I went to school for a while. The 3 of us hadn’t been back since, and I loved having the chance to show Nate around my old stompin’ grounds. The next 2 photos are the most meaningful- The bench Lorie and I are sitting on is the VERY spot where I begged her to do the Walt Disney World College Program with me! I wouldn’t have done it without her, and she would never have met Jon, I never would have met Nate. How crazy! I thought the bench deserved a photo. :) The one on the right was my dorm, South Carrick. :)

The Quad where I spent most of my time. :)

Neyland Stadium!

We’d purposefully picked Halloween week to go because this was the only game Nate and I didn’t have a wedding booked. :)

I loved that it was the black out game on Halloween! The Pride of the Southland Band performed a Halloween medley. :)

Jack from Nightmare Before Christmas!

That’s better. :)

After the game- I can honestly say I’d never been so cold and wet for such a long period of time. I was miiiiiiserable, but we had fun, regardless. :) Oh, and UT won, too!

I love this photo of Lorie and Jon… It’s extra special, because while she and I were planning this surprise trip for the guys, she had nooooooo idea Jon was planning on proposing the next day! :)