Once upon a time there was a boy and a girl who met on the school bus. They would meet up at the guardrail between their houses and walk the neighborhood, falling more in love as time carried on. Either they were meeting at the guardrail or chatting on AOL Instant Messenger..so it was only fitting that Ian took advantage of ALL of this when he planned to propose. He convinced Alex to fly out and visit her parents, knowing all the while that he’d fly out to meet her there as a surprise. With a simple text to check the lining of her suitcase, he prompted Alex to find a recreation of one of their AIM conversations (screen names and everything!). He kindly asked her to meet at their spot and then “put up an away message” saying that he was “waiting for the next chapter of the Guardrail Romance to start.” As soon as she read that, she knew. Amidst tears and hugs from her family, she walked out her front door and walked to their spot, finding Ian perched on the guardrail just like when they were 16 or 17. They both descended into further tears and wide smiles as she said yes to their forever.
Ian and Alex have been together for ten years! Through high school, college, a long distance relationship, and job changes they stuck through it, side by side. If not in distance, then always in heart. Couples who date for such a long time are so impressive to me! It’s crazy to think of all they’ve been through together. Ten years means that both Alex and Ian have changed a ton since they first met. And through all that, they chose to love each other. Through changes and growing up. They went from riding the bus together to college in different towns to living states away from each other, to finally, getting to be together in Texas. And now they’re getting married! It’s a beautiful thing to see love grow up and I could see that just in the few moments I spent with them. Ian sitting on that guardrail waiting to propose was full circle for them and it was so emotional to see!
We’re so, so thankful to have been a part of this historic day for Ian and Alex. Proposals are a special sort of nerve wrecking…but Ian had everything so well thought out that we fit perfectly into his plan! It was an absolute joy to document how special this moment was for them. Annnnd I may have shed a few tears into my camera as I was shooting. Can you really blame me?
Sending the text that started everything off!
How perfect was this?!
I think that’s a yes!
And then it was time for some engagement photos at their spot :]
Love this! Alex, you’re beautiful!
They’re naturals!
Strolling off into happily ever after :]
