Tara & Nate

The Proposal

We had been together for a long time, over 10 years, so we both assumed we would get married at some point.  I’ve learned that Nate had several plans to propose that didn’t quite happen (he is adorably shy about such things). One time he had planned to ask me during the light and water show at our trip to Disneyland with a stand in robot ring he got from one of the souvenir shops while I was distracted. Later, we took a day trip to the beach and he was trying to work up the nerve to ask me throughout the day, it wasn’t till we were home later and ready for bed that he gave a little box  and told me that I should open “this thing I’ve been trying to give you all day” and asked me to be his wife.

The Engagement Session

For our first big and fancy date we stayed at the coast. This was when Nate first said he loved me. We spent a day at the Oregon Coast Aquarium, where it was pouring down rain, and then later spent the evening in by the fireplace playing cards. It was a good day and a good memory, so we decided to go back for the engagement photos. We also thought it would make for fun photos. (It did!)

The Engagement Ring

It is made with white gold band with scroll work on the sides. The stones are an aquamarine (Tara’s birthstone) in the center flanked by Montana Sapphires (I’m from Montana, and it’s the type of stone on my mother’s ring). I knew I wanted to have a hand in designing the ring, since Tara and I both come from an artistic background. Tara made it clear that she wasn’t very interested in diamonds, so I was able to use stones that were more personal to us. The designer at Green Lake ended up doing most of the heavy lifting on the actual design, but I was able to provide enough input to make it feel like our own.

Photo Credit: Jaime Kae Hazen Photography