I can’t think of a better way to end 2019, than with a NYC engagement session! What makes it even more magical, is that they are good friends of mine!!! My husband and I even had a couples vacation with them in Mexico back in 2018! Crazy, because Mexico is actually where I met Sara! We were roommates during a photographer’s retreat in 2016. We have pretty much talked every day since! I loved meeting Tim for the first time in Mexico too, in 2018 on our vacation. I knew immediately that I really loved this guy for Sara. Check out the epic shot I got of the two of them on that vacation!

Sometime last year, Sara told me that she had helped Tim design her engagement ring, with the amazing jeweler The True Gem Company (https://thetruegem.com/). So, she knew the proposal was coming, but just didn’t know when. Ahhh!!! During this time, Sara repeatedly told me that she really wanted me there to capture the proposal. So, I reached out to Tim. I told him how much it would mean to her, and he agreed and let me in on the plan.

Keep in mind the strategics of this plan. I live in Northeast Ohio, while Tim & Sara live in Oklahoma. Now how is THAT going to work?! Well, Tim booked a trip for the two of them to go to NYC the weekend before Christmas. His plan was to fly me out there, I hide out, and he proposes in front of the Christmas Tree at Rockefeller Center!!! AHHHHH!!!!! So, I booked my flight and hotel, and was SO excited.

About two weeks before the trip, Tim started to worry that Sara would figure out his plan. So, Tim changed it up. Tim proposed to Sara at her birthday party, a week before the NYC trip. BUT, I was still a part of a new surprise, which was surprise engagement photos in NYC. We talked about where we would meet, and locations options. But, a few days before the trip, Tim and I agreed that he should tell her before she packs. I mean, a girl has to plan out engagement session outfits! Right?! A few minutes after he told her, there I was in an excited FaceTime call from Sara. I almost cried!

Another last minute change was bringing my daughter along on the trip. I would not normally do this, but because they are my friends, they encouraged it as well. I brought along my 15 year old, to open her eyes to another world. Yes, NYC is a whole other world than small town Ohio! It was SO amazing!!!!

We started the trip without my camera, and walked all over the area of our hotel. We stayed in the YOTEL(https://www.yotel.com/en/hotels/yotel-new-york?), which was in an amazing location close to Times Square. It was a great first night, having burgers, and seeing the lights of New York City.

Friday was the only full day we had to take the engagement photos, and man did we!! We walked over 24,000 steps and that includes a bunch of subway rides(took my legs a couple of days to recover lol)! We started the day in Central Park, had lunch at Grand Central Station, then made our way to The Brooklyn Bridge & Brooklyn Bridge Park. SO cold, but SO amazing!! I even laid down on the bridge for one of the most epic photos I have ever taken. After freshening up at the hotel, we headed out to a local pizza shop for some more photos, because when in NYC…How did we end our day? At the place where he was originally going to propose, the Christmas Tree at Rockefeller Center!!!

Soooooooo…..Who is up for a destination engagement session?!!! I am SO IN!!!! In the meantime, I will be getting all excited over Sara & Tim’s destination wedding in Florida this summer!!!!

Thanks for reading!!!

xoxo

Lindsay – http://www.lindsaydawnphotography.com/

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