Jenni & Matthew’s proposal & engagement at Zion National Park

Photographing a couple in the stunning vistas of Zion National Park has long been a bucket list item. Jenni is a dear friend of ours that moved away to Utah to follow her dreams (or her dream man ;). I very much looked forward to connecting with Jenni and Matt for a couple’s shoot in Zion, but even I did not know how special this shoot was going to be until Matt found a quick opportunity to share his plan while Jenni was changing into her dress! Plans were quickly laid down for Matt to wait until we were at the peak of our hike – just as the sun would be perfect. I wondered if Jenni suspected anything, but she seemed blissfully unaware.

There are no words to describe the beautiful feeling that washed over me while I watched through my camera viewfinder as Matt edged into position and Jenni turned around to see him on one knee. Photographing a Surprise Engagement is a magical thing, but getting to be a part of something so special for a dear friend magnified the experience 10 fold! Thank you to Jenni and Matt for trusting me with this life moment – I can’t wait for the wedding!!

From Jenni:
I met Matthew when I was 15 years old. I saw him at the movie theater and had an immediate crush on him… years later he would be my fiancé… And I still get the same teenage butterflies every time I see him.

The Surprise Engagement

When I first mentioned to Matt that we would be going to Zion National Park to meet with Koby for a photo shoot he seemed extremely nonchalant. The drive to the shoot was great; nothing suspicious at all, (even when he brought a nice bottle of champagne!) I was super excited to see Koby and get to experience a little bit of Zion National Park. Throughout the shoot Matt was being super sweet. At one point while Koby was capturing some photos of just me, I saw Matt out of the corner of my eye getting into the shot, I thought he was just photo-bombing me! When I turned around I saw him on one knee with the pretty blue box and I was SO SURPRISED! Matt asked me if I would be his wife and he had the biggest smile I had ever seen! Everything was so perfect! The setting of majestic Zion as the backdrop made it surreal. And of course, I said YES!!
It was truly an amazing day.

Want to see another one of my favorite engagement shoots? Here is Theressa & Derick’s Galveston Beach engagement.