Alan & Ann - Engagement!

Last week I got to photograph one of my favorite events to date...a live engagement! And not just ANY engagement...my brother-in-law and soon to be sister-in-law's engagement!!! And let the record show, I also helped introduce these two! I am officially counting it as my second successful match up resulting in a wedding! I'll start back at the beginning then get to the pictures!

Almost exactly two years ago, Rob and I took a trip to Colorado with our friends Mary and Tony. While we were playing cards one night we had the wonderful idea to set up Mary's younger sister with Alan! We made some calls, sent some texts, but it wasn't really the right time for either of them. Fast forward about eight months, and Alan is now living with Robby and me. One afternoon I brought up how I had heard Ann was going to back over Labor Day weekend and that Alan should call and ask her out. Alan was kind of hesitant, so Robby took his phone, dialed Ann's number, waited two rings, and then threw the phone at him.

And Alan asked her out.

The went on their first date a couple days later and Alan came home and his exact words were "She was really cute. And funny. We actually had a really good time."

Gee, Alan....did you think I was setting you up with somebody who wasn't cute and funny and wonderful? :)

About a month later it was pretty much a foregone conclusion that these two would get married. At least for Robby and I (and Mary and Tony). It was just a matter of WHEN. Well, we figured out the when last weekend.

Alan called Robby (and then called me a few minutes later since I wasn't with Rob) on December 1st and said he had asked Ann's dad to marry her. He didn't know when it would happen, didn't have a ring, didn't really have a plan....but he had taken the first step! A few weeks later Ruthie, Ann (Rob's mom...not Conklin...:)), Alan, and me went and found a ring after taking a peek at some of Ann's pinterest boards.

Alan then told us his plan for the proposal. He was going to take Ann to his grandparents' farm in Hutch, where they went on a few of their first dates (Robby used to take me there, too....those Ramseyer boys sure know how to work it with the ladies.:)). He wanted to propose outside and incorporate a bottle of Ramseyer wine that they had recently been given (there is a Ramseyer Winery that Rob orders a couple boxes of wine from each year). When he first came up with this plan he had no idea it would be snowing. It was absolutely gorgeous. I'm so honored Al asked me to take the pictures. I absolutely love how they turned out and am so glad they will always have these as a reminder of such a wonderful moment!

Congrats Ann and Alan! We can't wait for the wedding!

The set-up.

They finally arrived. My heart was racing so I can't imagine how they felt!

Ann reading her note...look close and you can see that Alan has retrieved the ring from his pocket.

I think she said yes. :)

Hi guys!

The ring!

After the proposal they took a few minutes to just enjoy each other...and a glass of wine.

Cheers to a matchmaking success! :)

Back to the Conklins' for Ann's birthday dinner...and engagement celebration!

Kathy looks very happy about getting to plan one last wedding! :)

Ann's family was so excited she didn't even have time to take her coat off!

Making some phone calls!

Ruthie and Ryan couldn't be there...thank goodness for facetime! 

I wish I would have taken more pictures after the Ramseyers all showed up, but they brought my baby and I got distracted. :) 

What a wonderful day it was! Can't wait for November 29th! Welcome to the family, Ann! :)