I always ask my couples to fill out a relationship questionnaire before we meet for a shoot. I love getting to know them from how they met to how their proposal went. I asked Ryan and Carly to fill one out and it was the most eloquently written and romantic story that I couldn’t help but ask if I could share how they met and how he proposed verbatim from the questionnaire.
These two are so in love and took a big leap of faith by leaving their homes to hit the road full time while they pursue their dreams of traveling around the U.S. They work and go to school full-time and have had many exciting adventures! They asked me to do an engagement shoot for them in Utah before they headed back home to prep for their wedding! They also brought their two cute pups – scroll to the bottom to see them in some photos!
One thing that I learned from them was that if you have some dream that you can’t stop thinking about, just pursue it! Ryan and Carly are amazing humans and here’s their love story:
How did you two meet?
It was midnight in the study room, and every chair was empty but one. A sweet, welcoming smile led me to ask, “Is anyone sitting here?” She glanced around the empty room but luckily just grinned and offered me the chair next to hers. Little did I know that after a few laughs and a lot of watermelon sour patch later, I had just met the best adventure of my life.
A few years of friendship began before one Tuesday night we walked to Jimmy John’s for a late-night snack. We sat outside and talked for hours. The shop had closed, and the workers had gone home. But we were still there, falling in love with each other’s thoughts as West End grew quiet and the city was falling asleep. We walked back to campus, but we felt too alive to let the night end. We decided to take off to the hill that overlooks the city, and at nearly 4am, there we were – laughing way too hard, waiting for the sun to rise, and not yet knowing that I was looking over at my future wife.
Since that night, it’s been 7 years of friendship, 5 years of love, and 0 seconds of doubt.
Here’s the big question! How did he propose?
It was a perfect, sunny Saturday morning. We had planned on hiking with friends and they “canceled” last minute. Little did Carly know that I had a specific hike and photographer waiting 🙂 We finally made it to the “Quiet Point”, a secluded path that led to a bench overlooking the forest.
By the time we got to the bench, I took Carly’s hand and started to kneel down. Before I could finish the question, our dog took off sprinting towards the edge of the lookout after the photographer, who was hiding behind a tree! It was adventurous, care-free, chaotic, and perfect all in one moment.
How did you know she was the one? What do you love most about her?
I knew Carly was the one when every adventure felt like it was ending too soon and every conversation left me feeling more excited and passionate about life than ever before. I had finally found my best friend and I continue to fall more in love with her every day. I love that Carly makes the simplest moments in life become some of the best memories that I will always cherish. I also love that Carly makes everyone she meets feel like the best versions of themselves whether it’s a family member or a stranger that we just met.
Thanks for an amazing shoot, Ryan and Carly. Wishing the best in your future adventures!
