I’m grateful for couples who make the time to squeeze in their engagement portraits, even if it’s just days before the wedding! James and Michelle are getting married this Sunday (yay!), and we met for the first time this week for their photos in the beautiful Old Town Alexandria! We have talked over the phone before our official meeting, but there’s something so personal and comforting getting to know them before the big day! I had the best time chatting about where they have traveled, lived, worked and of course, how they met (you’ll have to check that out below!)!
James and Michelle’s Love Story
How James and Michelle Met
from Michelle’s point of view
James and I always say how it’s funny we didn’t cross paths earlier in life. As kids, we didn’t live very far from each other, and he already knew all of my cousins growing up because they attended the same religious congregation. Because my dad worked for the federal government, though, my family moved around a lot (most recently to Seattle!) so I never got to meet James personally until last July when I visited the area for a couple weeks to see relatives. My aunt and uncle, who know James’s parents very well, informed me one day that we would all be going out to dinner that evening to a Korean restaurant with a good family whose son was “sweet, handsome and someone I should get to know.” Me being my cautious, awkward self, I immediately shut the idea down (hilariously, so did James when his parents told him the same thing!) but my aunt and uncle eventually wore me down and off we went. To my surprise, I had a great time and in a cute way, I think both my and James’s apprehensive attitude about the whole thing created an immediate common ground that broke the ice and took any pressure off. Soon after, he asked me out to lunch and as they say, the rest is history! I’m happy to say that exactly a year from when we had that first dinner I’ll be walking down the aisle to marry that sweet, handsome man who I am indeed so glad I got to know 🙂
How James proposed to Michelle
from James’ point of view
It was the morning of March 10th, in Seattle, Washington. I had set up a few weeks in advance for a videographer to come out that day to take pictures and to film the proposal. The proposal location was outdoors, my favorite place in Seattle, Kerry Park, which overlooked both the Space Needle and the sea. But it had rained the entire week I was there, and there was rain in the forecast, so I was a little nervous to say the least.
I drove her from her place in Issaquah to the proposal location, I told her the reason was for old times sake, but staring intently at the sky. Grey clouds were on the horizon, but there were spots of sunlight, which kept me hopeful. We found a good spot to park, and I had bought her roses earlier, so I asked her if she wanted to bring them with her. She said no, that doesn’t make sense, it’ll be better to leave them in the car. So we left them in the car.
We walked to the proposal location, and found a nice spot on a bench. No rain yet. Secluded from all the other people there. We chatted for a while, with me looking for any opening to propose to her. The opportunity came. Sun came out in full. I got down on one knee, pulled out the ring from my inside jacket pocket, and asked, “Michelle Geun Lee, will you marry me?” And the rest is history 🙂
Thank you, James and Michelle, for meeting with me right before your special day! I cannot wait to see how Sunday unfolds. 🙂 Enjoy the last days of your engagement!!!
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