Brooke & Anthony | Surprise Proposal | Macon, Ga Wedding Photographers

We knew the day was coming! Our close friend and colleague in the wedding industry, Brooke Wood with Brooke Wood Beauty had met “her future husband” one Fall day last year on her parent’s front porch. God definitely had a plan for these two and in helping their path’s cross!
When Anthony called us and told us he was planning a surprise proposal on her front porch, where they had first met, it seemed only fitting.
Laying on the ground, crouching behind tiny bushes and becoming one with a tree trunk with all her family and close friends huddled on the side of the house, we watched the sweetest surprise unfold!

How they met…

Brooke’s Perspective:

How we met was absolutely a God thing! My mom kept telling me about the cute, new neighbor that had inherited the house next door and how I should go introduce myself. Me, being the hard headed and stubborn girl that I am, flat out said “no”. Now, I’m hard headed but I’m also curious by nature. When my parents would go next door to say hi or ask a question, they would always ask me to go with them. Again, my answer was always no but that didn’t stop me from peaking out the window and trying to catch a glimpse of this guy my parents kept trying to introduce me to. Side note: My mother totally showed him a picture of me and told him I was single during one of those casual conversations. Seriously Ma? Embarrassing!! I could never get a good look, so I gave up and went about my life not even realizing that the man I was going to fall in love with was right next door.

I had a routine on Sunday’s. Church from 12-1pm (because, let’s be honest, I’m not a morning person), lunch with friends, and then hair and makeup trials or some other form of activity for the rest of the day.

One weekend, my friend Courtney came home to visit and told me she wanted to go to church with me but she would need to go to the earlier service so she could have lunch with her grandparents. After church that day I found myself having absolutely nothing to do! Haha! All of my friends were doing other things and my parents were busy at their church. I decided to just head home and relax for the rest of the day before going to my sisters that night. I was sitting on the couch and out of no where there was a knock on the front door. When I went to answer it I was pleasantly surprised to see this super attractive and very manly man standing in front of me! Did I mention he had a beard back then? Swoon! We stood on my front porch and talked for 30 minutes and at the end of the conversation I very boldly and so-not-like-me asked for his number! I immediately went inside after he left and texted my friends and sister and told them I just met MY FUTURE HUSBAND!
I was totally kidding! At least, I thought so anyway! Little did I know, right?

Later that night on the way to my sisters house I remember praying and asking God to lead me and guide me in the direction he wanted me to go. As soon as I finished praying I looked down at my phone and I had received a text from Anthony asking me on a date. I wasn’t expecting anything out of the ordinary on September 13th, 2015 but I’m so thankful this sweet and handsome guy came knocking on my front door!

Anthony’s Perspective:

The day I met the love of my life started out like any other Sunday, helping teach Sunday school and then going to the main service. After church is when things changed. I got the urge to go check on my house (which I have never done since I inherited it). I don’t know why I did, but I went to my house, went inside and looked around and then walked out.

As I was about to leave, it appeared that Ron & Sheri (Brooke’s Parents) were home. I had met them before and thought I would just stop by and say hello! When I walked over, I went to the door expecting to greet Ron & Sheri but instead this beautiful and very attractive woman that looked to be my age came to the door! This beautiful women and the fact that I was at her front door step led me into an awkward hello and then lead to an awkward explanation as to why I was there! After explaining why I was there, she said, “Well I can let them know you stopped by”.

After she said that, I panicked. I didn’t want the conversation with this gorgeous women to end like that! So I kept the conversation going in hopes of finding out more about this stunningly beautiful women that had given me the time of day to speak with her. So the conversation went on for a little while, we talked about God, The Bible, and other interesting things! Once I knew she was passionate for the Lord I figured I would invite her to bible study and to my surprise she said, “Sure!”

Before I left, I had the intention of getting her number but before I could even ask, she shocked me by asking for mine before I even had the chance! I wasn’t going to question it. Then I realized that dumb me didn’t have my phone. I was hoping she wasn’t thinking I was lying, so I gave her my number with the hopes she would actually text me so I would have her number.

 Once the conversation was over and I had to leave, I leaned in for a side hug ( I was complete at that moment). I got home to charge my phone in hopes of when it finally had enough charge to turn on that there would be a message from her. Sure enough, I had one new text message when I turned on my phone! I was so excited! I responded as quickly as possible, and thats how it all began.

How he proposed…

One of our first dates was to Lake Juliette, Ga. It’s this super tiny and cute little town and the lake is a short walk over the railroad tracks. At the time Anthony had his own motorcycle so we rode it there and back!
13 days shy from the day we me, Anthony switched his day off from a Thursday to Wednesday and was super adamant that I clear my schedule and that we hang out! He told me that we can ride up to Lake Juliette on his parents bike and spend the day together. While at the lake I seriously was anticipating him proposing to me there…and he knew I had that on my mind, too. So, he did what any guy in his situation would do…he faked me out!

When Anthony asked my dad for my hand in marriage one of the things he said was, “I can’t think of a reason I wouldn’t want to marry your daughter.” Since he first said that, he has repeated this to me several times. So at the lake when I was just waiting for him to get down on one knee, he turned to me and said those exact words. In my head I was totally thinking “this was it!” and “It’s about to happen!” Then he simply turned around and asked if I was ready to go? HaHa! I was a little salty. I’m not going to lie! My salon owner made an appointment with me to do her makeup at 4:30pm so when Anthony took me home he told me to dress nice, he would go with me to my makeup appointment, and then we would go to dinner that evening. At this point, I figured it wasn’t going to happen and just focused on getting ready. At around 4:00pm, Anthony called me and told me to come outside so we could leave. I walk outside onto my front porch, bags of makeup in hand and ready to go. My sweet man walks up to me all decked out, bowtie included, totally ignoring my complaining that I’m underdressed and says the sweetest things and got down on one knee and proposed! My amazing photographer friends were there to capture it all, along with our friends and family! 🙂

The house that Anthony inherited is right across the street from Brooke’s parents’ house and this is going to be their first home together when they marry next year on October 1st, 2017!

Brooke & Anthony, to say we were excited to be present with you both on this day is a huge understatement. We were elated to be able to be there and actually witness this huge surprise and share in all the feels! We love you both, you guys are so perfect for each other and we couldn’t be more happier for you two! Love you so, so much Brooksie!