How We Met: In the winter of 2010, Joey and I started the spring semester at San Jose State, both enrolled in the same journalism design class. Sitting in the back corner, we goofed off, chatted non-stop, and flirted shamelessly. After a few months of annoying everyone around us, we finally went on our first date. We watched Alice in Wonderland before snacking on ice cream cones from Ben & Jerry’s and wandering around, spending hours getting to know each other. At the end of the night, we both couldn’t stop smiling.
The first date led to a second, then a third, and a fourth. On May 22, Joey bought me a single red rose and asked if I would be his girlfriend. I said yes and the rest was history.
how they asked: Sometime in 2013, Joey said “We should go to Italy.” I took the bait and started planning a two week vacation to Italy and France. It was the first major traveling we had done together and was a great bonding experience. Before the trip, our family and friends questioned whether Joey was going to pop the big question while in one of the most romantic locales on earth. The question sparked an idea in Joey’s head and he realized he wanted to spend the rest of his life with me.
As our five year anniversary approached, Joey was putting together the pieces of his proposal. He planned on taking the plunge during our upcoming vacation to Hawaii. He visited Shane Co. and bought a solitaire diamond ring with a band of diamonds. He then Googled “Engagement photos Maui” and up popped Engaged on Maui, a photography company led by Angela, that specialized in planning and photographing engagements on the island. They chatted about our relationship, our engagement, and our life together. Miles apart, the two hatched a plan.
In celebration of five years of love, we jetted off to the beautiful island of Maui for a week long escape. It was truly a getaway to paradise and as the week came to an end, we were sad to go home. Little did I know that Joey had a grand finale planned.
On the morning of May 26, our last day in Hawaii, Joey was insistent that they should watch the sunset on the beach. He mentioned Ironwoods Beach, also known as Oneloa, north of Lahaina. I was confused because the beach was very north and didn’t face due west, which would be the best location to see the sunset. In my usual stubborn nature, I made suggestions throughout the day of other beaches we could try instead, that would offer better views. Joey couldn’t be swayed, claiming that we should try Ironwoods first. I thought he was acting a little odd, but gave in anyway.
As we walked to the edge of the water, Joey said “Do you remember that the first time I said I loved you we were on a beach? Well, it seems only fitting that…” Out of his pocket he pulled out a beautiful ring and got down on one knee. Almost immediately, I started to cry. Joey told me how much he loved me, how the last five years of his life had been some of the happiest, and how he wanted to spend the rest of his life making more memories with me. When he finally asked, “Will you marry me?” I said “Of course!”
A ways down the beach, Angela was snapping away, documenting the whole thing. After it was official, she came over and we started a two hour engagement shoot, climbing over rocks, treading through the waves, and capturing some of the happiest moments in the couples life.
Photos by Engaged on Maui