THEY’RE ENGAGED!!
When it comes to being a bestie (especially a bestie in the wedding industry), I tend to get a tad excited when the people I love most decide to spend forever together! Hence my extra excitement for this blog post for my #1 gal, Andrea, and her mans, Matt.
I met Andrea back in high school at summer cheerleading camp. It was around 1:00 in the morning, our teenage brains got the best of us (or maybe it was all the double stuffed Oreos), and we made numerous “That’s what she said!” jokes until our stomachs hurt. Funny enough, I already knew Matt from the football team before ever meeting her. Once we became close, I became their most amazing third wheel, and we’ve been dreaming of the day they would finally get married. And it is finally coming!!
But before I entered the scene, these two had already found each other…
It was the end of middle school, and Andrea was friends with Matt and his girlfriend-at-the-time (if you count 12-year-old relationships). The three of them spent lots of time together, but when it didn’t work out, Matt and Andrea stayed friends. Matt started telling other people that he liked her, but wouldn’t tell her himself. However, Andrea, being the independent, strong-willed woman she is, knew he liked her, and wasn’t letting him off so easy. She confronted him to tell the truth, and not too long after, they became the most dynamic duo.
All through high school, it was always these two. She supported him, and he did the same. You could even catch them visiting each others’ homerooms. It was truly really precious. As we all got older, it was still always them (and me, of course), and no matter what obstacle life threw their way in college, nothing was ever going to pull them apart. Every special life moment they have walked together through.
Now it was time to make this forever!
This past year, Matt knew he wanted nothing more than to ask his best friend to be his wife. Andrea had one request: She did not want to have any clue, but she wanted her nails done and to look nice.
Needless to say, it was a complicated request at first, but we came up with a solution. She and I started getting our nails done regularly and I taught her how to do her hair and makeup. The strategy was that every time she saw Matt, she was ready to go, “just in case.”
This was months in the making, and by this past month, Andrea was really wondering when it was coming. Let me just say keeping secrets from your very best friend is not easy! He had the ring and a plan to propose on a trail in Mill Creek Park they often spend time at.
He asked…
She wanted to have no clue, so we threw her for a loop. Matt told her on a previous walk that there was a specific tree he wanted a photo of (since he recently had a photo class), and she thought nothing of it. Little did she know, he didn’t care one bit about the tree, but he did want to propose!! He met with me the day before to secure the perfect spot and that morning, I was ready behind a tree – camera in hand – as they walked down by the lake and he asked her.
After Andrea said, “YES!” I could finally stop hiding, and she told me she saw a strange person behind a tree, but never thought it would be me. Surprise surprise. She had no clue, and she looked beautiful as always – everything she wanted.
The next day was a gorgeous 75 degree day, and for fall in Ohio, that’s a miracle, so we took advantage and had their engagement session right after. It was a beautiful day, and so cool to finally get to watch them in this season.
Andrea and Matt, watching your relationship up close has taught me a lot about what relationship is. Every lesson you learned, every step you took, I looked up to. I’ve watched high school kids turn into engaged adults, and seeing it has been one of the sweetest gifts in my life. You are both such incredible people, and celebrating you is so easy. I have the perfect best friend that I would do most anything for, and seeing her happy with you, Matt, brings tears to my eyes. I love and am so proud of you both! To long lasting love and two people who show what love really looks like. Congratulations to the future Mr. & Mrs. Milligan!!
Photographer: Bree Thompson Photography
Location: Mill Creek Experimental Farm
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