Fast forward February 12, 2011 Jake and I arrived in Winterset, IA. Here was the plan…Bob, the awesome tourist guide, was meeting Jake and I at the Northside Cafe. We would then hop in his car, he’d take us to the Bridge (so we’d know how to get there) and then we’d plot out how everything was going to go down. I was going to be in FULL disguise because remember – she can’t know it’s me. Bob was going to take Brian and Sharla on a tour of all the covered bridges and other tourist attractions that day and the last stop was going to be the Roseman Bridge, that’s where he was going to propose. Where was I going to stand? What should we say for her to actually see the note that Brian wrote for her? What if she knows it me? What if she catches on? Needless to say, my nerves were shot.

Fast forward four hours 1:00 pm. Bob was going to call my cell phone and when he did, I knew we had 20 minutes before they arrived at the bridge. The phone rang!! Jake and I go into “Operation Bridge Proposal”. I get my wig on, my stocking hat, my black jacket and my scarf. I pin his proposal on the wall of the bridge and now – I have to act like a tourist taking pictures of the bridge…I can do this….

Here’s one of me in my wig and hat…tee hee..

The Roseman Bridge

I see her walk up to the bridge and my heart is racing. My hands shaking…I can hear Bob talk about people photographing the bridge all the time and Sharla say, “hey look someone is doing it over there” (yeah..me).  Then he talks about how people have left thousands of notes, signatures all over the bridge. Bob proceeds to say “Hey look at that one – that note is dated today!” “You should read it.”

The inside said:

This kind of certainty comes but once in a lifetime,

If you would like to be my wife,

When the white moths are on the wing,

Turn around and accept this ring.

Aww yeah..it’s happening!!!!

Remember – this whole time – she doesn’t know it’s me photographing her, she thinks I’m just some girl shooting the bridge…

But it was time for me to reveal who I really was…..I think I surprised her…just a little…. (sorry Sharla don’t kill me for posting this picture – it’s priceless)

then she looks over and see Jake (if you know Sharla – this is her saying…JAAAAKKKKEE in her southern accent LOVE IT!)

After the tears were shed, and the makeup was fixed, we had a quick mini session on the bridge.

This is the exact spot that Meryl Streep leaned against…couldn’t resist…

(Yes those are her real eyes…ridic)

nICE!!!

Then we headed over to the Northside Cafe where Sharla thought she was meeting Jake and I for lunch. The Cafe put up this sign…for those of you who’ve watched the movie…you’ll understand what this means.

How awesome is this…her whole family hid in the booths with menus covering their faces….

She was soooo surprised!!!

To make the most of our trip, the next day we hit a few more bridges from the movie and took some more pictures…

Sharla – I hope your engagement was everything you could dream of and more. Brian is an amazing man and you are lucky to have found each other. I’m glad Jake and I were able to be there and share in this amazing experience with you. I love you.

Heather

]]> http://heathercolephotography.com/blog/the-bridges-of-madison-county-a-surprise-engagement/feed/ 8 http://heathercolephotography.com/blog/brett-and-molly/ http://heathercolephotography.com/blog/brett-and-molly/#comments Thu, 22 Apr 2010 19:37:14 +0000 Heather http://heathercolephotography.com/blog/?p=53 When my good friend Brett called me and told me he was going to propose to his girlfriend and he wanted me there to photograph it you can only imagine my response…..”OF COURSE!!!!!!”

So, here’s the “PLAN”…Brett was going to tell Molly that they were going to a bar for some drinks after work. They live next to a park, so since it was such a nice day outside, they were going to walk there. I was to arrive at the park and act like I was taking pictures of someone else and when he sees me he will all of a sudden have a rock in his shoe… he’s down on one knee and…BA-DA-BLLLINNNGG.  THIS IS GOING TO BE AWESOME…..so I enlisted the help of one of my best friends, Krissie, to pose for me so I didn’t look suspicious (I think she worked it out – don’t you).

While I was “shooting” Krissie, if she were to see them she was to give me the code word – TCBY (the ice cream place), yeah I know, we are RIDIC. So I’m “shooting” and all of a sudden I get thrown a TCCCBBYY!!! I look and I see them coming my way….my heart is racing…I’m so excited…okay Brett – I see you, you see me…let’s do this…wait…wait…is he doing it now..he’s doing it now…he’s GOING DOWN, I REPEAT HE’S GOING DOWN! I’m running closer and as I’m snapping I see it…the face…the OH MY GOD this is HAPPENING face. She just kept repeating OH MY GOD..OH MY GOD….YESSS SSSUUUCCCESSSSS!!! If that wasn’t amazing enough – he suddenly pulls out plane tickets, tells her she has 45 minutes to pack a bag and they are headed to Chicago to tell all her friends and family. YEAH, HE JUST DID THAT! Brett – you will forever have MAD PROPS in my book for planning such a great proposal. Thank you so much for asking me to be a part of it.

This is where I got the “do you know that girl over there…I think she’s taking pictures of us…” (hee hee)

Congrats you two! I couldn’t be happier for the both of you.

Much love,

Heather