Euro Vogue Inspired Wedding at The Barn Smith Lake, Alabama

Caroline + Noah

Proposal Story

After our very first date, we had already had a “friend trip” planned to visit Noah’s hometown of Long Beach, CA, the following week. So basically… I met his entire family within days of going on my very first date with my future husband. On that trip, we took the boat out to Catalina Island and anchored there for a few days. I fell in love with Catalina. We slept on the boat, paddle boarded around the cove, snorkeled and stayed up late sharing stories with his family. This island that carried so much meaning for Noah, was quickly becoming one of my safest places. At the end of the trip we hiked to the most beautiful ocean overlook I’ve ever seen. The sun set along the infinite waterline and we sat there for hours, dreaming about the future. I remember thinking, “I hope this is where he’ll propose right here at this spot one day.”

He must’ve been thinking the same thing, because a year and a half later I got a phone call from him on a random Thursday in November, telling me to pack my bags for a mysterious weekend trip. The next thing I knew we were on the Catalina Express, my heart fluttering with anticipation. It was off-season on the island and it felt like we were the only souls around. I waited around all day just giggling as we walked, ate lunch, played cards on the beach, so sure of what was about to happen… He suggested that we go on a hike to our favorite spot to watch the sunset. We climbed up the mountain, basically on all fours (we had forgotten how difficult it really was) and he popped the question as the sun set below the clouds. I blacked out from excitement and adrenaline. I truly don’t remember anything he said, but I said yes and as we made our way down the mountain he had surprises waiting for me at different stops along the way. I kept begging him to slow down so that we could enjoy the moment and look at my ring (which he designed :’) ) but he was a man on a mission. I noticed a little beach bungalow as we were nearing the bottom and he led me on a path into a little courtyard where both of our entire families were waiting for us! I was shocked. He had coordinated this master plan to sneak my family to California without me ever knowing and I was SHOCKED and thrilled. We all walked to the bottom of the mountain, where a beach front dinner and all of our college best friends ran out of NOWHERE. I screamed, sobbed, fell on the floor… the rest is history. It was the most elaborate, thoughtful proposal and I was so thrilled I could share it with my friends and family in our very favorite place.