Gabriela & Jessica – An Elaborate Plan To Capture A Perfect Proposal

Words by Gabby

I own a wedding production business, so I knew early that it would be magical when I proposed to Jess. With the help of a few friends, we pulled off the perfect proposal on June 11, 2020.

The Lie: My dear friends Melissa and Devin got engaged during quarantine. And, since they still had no idea when they would get married. Or when this quarantine would be over, I asked them if I could have them act as if their wedding was June 11.

I had Melissa call me while Jess was around and invite us to their “small intimate elopement” at Kestrel Park in Santa Ynez, CA, and if I could get my team to capture the event. This call set the tone for everything else.

Being in the wedding industry, I connected with HHLovely Creations, Lorie, mailed out a beautiful invitation to our home with Melissa and Devin’s Address. It included RSVP and dinner accommodations as well as a stamp to mail it back out. Jess didn’t think much of the invitation because she received it in February but hung it on our fridge in anticipation of the wedding!

Fast forward to June 11, 2021. We arrived at the venue twenty minutes late and she sees only four cars in the parking lot. At this point, she’s quite concerned and asks me, “why are there only four cars.” I promptly replied, “oh, there’s a trolley.” Scott, the venue owner, greets us in a golf cart and tells us we are right on time. Then he says, “the bride is still getting ready, but I’m going to take you through a shortcut.”

We enter through a tiny secret entrance, our cellist Ivan Law starts playing Marry Me by Train. However, Jess is confused and slightly annoyed that I asked for her coat and phone (she thinks that the cellist is playing ambiance music and thinks to herself, “Oh, we are right on time”).

She keeps asking why she can’t take pictures of the garden and why I took her phone away. I reach into my bag and pull out the ring box while quickly grabbing her hand and leading her to the middle of the garden. She immediately realizes what was happening. The look on her face was priceless. By then, I start telling her how happy she makes me and how I want to continue building a life together. Then I get on one knee, and she says YES. I put the ring on her finger. Then she slowly leans in and whispers, “are we still going to a wedding?” I start laughing and tell her, “no, but we can sign the papers now if you’d like…”