A Surprise Proposal with a Speech in Haitian Créole
Sometimes all it takes is one TikTok message to change everything. For Koraly and Madison, that first message sparked a long distance relationship spanning Quebec and Alberta before they eventually built a life together. When it came time to propose, Madison planned every detail, from the perfect lakeside location at Lake Minnewanka to secretly learning a few words in Haitian Créole. Although the speech didn’t quite go to plan, one thing did: Koraly’s enthusiastic “yes.”
How did you two meet?
Koraly and I met on TikTok, of all places. She was living in Quebec, and I was living in Alberta. I saw one of Koraly’s TikToks and sent her a message, and truly, the rest is history!
After two years of long distance, we spent a year living together in Saskatchewan before moving to Alberta together.
Why was Lake Minnewanka the perfect place to propose?
I chose Lake Minnewanka because it’s a stunning, eye catching location that spoke to Koraly’s natural beauty.
What happened on the day you proposed?
I had been planning this day for six months, from getting the ring to talking with our photographer, Megan Renee Photography. I even planned a changing station so Koraly could have outfit changes. Even with all that detailed planning, I managed to keep everything a secret. Koraly just thought we were going for a photo shoot.
When the day arrived, I was anxious about her answer. I kept the ring in my sock, hoping it would be smooth to take it out as I knelt before her, but that failed. I managed to get the ring out without her seeing and chose a special spot to kneel down and speak in Koraly’s mother tongue, Haitian Créole. Since I’m not fluent, it didn’t make much sense, but when she saw the ring, Koraly said YES!
I cried, of course, while she somehow managed to keep her stunning makeup perfectly intact, and I was rosy red.
What was going through your mind when it was finally time to propose?
I was scared, nervous, and thrilled once Koraly said yes!
Koraly said she had no clue what I was saying, but she saw the ring and said YES!
How did you find the perfect engagement ring?
After asking Koraly for years what style of ring she would love, I felt I picked a ring that she would love for the rest of our lives. I secretly found rings she already owned to work out her ring size before buying it.
What has your engagement taught you about your relationship?
Our engagement has taught us that even though life has its ups and downs, we have each other. Through adversity, we can always look to each other for help and guidance. We know that individually we are not perfect, but together we are helping each other grow into better people.
Why did you decide to have your proposal professionally photographed?
I wanted to preserve this special moment and have it captured professionally.
I chose Megan Renee Photography as our photographer because her website was easy to navigate, and her communication was open from the start. She helped me hone in on the location and the flow of our photo shoot.
Captured by Megan Renee Photography
