Give us the proposal details! When? Where? How?
On our two year anniversary, December 11, 2016, I was visiting Nathan at his family’s house in Lewiston, Idaho for the weekend as we live in different states. We spent the morning at a local, quirky coffee shop just chatting about life, one of our favorite things to do together. Soon after, we were going to take informal anniversary photos on his camera and tripod. Before this, however, we detoured to the mall so I could pick up some mascara (which I had forgotten to throw in my bag) and Nathan asked if I would be willing to look at a jewelry case with him…engagement rings (which I had in previous months said I was uninterested in helping him pick out.)
I conceded and we browsed for a few minutes while I pointed out a few I liked and I few I didn’t. I described a little bit of the process of how buying a ring works, the characteristics you look for and how they are classified as he was clearly uninformed yet interested in the information.
Joy…is something deeper that surpasses the present moment. Joy can be forever, breaching the struggles and sorrows in life and giving hope for more happiness and celebration to come. Joy is forever.
It was starting to rain, so we left the mall to take our photos in a location which he had chosen. He surprised me by picking a special place to the both of us. At the top of a giant hill overlooking the town where we had taken me the very first time I visited Lewiston, he parked the car and we set up the equipment. Taking photos is one of our hobbies, so, thus far, I was unfazed by any of this except that it was beginning to snow and the temperature seemed to be dropping; it was cold.
After one or two pictures, pushing the timer button and running to my side for a quick shot, Nathan walked again from behind the camera to where I was standing. This time, instead of posing for a photo, he began telling me all the things he appreciated about me and then he was on his knee with the most bright, sparkly, diamond ring I have ever seen! It took a few times of him asking me while slipping the ring onto my finger before I truly could say anything. I was so blown away by his surprise and how low-key he had been all day (usually being such a type A and perfectionist.) The whole proposal was recorded on his tripod and once I finally said yes, we took more photos; the cold didn’t seem to bother me anymore.
What has been your favorite experience planning the wedding?
To be completely honest, the website making has been the most fun because its the first part of the planning that feels simple and easy and already looks great! But working with Nathan to find the perfect venue for us was also pretty fun!
How do you stay sane under the pressures of wedding planning?
We Skype (since we are long distance) and have movie nights online putting planning off the table for the evening.
What is your favorite part of using Joy for your wedding?
The EASE of it all! And its user friendly and cute interface. It doesn’t look like filling out an online form, it looks like a personal scrapbook!
Caitlyn Nikula Photography
What piece of advice would you give couples to ensure that they use Joy to its fullest potential?
Check out all the tabs, there is a lot of good and fun information there! Its super versatile and the app is a mega plus.
At Joy we believe that even though a wedding lasts a day, joy lasts forever. What does that mean to you?
Joy DOES last forever! I think happiness and joy often get confused as the same word. It is true that in life happiness can ebb and flow and may not always feel “forever,” but that is because happiness is more of a temporary or “in-the-moment” feeling. Joy, however, is something deeper that surpasses the present moment. Joy can be forever, breaching the struggles and sorrows in life and giving hope for more happiness and celebration to come. Joy is forever.
Caitlyn Nikula Photography
