CACTUS GARDEN PROPOSAL PHOTOS: Phoenix, AZ Photographer: Stacie + Ariana

Same Sex,Surprise, marriage, scenic, engaged, getting married, proposal

You’re planning to propose to the love of your life. You’ve come up with a cover story about a fake work dinner at a “fancy” place. You’ve shopped for new clothes for said “dinner”. You’ve hired a photographer to help you plan the when, where, and how, and to be there to capture that precious moment. You’ve waited until the time was right… even postponing your plan for months so as to not detract from other loved-ones happy announcements. The time has finally come, and you could not be more ready and excited. And then your soon-to-be fiancé is hit with tragic news about a family member…
What do you do?

When Ariana told me that Stacie’s grandfather had passed away, just 2 days before her plan to propose, and asked me what to do… all I could think was that this is the wonder of life and love. How do you go forward with happiness in the wake of sadness?

I truly believe you have to embrace both of those things. Emotions are not mutually exlusive. They cannot be compartmentalized. Just like life. It’s unpredictable. It’s happy and sad and strange and wonderful and scary and beautiful. You never really know what’s going to happen in the next moment, let alone the next day or month or year. You can have the best laid plan go completely out the window when you least expect it. And that’s what makes it a grand adventure. As long as you let it.

There are very few things in life that you can bank on. But one for sure that you can, and should: look for, believe in, hold on to, take pride in, and trust – with every single ounce of your heart and soul – is LOVE.
Love is…
…patient.
…kind.
…sweet.
…blind.
…a many-splendored thing.
…all you need.
…Love Is Love is LOVE.
…Life.
…the Answer.

Love is all of these things… and infinitely more.

So how do you make the decision to celebrate your own joy in the midst of unforeseen sorrow? You find that love, believe in it, hold on to it, take pride in it, find solace in it, celebrate it, and trust in it.

And that’s exactly what Ariana chose to do. She made the call based on how Stacie’s spirits were that morning, and we moved forward with the plan. And it was perfect. Despite the fact that Stacie spotted me following them down the path with a giant camera & lens. Hahahaa! It was sweet, quiet, and joyful, three things that I believe sum up these two women’s relationship absolutely perfectly.

I’ve had the honor of photographing many surprise proposals, documenting many love stories. Each of them unique and beautiful. Stacie + Ariana’s will be one that will be etched in my memory forever. Because despite everything that had happened, was happening, is going to happen…. they chose LOVE.

Congratulations Stacie & Ariana! I’m honored you chose me to be there for you and capture these memories, and thankful to have gained your friendship. I’m so very happy for you, and I can’t wait to see what you plan for your wedding! 💕
©Mindy Deluca