It's a Family Affair: Alison and Dan's Marriage Proposal
Every once in a while, you meet someone who just re-affirms your belief in the goodness of people and the belief that there are people who do right in this world.
I had the chance to make the acquaintance of Dan, a fellow from Chicago, who is just that person.
Dan and Alison have been together for about 8 years. He first met her, he told me, when he was 17 years old and thought to himself, that was the woman he would marry some day. Sometimes life can get sidetracked and Alison had a child - but Dan has been there for her . . . no, excuse me, their daughter . . . Aubrey since she was a baby. I don’t care about DNA and neither should you. Dan is Dad, period.
But it was time to make this family permanent. And on a December day, Dan and Alison, and Aubrey, and also Megan, Alison’s sister, hiked up to Laurel Falls.
Poor Dan! He kept trying to get just Alison and himself in the pictures as more people started showing up and Aubrey had a tumble, but finally . . .
Of course Alison said yes - the mountains always work their magic, don’t you know?
But wait - there’s more! Dan presented Alison with her great-grandmother’s ring, with the blessings of her family. But he had another ring in his pocket - one with a brilliant sapphire - and an important question to ask Aubrey. After all, this was not the start of a couple’s life but that of a family. And so, gentleman that he is, Dan got back on his knee to present his vow to be their for Aubrey.
I’m not crying, you’re crying . . .
A word of thanks to Alison’s sister, Megan. First, she is obviously a person of class and refinement because she shoots with a Canon camera (I appreciate brand loyalty). But more importantly, she helped me by acting as a lighting technician, holding what I call the Hammer of Thor (a monopod with a Godox AD200 and Magsphere) for shots. Cheers!
Here is a video of the event!
What a beautiful story! It’s people like these two and their lovely daughter that bring joy to the world. I wish them a long and happy life together, and, as I always end these blog posts for proposals . . .
Mazel tov, you crazy kids!