The Wedding Photography Giveaway

Make a Memory Photography gave away their Silver wedding photography package to the best engagement story (ever!) received throughout the month of June 2011. Check out the winner and their absolutely amazing e-story...

Winner :: Amanda Becker

Engagement Story :: Ordinary turned into extraordinary!

An ordinary day turned into an extraordinary day, let me tell you how…

It all began with meeting up with my Dad. My Dad gave me a long stem red rose along with a card. The card had a riddle on the front and directions on the back. My journey began with this riddle…

Today a journey you will start,
That will perhaps include your heart,
Please follow the guidelines,
And you’ll meet me in the _____.

And the directions on the back of the card read:
Go to your house,
And down into your room.
There you will find the directions for the next thing you are to do.

In anticipation, I raced home to find a long stem red rose on my bed along with a card. The card had another riddle on the front and more directions on the back. Along with the rose and the card was a present. The present was a dress and this is what the riddle read:
Your neck must be bare,
And do not do your hair,
The places you must be,
Will finish your outfit to a tee.

Ready and rearing to go, I raced off to the next place. The next place was his house and I had to be there no later than 7:30p.m. Without my hair to do, and my outfit already picked out (the dress), I was ready in a short amount of time. I arrived really early which isn’t the norm for me. I was 40 minutes early and as I drove in, I curiously looked around to see if I could catch a glimpse of my boyfriend, Matthew. I did in fact catch a glimpse… his suit jacket flail in the wind J (He was on his way out, when he saw me driving in. He turned around, ran into the house and then ran out the back door.)

Upon arriving at his house I received three long stem red roses, a card and a map. The riddle on the card read:
You’re getting near the end,
And soon perhaps, you’ll see
The person who’s your special friend.
So just get where you need to be.

And the directions on the back read:
After you get your hair done by Corinne, you need to go to Southside Park to the Gazebo to find out what happens next J Please be there no later than 8:25p.m.

Once I arrived at the park, I waited in the Gazebo. Hoping to see Matthew, I was greeted by his good friend Marco, and Marco’s girlfriend Laura. They came walking from a distance with matching outfits, a long stem red rose in his hand and a card in hers.

Before they gave me the card, Marco gave me a box. Looking at the box, I started laughing and thought, “This can’t be the ring!” The box had a necklace in it and this is what the riddle read:
Sorry for the trick,
But that’s just what I do,
My last name is Dyck,
And yours soon will be too,
For this gift you must trade these,
Please give Marco your set of keys.
And the directions read:
Walk down the path, and under the arch, get in the car, and your chauffeur will take you to the next place.

The next destination was Pittock Conservation Area. Once we arrived I was greeted by a big smile at the gate. The lady opened the window and out came a long stem red rose, a card and a big box. The box had a lifejacket in it and the riddle on the card read:
It might not be a yacht,
But it will have to do,
Head down to the dock,
And get in the ________.

I ended up getting into a canoe. The canoe was beautiful. Matthew had made a wooden post coming out from each side with a lantern hanging from it. It also had a lantern in the front and in the back along with rose petals. My next chauffeur gave me a long stem red rose and a card.
The riddle on the card read:
Across the lake you will go,
With a chauffeur you already know,
Smile, and take your place,
And enjoy this crazy race.

The sun had just set as we ventured across the lake. The water so calm you could see the reflection of the moon in it. It was breathtaking! Matthew picked a song, Little Moments by Brad Paisley and my chauffeur played it as he slowly paddled me across the lake. As we got closer to shore, there were rose petals and torches in the water. On the shore was a table with a lantern, a long stem red rose, a card and a blindfold.
The riddle on the card read:
Please put this Blindfold on,
Cause the full effect is yet to come,
Put your hand on the arm of Gideon,
And soon you will see “Your True One.”

What I saw when I took the blindfold off was beautiful. There were two straight rows of pine trees with icicle lights dangling from the branches. Between the rows of trees was a wedding runner with rose petals sprinkled across it and lanterns with tea lights holding it down. At the end was Matthew J As I walked towards him, my chauffeur played the violin.

When I got to Matthew he gave me the last long stem red rose, which made it a dozen roses. He took my arm and led me down wooden stairs he had made. Along the stairs were torches because by this time it was dark. He then led me under branches and uprooted trees. Under them he made a bench and he asked me to sit down. Once seated, he got down on his knee and with the ring in a rose petal he asked me for my hand. I said yes!!!!