Proposal with a story

Justin and Brooke traveled to Nashville from the Great White North for a romantic getaway—arguably the better destination during the dog days of summer. What Brooke didn’t know was that Justin had a surprise in store. He contacted me beforehand with a plan to propose during their trip and asked me to quietly document one of the biggest moments of their lives.

Justin initially envisioned proposing at a rooftop restaurant overlooking the Nashville skyline. While it would have made for a beautiful setting, many private venues now restrict professional photography or require permits. To keep things simple, we chose the John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge, which offers one of the city’s most iconic skyline views without the logistical hurdles.

After dinner at Hampton Social, the plan went into motion. We even managed to dodge Nashville’s unpredictable summer rain showers. As the skyline glowed behind them, Justin got down on one knee, and Brooke enthusiastically said yes.

Then the evening took an unexpected turn.

Caught up in the excitement, Brooke slipped on a damp curb while wearing flats and badly sprained her ankle. The swelling came on quickly, so I ran to get help. Within minutes, Nashville Fire Department medics arrived to care for her and even transported the couple back to their nearby hotel in a utility vehicle.

Thankfully, Brooke is now back home recovering and in good spirits. While the evening didn’t end exactly as anyone expected, Justin and Brooke have embraced it as part of their story. Every proposal becomes a memory, but theirs is one they’ll be telling for the rest of their lives—for more than one reason.