Engagement Story: Stewart and Kristen

We were so excited to share this engagement story with you by Soli Photography! Not only are the pictures fabulous but the story is too cute! Not to mention they had a hot pink golf cart as a prop!

Tell us your proposal story: Ohhhhh the proposal! It definitely was not a fairytale proposal for your typical girl but for me, the proposal could not have been more perfect.

Just so you understand a little bit more about me before you read the rest of this article, I will fill you in on a few things. First thing first- I’m the type of girl that hates surprises!!! I don’t just say I hate them but I TRULY do. My mom gave up trying to surprise me with presents on Christmas and Birthdays about 15 years ago (and I’m only 28). She found it easier to let me pick everything out and not worry about me ruining it! Its hard for anyone to pull one past me because I’ll either talk it out of you and take all the fun out of it OR I’ll snoop around until I find what I’m looking for.

Stewart and I had talked about marriage at various times in our relationship but with us only being together for 4 months, I definitely was not going to push it. I knew deep in my heart that this wonderful, patient, beautiful, gentle and talented man would one day be my husband, I felt like I needed to learn patience for the first time in my life. And it was going to be hard but it would all be worth it soon enough. A few weeks later I asked him how his day was and he was telling me about it and it slipped out that he went by Jarods. He quickly changed the subjected and I acted cool about it even though at this point I am blushing and wanting to scream out loud of all my excitement!

That weekend we went over to a friend’s house to hang out. After a couple of games of playing beer pong, I decided that now was the perfect time to do my typical thing by trying to get Stewart to slip to see if he bought the ring. At first he was refusing to give me any answers. But after one more game of beer pong, I asked 1 last time. Stewart’s response was “Don’t keep asking me questions and ruin your surprise…. PLEASE?!”

And there you have it! He obviously has the ring and that’s all I needed to know! I was so happy with that answer that I dropped it completely and trusted that it would happen soon enough and I was going to have to try this “patience” thing out on more time. But in the meantime, all my close friends and of coarse my mother know that Stewart has the ring because I had to tell someone!

By this time it’s early December and I was off work and went to Stewarts house to take his dog for a walk and help him do some laundry. Well, he’s out of detergent. So I open the cabinet above the washing machine, and there’s my ring!!!!!!!!!!!! I freak out!! I start pacing around his house asking myself a couple of questions. 1^st “Kristen- do you really want to ruin the surprise and see the ring before he proposes??” I wanted that answer to be no but the curiosity was killing me. There’s your 1^st yes. The 2^nd question I kept asking myself was “Did he really hide that somewhere where I could find it that easily??” and the answer was “Yes” which is one of the billion reasons why I love this man. 

For the next few weeks when he would leave to go to work, I would run straight to the laundry room and put on my ring and just stare at it and then get ready for work, WHILE WEARING THE RINGS and then before I would go to work I would put them right back in there place! I know it is horrible but they were just so beautiful and sparkly. Stewart did an amazing job picking the rings out. And for those of you are taken back by this, imagine what is going through Stewarts mind because this is the first time he has heard about my shenanigans =) Sorry babe!!! I love you sooooo very much and hope you’re not too mad at me (but seriously, the laundry room cabinet??? Lol)

So on December 31^st, 2010 Stewart and I decided to have a low key night by just going to one of the nicest restaurants, St. John’s in Downtown Chattanooga. Stewart did not make the reservations until 10 pm.  I just knew this had to be the night he would propose. Meanwhile I was trying to stay calm during the day. Dinner was even worse because I was so antsy and I didn’t even want to eat because of my nerves. Stewart was acting a little nervous and I was acting weird because I’m having a hard time holding it in that I’ve already seen the rings and how much I love them and want them on my finger! The excitement was killing me. But then he asked if we could just get desert to go because he wasn’t feeling good… Ugh! He obviously wasn’t acting nervous because he was about to propose, he was acting nervous because he had a upset stomach! So we went back to his house to watch the New Year’s Eve show and he falls asleep on the couch. I’m trying to hold the tears back because I’m so upset, I thought this night was going to be the night that changed my life forever but was turning out to be everything but! I get up to go to bed and Stewart says, “Where are you going?”  I quietly responded “to bed. I’m tired and had a long day.” He follows me in there and lies down beside me and asks me why I seem so quiet. I just shrugged my shoulders. THEN I notice that he has his hand in his pocket, which he never does. I’m intrigued at this point so I start talking about random stuff just so I can see if he keeps his hand in his pocket. That hand was not moving. So seeing that I have no filter whatsoever, I asked him “ what is in your pocket that you’re protecting?” he said “ What? I’m not sure what you’re talking about.” I started getting giddy and I said, “is my ring in there???” He says “maybe” with a big ole grin on his face.  Then he pulls it out and hands it to me. I’m so excited that I just put it on my finger. Instead of something romantic coming out of his mouth, Stewart says, “Can you please get me a shot of Pepto? My stomach really doesn’t feel good?” lol So I get him his Pepto and he passes out while I’m calling everyone to tell them I’m now engaged to the love of my life!

When and where is your wedding? We were married on June 25, 2011 at Grace Episcopal Church and our wedding reception was at The Chattanooga Golf and Country Club.

What has been your favorite part about planning your wedding? Or what has been the most challenging? The most challenging part of planning our wedding was the fact that I wanted to do everything myself. From linens, flowers, hanging lanterns and having my bridesmaid’s jewelry hand made for each of them to resemble something special and wanting this to be a special day for not only Stewart and myself but for everyone who has supported and been a part of our relationship to take part in it as well.

A couple of my favorite things about Our wedding was seeing all of our families come together and have such a good time during our wedding festivities. I’m very lucky to be a part of the Smith family. My new In-Laws are so gracious, giving and loving. I couldn’t have asked for more. My parents were amazing, supportive and VERY gracious throughout the whole process of the wedding. They sat back and gave me creative control and let me do my thing. I love them so much. Because of my parents I was able to have the most wonderful and special day of my life by marrying the 2^nd best man in the life following behind my dad. I know my parents are very proud to have gained a son with Stewart.

I can’t write all this without talking about another favorite. Mrs. Meghan Campbell! Her and her husband, Eric, (owners Soli Photography) are responsible for capturing so many creative, beautiful and wonderful moments during our engagement session and also on our wedding day. Meghan is awesome to work with. She has a way of making you feel at ease in the midst of chaos while you’re planning a wedding for 300+ and have the bright idea that you don’t think you need a wedding planner. As you can see, Meghan is extraordinary at what she does. I couldn’t have done any of this without her!

Congrats Stewart and Kristen! And a big thanks to Soli Photography for sharing these beautiful photos with us!