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I'm a Southern California-based photographer specializing in enchanting photos for couples who believe in Happily Ever After. I've been capturing fairytale love stories around the world since 2010 and have been featured in print and online publications 90+ times.

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Kristen Booth

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The Most Magical Day of My Life {Personal}

August 20, 2014

Last week, I was in Canada, photographing a magical woodsy wedding. August has been especially busy and returning from Canada didn’t mean things were slowing down just yet. I was only home for 48 hours before catching a red-eye flight to Baltimore, to visit my family and photograph my cousin’s 1st birthday party. That cousin is the daughter of my cousin Chad and his wife Gabrielle. I photographed their amazing wedding, in 2010, and it worked out that I was able to come photograph this big event in their lives too!

Chad is an awesome photographer and a couple of weeks before I came, he had mentioned doing a portrait shoot of me in my grandmother’s garden, in Virginia. I loved this idea, because I hadn’t had any updated portraits done in awhile. I also had a gorgeous 1940’s vintage gown lying around, that I really wanted to be photographed in and would work perfectly for a garden shoot. The garden itself, actually plays a big part in this story and in my life. Growing up, my parents and I took some trips to visit the farm in the summers. I was a bored preteen and decided to take out their point-and-shoot camera and take pictures of things. Minutes turned into hours and before I knew it, I had spent half of the day in that garden, photographing butterflies, flowers, and the farm cats. These moments, in this place, are when my love affair with photography began.

Saturday was the day that we had determined was best to do the shoot and it began just like any other day. Around 4pm, I did my hair and then Gabrielle did my makeup. I had texted Andrew throughout the day and he let me know that he was working with his dad and told me how much he missed me. At about 6pm, we arrived at the farm and I went inside to see my grandparents for the first time during the trip. When we headed outside to shoot, the light was PERFECT and Chad instructed me to sit down on a bench.

He posed me for a minute or two, then Gabrielle handed me a gorgeous leather storybook to pose with. I looked down at the beautiful tree design and the antique style clasp and they told me to open it to the first page….where I read the following:

“If you could write your own fairytale, what would it say?

Would you ever believe that it would begin today?

In an enchanted garden, where it all began

Stands one fair lady and one fine man

With an unfailing love; as true as it can be

This fairytale begins with: Will you marry me?”

At this point, the tears were flowing and I realized that this was NOT just a regular portrait shoot. Around the corner, came Andrew, with the most gorgeous bouquet. The rest happened so quickly. My heart was racing and I was so overwhelmed with joy, as he got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. I said YES and he slid the ring of my dreams onto my finger. Then he put a crown on my head and said “For my fairytale princess”.

At this point, I began freaking out with excitement. I had a million questions….. “How long have you been here?” “How long has this been planned?” “WHATTT???”. I was in disbelief! I thought he was still in California and here he was!!

He later filled me in on more details. He actually had been on the East Coast a day longer than I had. My grandma had made the gorgeous bouquet. Gabrielle had written the perfect poem. He had worked with Chad and Gabrielle to pull off the most amazing proposal and it was more than I ever could have dreamed of!!!!

I am so excited for this next season in our lives. These past 6 years together, from high school to today, have been amazing! I can’t wait to spend the rest of my days by his side. Our fairytale has been in the works for some time and I am thrilled to greet these next chapters in it. Thank you to everyone who played a part in this day and in our lives.

To see even more photos from the proposal and hear the story from Chad’s perspective, head on over to his blog, HERE!

Surprise-Proposal-in-a-garden-01Surprise-Proposal-in-a-garden-02Surprise-Proposal-in-a-garden-03Surprise-Proposal-in-a-garden-04Surprise-Proposal-in-a-garden-05Surprise-Proposal-in-a-garden-06Surprise-Proposal-in-a-garden-07Surprise-Proposal-in-a-garden-08Surprise-Proposal-in-a-garden-09Surprise-Proposal-in-a-garden-10Surprise-Proposal-in-a-garden-11Surprise-Proposal-in-a-garden-12Surprise-Proposal-in-a-garden-13Surprise-Proposal-in-a-garden-14Surprise-Proposal-in-a-garden-15Surprise-Proposal-in-a-garden-16Surprise-Proposal-in-a-garden-17Surprise-Proposal-in-a-garden-18Surprise-Proposal-in-a-garden-19Surprise-Proposal-in-a-garden-20

Photography- Chad Heller

Makeup- Gabrielle Carlson Heller

Book- Speshals

Poem- Gabrielle Carlson Heller

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Let me know what you think!

  1. Kayla Colangelo says:

    So beautiful! I’m so excited for you two. Your going to be such a beautiful bride :)

  2. Jillian Tree says:

    How ADORABLE!!! Love the pictures <3 <3

  3. Kathy LoBue-Leach says:

    Brings tears to my eyes looking at these pictures. So beautiful. So happy for both of you.

  4. Samantha Landeros says:

    Omg! Such a beautiful proposal
    You guys are a gorgeous couple!

  5. Krystal M Fuentes says:

    I’m SOOoOOOoooooooOoooOOOOO happy for you! Saying your wedding is going to be beautiful is an understatement, but I’m sure you’re going to have an even more beautiful marriage.

  6. Summer Lee-Muir says:

    Love love love! :)

  7. Tiffany Burton says:

    So awesome! I am so happy for the two of you! Andrew and everyone that helped out did an amazing job!

  8. Kelly Brown Hopkins says:

    OH MY GOSH Kristen Booth this made me cry. How very romantic. So glad your fairytales are coming true. Can’t wait to see what you plan for your fairytale wedding. Hugs.

  9. Tammie Letroise-Brown says:

    Sooo amazing! Congrats to you!

  10. Astami Bee says:

    SO, so beautiful! Congrats Kristen!

  11. Lauren Kee says:

    Seriously tearing up reading this! These photos are so beautiful and he captured everything perfectly! Just like you did for me. Congrats again girly! So happy for you two :)

  12. Shari M. Robinson says:

    So romantic..love it.

  13. Richelle Marie says:

    This is the most BEAUTIFUL proposal ever!!! <3 So happy for you! Awesome photos to cherish forever!!!

  14. Courtnee Murphy says:

    This is the sweetest thing ever! Congratulations on your very own fairytale Kristin!

  15. Lindsay Dianne Karlsson says:

    OHMYGOSH, CONGRATS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I seriously got chills while reading this and looking at the beautiful pictures!!! That is the cutest engagement story i’ve ever heard! You and your prince are so perfect together and what a magical wedding you shall have! These photos took my breath away, I love the crown, so perfect for a princess bride to be as you! The book, poem, garden, flowers, EVERYTHING is beyond incredible!!!

  16. Diane Narvaez Royer says:

    ANDREW AND KRISTEN, I DID NOT KNOW THAT ANDREW WAS A ROMANTIC KIND OF GUY. READING THE BEAUTIFUL MESSAGE HE MADE TO KRISTEN WARMED MY HEART. THE BOTH OF YOU HAVE AN AMAZING JOURNEY TOGETHER. I AM SO HAPPY THAT YOU HAVE SHARED THE TIME WITH ALL OF US…MAY GOD BLESS YOU BOTH AND KEEP THE LOVE THAT YOU HAVE FOR EACH OTHER FOREVER….LOVE YOU BOTH…DIANE…

  17. Anne Riley says:

    I was so happy to be a small part of your engagement. I hoped you liked the calligraphy. Ink and Annie Calligraphy

  18. Irma Chavira-Chouehne says:

    What a beautiful proposal, congratulations!

  19. […] We’ve featured some of Kristen’s work before, and she has the most enchanting, fairytale style. And she’s just recently had her own princess-worthy engagement (you can read all about it on her blog!). […]

  20. […] We’ve featured some of Kristen’s work before, and she has the most enchanting, fairytale style. And she’s just recently had her own princess-worthy engagement (you can read all about it on her blog!). […]

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Fantasy Sessions

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Top Posts

Fairytale
Wedding Experience

I'm a Southern California-based photographer specializing in enchanting photos for couples who believe in Happily Ever After. I've been capturing fairytale love stories around the world since 2010 and have been featured in print and online publications 90+ times.

wanna know more?

Kristen Booth

wedding styling kit must-haves

10 dreamy places to get married in southern california

oheka castle wedding

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