Remember my friend Katy, from my budget blazer post?
Well, I was inspired to share another Katy-related post here today because something really special has happened since I published that first one.
Let me start from the beginning…
Last month, Katy’s boyfriend, Matt, bought one of the carriage houses down the street from us:
It’s a two bedroom/two bathroom (just like our place, minus our half bath) and he got an amaaaaazing deal on it because it’s been on the market since before we moved out here last Fall.
We are so excited to have him in the ‘hood, and at some point after he’s done doing some construction/painting projects, I’m definitely going to see if he’s up for me snapping some pics of the inside of his new place so I can share them here, too.
In the meantime though, I want to share some photos of another exciting Matt & Katy moment that Kevin and I were blessed to be a part of this past Saturday.
It all started with a phone call from Matt to Kevin on Thursday.
He asked if we could help decorate the marina so that he could “pop the question” when he and Katy got back from Ikea in Atlanta that day. 🙂
We talked about some ideas, and then came up with a plan to tell Katy I wanted to shoot some more photos for another fashion-related blog post at the marina that day. I texted her that night and was so happy when she responded, “Yes! We’re going to Ikea that day, but I’ll come down there as soon as we get back!“.
Sweet!
Kevin and I had some things to do Saturday morning, but we headed down to the marina just after lunch. Neither of us had ever done this kind of decorating, so we were reeeeally hoping it was *sort of * what Matt had in mind!
We strung up string lights (thanks again, Evan!) and Neighbor Bill let us borrow two of his beautiful sunshine-y mums.
I brought some candles and a jar full of hydrangeas from our house, and (Shoot Fly Shoot) Neighbor Josh clipped a bag full of roses from his front yard for me to sprinkle around, too.
Then we waited.
We got into position, and waited.
And then five minutes later…they appeared.
So Kevin started playing…
…and I started crying. 🙂 The sound of Katy’s high-heeled boots getting closer from one direction, and Kevin’s acoustic guitar in the other was just too sweet for my heart to take!
This next photo makes me wonder when she *knew*, ya know?
Something tells me she definitely had an idea of what was going on by the time she reached those mums. 🙂
When they were inside the circle of string lights, Matt turned to Katy and dropped down on one knee.
Smiley Katy…
…turned teary…
…and it was seriously one of the sweetest moments I have ever been lucky enough to see!
We love you Matt and Katy! Thanks so much for allowing us to be a part of your precious proposal!
For more pics between posts, join me over on Twitter, Facebook and/or Instagram!
What a romantic proposal. As always, you take absolutely beautiful pictures. Wow!!! Congratulations to Matt and Katy!
holy cow, I was crying before they even walked into the circle 🙂
nice job, good friends. so sweet.
This is too sweet…I’m tearing up!! Lovely job of decorating the dock as well….
Oh how sweet!! I love proposal pics!
Absolutely beautiful…: )
Oh wow! How cool!! Beautiful spot to propose and what an honor to be included. 🙂
OH MY GOSHHHH that is the sweetest thing! They’ll be so glad their whole lives they had you guys to document it for them! 🙂
Oh my gosh! They are the cutest couple and so fortunate to have you as their friend. The pictures are precious.
This almost made me start crying here on my lunch hour! Thanks for sharing <3
Sue
your photos captured such emotion, told such a story. beautiful!
all the best wishes to the happy couple.
Aww this is so sweet! Bonus: they already have their engagement pics 😉
You guys are good friends for doing that! 🙂
Congrats to the happy couple!! 🙂
That was JUST seriously darling….good job y’all! That couple should do commercials for hair stuff, they got it in spades. She looks like a model and he looks like Jake Owen. 🙂
This post got better with each picture. First, the “Katy is too cute!”. Then the simple yet beautiful decor you did! I sighed when I saw it Layla. And then me thinking how you have a little piece of heaven on earth down there in your neighborhood–friends and neighbors included! Then Kevin waiting to play, the pics leading to the moment. Truely beautiful!!!! LOVE this post! Congrats Katy and Matt! And of course LOVE the carriage house!!!
It was perfect 😀
A while back a good friend of mine prayed a special prayer with me in Panera Bread – our usual hangout…..The prayer went something like this…”God open the doors you want Matt to walk through and lead him to boldly walk through them….and God close the doors that need to be shut so as to reveal your perfect will to Matt.” Ever since that day God has perfectly placed things in their divine sequence to lead me and Katy to this moment.
1. Job change
2. The ring. Perfect contemporary with a twist and not too bling bling! Custom ordered and for an amazing price! Cant wait to add that wedding band on Katy’s finger!!! Matches perfectly.
3. Mortgage approval was super fast “amazingly” even through my job transition.
4. Perfect House in the perfect neighborhood became perfectly affordable! The one blue house I wanted so badly dropped drastically in price! Ironically it was the first house I looked at a long long time ago and wrote it off the list before we even began looking.
5. Perfect friends had a perfect opportunity to throw Katy off with the whole blog photo shoot idea and pull off the most sweetest engagement. I teared up for real.
I cant wait for these last two greatest moments of my life!!!!………..
6. The wedding. Oh man it’s gonna be awesome!!!!!!!!
7. Honeymoon………No comment :D!!!!!!
Awww. I cried in the actual moment of the proposal and I cried now just seeing the moment from someone else’s view. So romantic and special. I will NEVER EVER forget it!!!!! Thank you Matt, Layla & Kevin(and Josh for the awesome photos that captured the moment) for giving me a heart melting moment that will stay with me for the rest of my life. I feel loved. 😀
Matt, I can’t wait until the big day!!! <3 :c)
OMgosh now I’m tears too! She is SO lucky you were there to capture her special moment too!!!
I love this! So nice that this was documented for them to look back on.
Oh my word………… I am sitting just smiling… and then wiping a tear or two!! That is just beautiful!!!!! Thank you for sharing Layla!!!!!! (btw…. Love love love your “Neck of the Woods”!!! That Carriage House is SWEET!!!! 🙂
THat was the best post I have ever read 🙂
I don’t even know them and I was tearing up! Beautiful!
That is just about the sweetest thing I have ever seen in my life. You guys are blessed to be a part of something so special. And they are blessed to have you as their friends.
How very sweet
This brought tears to my eyes. You guys are so sweet, and the photos they’ll have to cherish…makes me want to set up my hubby for a re-engagement LOL
That was absolutely beautiful! Just perfect! 🙂
what a great proposal!! So glad you were able to capture it for them.
My proposal happened on an architectural tour on the Chicago river. Of course it was just me and him and a boat full of strangers on the boat. But when his brother put a banner/sign “Erin, Marry Me” hanging down off the side of the Michigan Ave bridge, a really nice stranger took that picture and of the ones following of him proposing. I’m so grateful for her to come up to us later to email me the pictures. I will forever cherish them. :o)
Oh how touching! How lucky they are to have you guys as neighbors! Lucky, lucky them!!!
So beautiful and romantic. What a great looking couple. Congrats and please send more lovely pics of the wedding!!
This is so cute. I wish I had pics of our engagement! On a side note, I seriously googled this area where you live, it looks like a movie set!
Oh, how sweet was this! I’m all weepy with joy for them. So great of you and Kevin to help decorate, provide nusic and photograph that special moment for them. I love this kind of stuff, watch wedding related tv all the time! Congrats to the happy couple!
What a beautiful and touching memory that you have helped to create.
Thank-you so much Layla for sharing it.
All the best of wishes to Matt and Katy in their future together..
Penny
My goodness! What awesome neighbors you guys are and have around you. What a great way to propose and all the best to them as they start their new journey!
Beautiful pictures! Beautiful post!
Darn!! I’m crying and I don’t even know them. That is so very beautiful. Those pictures are awesome. They will have a great pics of that special moment. Good Job!!!!
This is so cute! I think I started getting teary just going through the pics. I love love love your photos! Especially the ones where it started getting darker and you had the glow from the string of lights. What camera and lens were you using. I’m just getting into photography and am trying to learn everything I can. I might need some Shoot Fly Shoot lessons. LOL
What a lucky girl! You & your husband did such a beautiful job. And the picture’s are just as beautiful. I got teary eyed just looking at the picture’s! Good job!!!!
Gorgeous decorating, awesome pictures, and CONGRATS Matt & Katy!!
That gave me goose bumps, so sweet!!
This was beautiful! It made me get all misty eyed! Congratulations to Matt & Katy!
Wow this is so amazing. You helped create such a romantic and memorable proposal. Thank you for sharing.
awwwh! so romantic
I’m sure you and Kevin really enjoyed being such a special part of this proposal. Congratulations Matt and Katy!
Wow-the pictures were amazing. They should hire you to photograph the wedding. Just beautiful. What a blessing to have friends like you and Kevin. Your talents are endless Layla!
Pat
These are gorgeous! And your photos are better than most my own photographer captured at my engagement session or my wedding! Just lovely and Congratulations, Matt and Katy!
They will treasure these photos forever!! Lucky you for being a part of such a wonderful moment. They are a beautiful couple.
That is seriously one of the most romantic proposal sites I’ve ever seen! EVER!! You and Kevin and neighbors did an amazing job and your photography will be cherished forever. What a sweet, sweet thing for friends to be included in and help to make happen. I cried and cried, went back and reread and cried some more. They area an adorable couple. Happy Life, Matt and Katy!!
Simply amazing!! Beautiful photos!
*chills*. So very special. You two are amazing, and were the perfect couple to ‘create’ this setting. Do we see ANOTHER career for you two??
Oh my gosh! He should give lessons. I know a whole class full of guys who could use lessons – they’ll have anniversaries to do sweet things on!!!!
Wow. I hope all the blessings in the world for them. Is Katy ever pretty! What an amazing thing to be a part of! How lucky you and Kevin are.
There are many posts though, that I admire you two (Layla & Kevin). Happy vibes for EVERYONE!
This blog is perhaps my new favourite. Thank you for sharing it. How lucky are we the readers. And how honoured I would feel to maybe in your shoes one day Layla, that’s really special. …or Katy’s.
Peace and blessings!
Maryjane
from Manitoba, Canada
That is soooo sweet and HOORAY for a fashionista in the hood!!! How great is THAT.
positively adorable!!!!
This is so sweet! Thanks for sharing.
Ohhh, I love this! Thanks for sharing!