How We Met:
Justin and I were introduced by our friends who got married 2 years ago. Justin was the best man and I was the maid of honor. We both didn’t think much about it when our friends brought up the idea since he lived in Georgia and I’m in New York. We first met a few days before the wedding and instantly hit it off. We got to know each other in the 4 days while helping out with the wedding. When he dropped me off at the airport, I remember feeling sad thinking that it might be the end of it. Luckily, that’s not the end of it! We texted each other constantly and spent a lot of hours talking on the phone (some calls lasted 2 to 3 hours!). We did that for about 1.5 months, until Justin finally had a chance to visit me up in New York. On that trip, we officially began dating.
How I Proposed:
We dated long distance for about a year, visiting each other every 3-4 weeks. About a year into dating, I was pretty sure I wanted to marry Yupi! I eventually asked her what style of ring she liked, and we even went to jewelry stores together when I was visiting her in NYC. She knew that I wasn’t going to pop the question anytime soon, that I was just seeing what she liked. However, she didn’t know that I immediately bought the ring that she liked the most when I returned to Georgia. I had to keep it hidden until the right time…
Fast forward months later. I was living in NYC with Yupi, and still keeping the ring hidden. I wanted to get her father’s blessing, but there was a complication. He lived abroad and didn’t speak much English. Yupi’s brother told me he’d be visiting the US soon, and offered to be a translator for us. So one day in our living room, I got the chance to talk with Yupi’s dad after months of waiting. After asking me a few questions, and offering some great advice, I had the green light. I was getting more nervous!
A couple of days after getting her father’s blessing, I packed the ring into a backpack along with our picnic blanket, and some food. I had been rehearsing what to say over and over in my head. I thought I was ready. We walked to a local park we both enjoyed, and ate a picnic along the East River with a great view of the Manhattan skyline. Eventually I said, “Yupi…”. I froze. She sensed something was up. I pulled out the ring box, and jumbled some words up. I was tearing up, she was tearing up, and I just handed her the box. I forgot to even open it up for her! Somehow she understood what I was asking, and she said Yes! I am so happy to be marrying my perfect match soon.
Erik and Christlyn are Lunalee Photography: Atlanta Wedding and Engagement Photographers