Andrea + Mike’s Winter Proposal in Downtown Syracuse
Andrea and Mike were coming home to Syracuse NY for Christmas, and little did Andrea know, Mike had been planning the perfect winter proposal! Mike was referred to me by a friend of a friend, and I was so excited to help him execute the big moment. One of my favorite parts of being a proposal photographer is hearing the plans. Mike knew he wanted to pop the question in Clinton Square, where a giant Christmas tree and skating rink would be set up.
But they wouldn’t be coming alone. Andrea’s cousin Natasha and Mike’s best friend Steve had been dating since 2012, which is how Andrea and Mike first met. They parted ways during college, but reconnected in December 2017, then they ended up serving as Maid of Honor and Best Man at Natasha and Steve’s wedding. Having such a big part in their history, it felt fitting that Mike would bring them along for the surprise proposal.
The plan was for me to hang out near the Christmas tree, then “stumble upon” the foursome and offer to take their photo in front of the tree. When the day arrived, the weather was less than ideal with rain coming down and slushy snow underfoot. It may not have been the picturesque scene everyone was envisioning, but I was determined to make the best of it for them, and I think I succeeded!
I arrived early to get set up and in place. I didn’t want to be super obvious hanging out with my camera, so I ducked into a little spot - the only area I could find that was covered. But when Andrea and Natasha arrived and saw the guys weren’t there yet, they stopped and waited next to me. My nerves immediately kicked in, as I was trying to pretend I didn’t know them so as not to give away the surprise.
Luckily, Mike and Steve weren’t far behind, and they all met up in front of the Christmas tree. I slowly followed them, trying to act nonchalant. When I got to the tree, I asked if they wanted a photo. Mike and Andrea posed for the picture, then Mike pulled out a ring box, popped the question, and Andrea gave an enthusiastic “yes!”
Everyone was ecstatic! It was such a special moment. I took a photo of all four of them before Andrea, Mike, and I headed off to take photos around Clinton Square. The whole area was beautifully decorated with colorful Christmas lights and string lights everywhere we turned.
The sun started to go down, so we made sure to make a pit stop at Wolff’s Biergarten. When Andrea and Mike first started dating, they frequented it for trivia and date nights. It was great to be able to grab a few photos for sentimental value!
Mike had a reservation at Francesca’s planned for after the proposal, so we took a few final photos in front of the tree before parting ways. The whole evening felt so dreamy. I’m honored to have been asked to capture this moment. Congratulations, you two! I’m wishing you a lifetime of happiness!
