Personal: Eric & Amanda’s Engagement | Analisa Joy Photography | San Diego, CA Photographer

Last month, we celebrated my sister and the man of her dreams (who also happens to be one of our bestest friends) because they got engaged! Every month on the 5th, Amanda and Eric go on a creative date to celebrate their, “monther.” The weekend of September 5th, Eric decided that they would go hiking and he wanted to make this date extra special. When Eric told me that he was going to propose to my sister, I was seriously SO HAPPY. I would cry listening to love songs in my car. He had it all planned… My sister is a workout wearing fanatic. Forget the jewelry and fancy dates, just throw in some Nike shoes and/or a new workout outfit and she is ecstatic! He made sure to incorporate both into the proposal.

That morning, Eric surprised her with a new Lululemon workout outfit for their “monther” date. He picked her up and they headed out to Torrey Pines. Like most engagement stories, Eric and Amanda had to hop some hurtles to get to the actual proposal. This hike almost didn’t happen because two days prior, Amanda was diagnosed with WALKING PNEUMONIA! She wanted to cancel, but we had everything set up from their picnic, secret cameras, and a surprise engagement party with all her closest family and friends. This hike is all downhill and we had no plan B, so we said our prayers, crossed our fingers, and Amanda finally agreed to do the hike.

We had three boys come and help set up the picnic on the beach and to stand guard and protect the teepee from passerby’s. Myself, Chelsea (who Eric flew down from Oregon so that she wouldn’t miss the proposal), and Josh hid in a trail above. Josh brought his GoPro and he mounted it to a cactus so that they would have it on film. We waited three hours in the burning sun (no shade) and I think I received one of the worse sunburns in my life. I remembered all the props, but forgot the sunscreen. Oops!

Eric was supposed to send us a text when they were approaching, but we lost cell phone service. Thankfully, we found two strangers to kept a lookout for us.

When they approached the outlook, Eric put a blanket down and they sat on the ledge and looked out at the ocean. He was supposed to keep her looking at the water so we could pop up from behind and take pics. However, Eric was a bundle of nerves and he decides to tell her to turn around and take a selife. Myself, Chelsea, and Josh (without conversing) face plant into the scolding sand, HAHA!

Luckily, she didn’t see us. He then turns back around and gives her the shoebox. She was SO excited to get a pair of Nikes. Then she noticed that on the tongues of one shoe it was engraved with the word, “marry” and the other shoe was engraved with the word, “me.” The ring box was in the shoe and once Amanda recognized what was happening, Eric grabbed it and proposed. Eric, also had her ring engraved that reads “runaway with me.” Isn’t that the greatest?!

After she said yes (hooray!), they walked downstairs toward the beach where a picnic was set up for them. We wanted their beach day to be all about comfort so they were greeted with pillows, blankets, a cooler full of snacks and drinks, and a teepee that can untie to make shade (yes, we made that!!).

We popped out to grab a few photos and then we left them so that they could enjoy their day alone. Eric told Amanda that they had dinner plans, but that he that promised my mom that they would stop by on the way so that she could see the ring. When they “stopped” by, they were greeted with a huge surprise party with all their closest family and friends. It was a great day celebrating even greater people!

When you combine Amanda and Eric, you get “AmERICa.” So we are now planning the ultimate America wedding. Unfortunately, it’s not going to be patriotic themed or red, white, and blue, but we are going to have the ultimate June wedding! I am so happy that my sister found a man who loves her with everything that he has and I’m so happy that one of my all time best friends is going to be my brother-in-law. We are truly blessed! CONGRATS AMANDA AND ERIC!

What would we do without our amazing and selfless friends?!
They drove all the way to Torrey Pines where they carried ALL the beach props for a mile along the sand in the burning sun.
They then guarded the teepee so passerby’s wouldn’t mess with it and then they left before Amanda and Eric arrived. I love them!

They also were our lighting models and practiced the proposal for us.

After three hours of waiting, Amanda and Eric finally arrived to their designated spot. When they first started dating, they did this hike together. It was in this spot where they started comparing their “tans.” They are both fair skinned beauties so we like to make fun of them for thinking that they have a tan at all. That’s where the hashtag, “whitepeepsgettingtan” originated. I can’t believe that this is the hashtag that has documented their relationship, but it’s going to be hilarious on their wedding day when all their guests post pictures along with captions that read, “#whitepeepsgettingtan… or #whitepeepsgettingmarried.”

Eric giving her a pair of Nike’s for their monther.

While he was proposing, we had the boys on both ends of the hike blocking traffic so that people wouldn’t pop up in their photos.
We received a lot of glares and grumbles, but it was worth it. Look at that view!

When Amanda looked up, there was a huge crowd of people on the trail above them watching and cheering.

We popped out when they approached their picnic so that we could grab a few pictures!

Check out that bling!!

I think this was one of the hottest days of the year, but we powered through!

I loved seeing my sister so happy!

I love this picture of Eric!

How cute is that workout outfit that Eric bought her?

My favorite shot of the day!

When we left, Eric and Amanda enjoy their afternoon at the beach.
We raced home to help set up for their surprise party at my mom’s house.

Cookies with their faces on them. Eric’s mom made these. AMAZING!

The funniest part of this day was that Amanda went swimming and took off all her makeup. She was still in her bikini on the way to my mom’s and Eric insisted that she put on some clothes before she walked into the house. She was being stubborn and kept responding, “we are only seeing my mom, I don’t want to get dressed until after I shower.” Luckily, she listened to him. That would’ve been quite the greeting, ha!

Eric also flew in her best friend from Chicago. This is when the tears came!

They are loved!!

Eric’s sister came up with the best idea. We snapped a picture of their proposal on our phones and sent it to her.
She ran to Target and had it printed and framed so that their friends could sign it at the party!

My sister was embarrassed that she had no makeup on and that her hair was a wild mess. Again, it was the day of surprises!
I went out and bought her a new outfit and hired Kandice to do her makeup and Brenna to style her hair. Jewelry by, Riley.
These ladies got her ready in less than 30 minutes. Gorgeous!