Daniel Cruz Photography does it again. A Southern California-based wedding photographer who does an excellent job capturing the beauty and love of two people who are just head over heels in love... it's just breathtaking. The beautiful couple and the gorgeous locations with the pretty Southern California light... it's a dreamy engagement session! Definitely read Jaime and Michael's proposal story after viewing all the images because it's absolutely sweet!
Daniel, thank you for sharing your beautiful work with us again!
Their love story: I met Michael two days after I got home from spending a semester of school in Spain. Michael was in a phase which I like to call, “I’m single and I don’t care” in other words, he had a full grown beard. Needless to say, it was not love at first sight. We found ourselves as acquaintances who happen to share the same group of friends. We never really clicked or hung out outside of our other friends until one day he invited my sister and I to go on a hike. We said no. He asked again several times and finally we did go and to our surprise we had a great time! Michael and I began hanging out more and more and feelings began to grow. Being too shy to tell each other, we went several months without telling one another how we really felt until one day while I was on my break at work he called me on the phone. He just couldn’t hold it in any longer and he blurted out, “I like you!!!” We spent our time getting to know each other better and finally made it official. We knew that marriage was our goal and it wouldn’t be too long until we reached it. We spent a few short months preparing for our future we believed God had for us and it was a wonderful sweet time.
The proposal: Michael gave me a proposal most girls only dream of! With the help of my sister, Jessica they concocted quite an elaborate scheme! On a Tuesday night, I was preparing for a “girls night out” at Downtown Disney and Michael, so I thought, was going to the gym. We drove down late at night and once we arrived and started walking around, all of a sudden my friends were no where to be found! As I awkwardly walked around trying to find my companions, I ran into Jaque a close friend. She was holding a letter and a rose and was less surprised to see me than I was to see her! As I walked closer, two other friends came running from around the corner and shoved cameras in my face. Right then I knew that by the end of the night, a diamond ring would be wrapped around my finger. Jaque then handed me the treasures she held and as my hands were shaking, I opened the letter and tired to remember how to read. The letter was a clue that led me to The House of Blues a restaurant we once ate at on a date. Once there, I found an old friend I haven’t seen in almost a year. She was holding another clue and a rose. This clue lead me to The California Grand Hotel lobby fireplace, where Michael and I love to go when we’re at Disneyland just to warm up on the chilly days. By the fire was another old friend holding the third and final clue. This clue was a map that lead me to a gazebo by the Disneyland Hotel. I briskly made my way over there. (I’ve notice that when you know you’re about to get engaged you walk pretty fast. My poor cameramen had trouble keeping up!) When I arrived to the gazebo, I found my love standing alone holding a bouquet of roses. As I walked up to him I found him trying to keep himself together. Then he took me by the hand and said two very simple phrases, “Jaime, I love you with all my heart.” Then he got down on his knee and ... “Jaime will you marry me?” I wasn’t even able to get any words out. As tears were streaming down my face I nodded my head. Then to my surprise, I heard loud clapping and cheering. I turned around and found forty of our closest friends and family all there to witness our magical moment at Disney.
About their engagement session: Michael and I hate being in front of the camera and feel pretty awkward having our pictures taken, so we knew our engagement shoot would be a challenge for us. Daniel Cruz was suggested to us by a close friend and Michael also knew him from a Bible study they attended in high school. After we looked at his work we knew right away we wanted him to take our photos. Both Daniel and his second shoot and girlfriend Sarina made us feel so comfortable being outside our comfort zones and by the end of the night we felt like pros. We had decided on the drive down that we were going to let Daniel take full control. We didn’t want to tell him how to do his job. We are not photographers and we fully trusted Daniel. When he said jump we jumped. When he said go into the water, we went into the water. Even though I was getting cold and my curls were falling out from the sea air, we continued to do whatever he asked hoping to get the pictures we dreamed of. When we finally got to see the finished product, we were blown away! We never dreamed of our engagements looking this beautiful. We are so thankful for Daniel and Sarina. They are fantastic photographers and friends!
Photo credit: Daniel Cruz Photography
