Engagement at Duke Gardens Durham NC

Photographed by Fancy This Photography Partner, Amanda Law

In the heart of Durham, North Carolina, love blossomed in the serene beauty of Duke Gardens. Alex orchestrated a surprise proposal that would forever be etched in the hearts of Mannat and their closest friends and family. This enchanting engagement, at Duke Gardens Durham NC was skillfully captured by our Fancy This Photography partner Amanda Law. Each image unveils a tale of surprise, romance, and the magic of true love.

A Garden Proposal: Engagement at Duke Gardens Durham NC

The picturesque landscapes of Duke Gardens became the canvas for Alex's heartfelt proposal to Mannat. As they strolled through the blooming garden, Mannat was met with a delightful surprise – their closest friends and family waiting just around the corner. The air was filled with anticipation and excitement as Alex unfolded a banner/blanket that read, "Mannat, will you marry me," accompanied by champagne and delicate rose petals. Keep scrolling to witness the magic of this engagement at Duke Gardens Durham NC.

Beautiful Engagement at Duke Gardens Durham NC Fancy This Photography

A beautiful engagement at Duke Gardens Durham NC by Fancy This Photography.

Candid Engagement at Duke Gardens Durham NC Fancy This Photography

A candid engagement at Duke Gardens Durham NC by Fancy This Photography.

Emotional Engagement at Duke Gardens Durham NC Fancy This Photography

An emotional engagement at Duke Gardens Durham NC by Fancy This Photography.

Happy Engagement at Duke Gardens Durham NC Fancy This Photography

A happy engagement at Duke Gardens Durham NC by Fancy This Photography.

Surprised Engagement at Duke Gardens Durham NC Fancy This Photography

A surprising engagement at Duke Gardens Durham NC by Fancy This Photography.

Duke Gardens Engagement Photos

The joyous moment unfolded as Mannat, in sweet surprise, said yes to a future filled with love and togetherness. The presence of loved ones added an extra layer of warmth and celebration to this engagement at Duke Gardens Durham NC. The gardens echoed with laughter, embraces, and the promise of a beautiful journey ahead for Alex and Mannat.

Engagement Party at Cucciolo Osteria in Durham

Following the engagement at Duke Gardens, Alex and Mannat, surrounded by their friends and family, continued the celebration at Cucciolo Osteria in Durham, NC. The cozy atmosphere of the Italian restaurant set the stage for an evening filled with love and joy. Every detail was thoughtfully crafted to create a seamless transition from a Duke Gardens proposal to a joyous gathering of loved ones.

Durham NC Engagement Photographer

The magic of Alex and Mannat's engagement at Duke Gardens Durham NC was expertly captured by Amanda Law, a partner photographer with Fancy This Photography. With a keen eye for storytelling through images, Amanda documented the surprise, the emotion, and the love that enveloped this special day. Her expertise in proposal photography in Durham, NC, and surrounding areas ensured that every fleeting moment was preserved with artistic finesse.

Alex and Mannat's engagement at Duke Gardens is a testament to Fancy This Photography's commitment to capturing the unique stories of love. Specializing in wedding photography and proposal photography in Durham, NC, the team at Fancy This combines passion and artistry to create visual narratives that reflect the authentic beauty of each moment.

Enchanting Engagement at Duke Gardens Durham NC

Alex and Mannat's engagement at Duke Gardens Durham NC, followed by a celebratory dinner at Cucciolo Osteria, was a symphony of surprise, love, and togetherness. Fancy This Photography, led by the talented Amanda Law, played a crucial role in immortalizing the magic of this special day. As Alex and Mannat embark on the journey to marriage, the images captured by Fancy This Photography will serve as timeless reminders of the enchanting love that sparked in the heart of Durham.

Photography // Fancy This Photography

Proposal Venue // Duke Gardens

Engagement Party Venue // Cucciolo Osteria

Planning and coordination // Magnolia Collective

Florals // English Garden Raleigh

Surprise Proposal in Durham, NC

In the golden hour light, Sarah Martin, a partner at Fancy This Photography, captured a surprise proposal in Durham, NC. It was Saturday, February 18 and the weather was perfect. Deanna White thought she was going on a Valentine’s Day date with her boyfriend John Donnelly when she found herself in a familiar downtown Durham parking deck. This spot held sentimental value for the couple, having been the backdrop to many serious conversations and shared sunsets. John, aware of Deanna's love for surprises, suggested a detour to the rooftop to catch the sunset before dinner.

As the elevator doors opened, Deanna was greeted by a romantic rooftop picnic—flowers, candles, champagne, and a visual timeline of their journey together. Against the backdrop of a downtown Durham skyline, bathed in the setting sunlight, John asked a life-changing question.

Round of applause for John's creative rooftop parking deck picnic proposal. Every detail, from the pillows to the charcuterie, reflects John’s thoughtful planning. In the background, Sarah quietly worked her magic. She operated incognito, documenting the moment as the couple celebrated their engagement.

One of Deanna’s best friends recommended Fancy This Photography to John. We understand the importance of preserving memories and felt honored to capture this commitment on camera. Sarah photographed this surprise proposal in Durham, NC on a Sony A7 III and an A7R III with a 24-70mm and 70-200mm lens.

These photos served a dual purpose for John and Deanna—they recorded the proposal and made sweet engagement announcement photos!

“We really appreciate Sarah's background in photojournalism and how she leverages that to ensure she is capturing the authenticity of moments as they happen,” John says.

Surprise Proposal Photography

Surprise proposals are sudden. Many couples describe feeling like they've momentarily "blacked out," struggling to recall the words of that life-changing moment. It's in these moments that a professional photographer is a friend. Fancy This Photography is ready and honored to preserve your unique proposal story.

Sarah Martin, a partner of Fancy This Photography, was moved by the emotions John and Deanna shared during their surprise proposal in Durham, NC. The couple was alone in that moment, their focus consumed by their love for each other.

Sarah notes, “Typically both people are nervous, excited and overwhelmed with emotion all at once, so there was no room for either to focus on being photographed or even notice that I was there at all. The energy of excitement just carries through the rest of the evening and really shows in the images compared to a typical engagement session.”

The result is a collection of images that capture the essence of the proposal – genuine excitement and joy. Our passion at Fancy This Photography lies in helping couples like John and Deanna document big moments.

Meet The Couple: John & Deanna

Q: Where are y’all from?
A: Deanna was born in Staten Island, New York and moved to New Jersey when she was in middle school. John is from Greensboro, North Carolina.

Q: Do you have any pets?
A: We have two adorable pit bull mixes (both rescues) named Savannah (3) and Miller (7). We hope for both of them to be able to go down the wedding aisle!

Q: How did you first meet and start dating?
A: We were both early employees of a successful local tech startup called ArchiveSocial and met there on the sales floor! It took over two years of being coworkers on the same team before we started dating in July of 2019.

Use Your Surprise Proposal Photos as Engagement Photos

Engagement photos represent the start of a lifetime together. It's no wonder that surprise proposals often double as engagement photos. These images are a reminder of the joy and adrenaline of the proposal, filling your engagement announcement photos with romantic and authentic vibes.

According to Sarah, surprise proposal photos are magical because they encapsulate raw emotion that cannot be replicated. "That embodies what a photograph is meant to do in my opinion," she adds.

John and Deanna, appreciating the emotional essence of their surprise proposal photos, made the decision to let these moments also serve as their official engagement photos. "We believe that there would be no way for us to try and duplicate the emotions and feelings we had during the moment itself," John explains.

These location choices add more meaning to the photos. The top of the downtown Durham parking garage, where the surprise proposal unfolded, held sentimental value for John and Deanna. It was a place where they shared countless moments watching sunsets and engaging in meaningful conversations. Other iconic Durham locations, including Alley Twenty Six, The Durham Hotel, and "Major" the Durham bull bronze sculpture, were perfect backdrops for this local love story. The photo taken in front of the ArchiveSocial sign held a special place in their hearts as it marked the spot where their love story began.

These surprise proposal and engagement photos immortalize the joy of the proposal but also connect memories, each location supporting John and Deanna's love story.

Sentimental Surprise Proposal in Durham, NC

John and Deanna’s amazing energy was absolutely infectious. We loved the parking deck rooftop picnic setup. John added so many unique personalized details to the picnic setup, you can really get a glimpse of their story as a couple.

Sarah photographed the couple candidly as they reminisced on shared memories and talked about the future. It’s obvious that a lot of thought and love was put into this surprise proposal in Durham, NC and no detail was lost on Deanna.

If you are planning a surprise proposal, Fancy This Photography would love to be there to help you capture the moment!

John and Deanna are getting married on May 4, 2024 at the Haw River Ballroom in Saxapahaw, NC. This non-traditional wedding venue honors the couple’s love of music and nature. With most of the (big) wedding planning items completed, John and Deanna are feeling relieved and excited.

“We can't wait for Sarah to capture our wedding day,” John says.

Congratulations John and Deanna! We were honored to help you capture this life-changing moment. If you or someone you know is planning a surprise proposal, Fancy This Photography would love to photograph it! Whether it’s a surprise proposal in Durham, NC or the Bahamas, we’d love to be there. Click here to reach out.