Surprise Engagement at the Monahans Sandhills – Michael and Alyssa

About nine years ago Michael and I were Myspace friends. We connected through music just chatted every now and again online. A couple years passed and it was 2010 when he messaged me saying he was moving to Michigan. I didn’t really hear anything after that for another couple years. Next thing you know he was moving to Austin and he had a beautiful red headed girlfriend who was also a photographer. I added her on Facebook and we started to talk and become friends as well. If these details weren’t already crazy, I found out they lived in an apartment two doors down and below my dad’s apartment. This means it was meant to be for us to all be friends right?! It wasn’t until the beginning of this year that I actually met Michael in person for the first time and it was one of those surreal moments. It still feels weird that we were Myspace friends and of all the places in the world to end up they live beneath my dad’s apartment.

Fast forward to two months ago, Michael messaged us saying he wanted to propose to Alyssa at the Monohans Sandhills in west Texas. He wanted to make a trip of it without being obvious. Of course, Alyssa and I already talked about wanting to go there so it made it easy to invite them without seeming suspicious. This also sped up the process of actually making the drive out there finally doing this trip. Once the plans were set it all went so smooth. So now it’s this past Tuesday and Bradley and I drive to Austin, wait for Alyssa to get off work, and then we made the 6 hour drive to our hotel. This was the firs time we were all able to connect and talk about our lives. Of course the night had to end with horror stories since we were in the middle of nowhere. We got four hours of sleep and woke up to drive to the sandhills. Since the park didn’t open until after sunrise I excitedly told them I would start with taking their photos first. We got about 20 shots in and I waived to Michael for the go ahead. Alyssa was SHOCKED and literally had no idea about any of this. She likes to think she is good at knowing about surprises but we were happy she didn’t know about this one. We are so excited and happy for these two and I am so grateful to have met Michael 9 years ago.  We are all very dear friends and happy to share this story.