University of Washington Spring Engagement (Seattle, WA)

Event Info

Location: Seattle, WA
Event Date:  February 09, 2020

Album Story

Kiesha and Eric attended the same high school and officially met at Kiesha’s graduation when Eric, a grade older, was watching one of his friend’s graduate. When Eric noticed that Kiesha was going to attend the University of Washington with her interest in studying public health, he came up to chat with her about it. Eric asked for Kiesha’s email and sent over pre-health programs that she could benefit from during the summer. After their first meeting, they kept in touch being having long conversations together while completing their undergraduate studies at the University of Washington in Seattle. Fast forward to Kiesha’s senior year when the two finally exchanged numbers and Eric asked Kiesha to be his girlfriend after their first date!

Going back to UW was the perfect location choice for their engagement photos since this is where their friendship and love started! These love birds are tying the knot in September 2020.

Associated Vendors

Location: University of Washington
Photographer: Stormy Peterson Photography

Client Questionnaire

Q1: Let’s start at the beginning. How did you two first meet?
A1: We officially met at my high school graduation in 2014. Eric is one year ahead of me and came to the graduation to support one of his friends. During the graduation, they announced where I would be attending college (University of Washington) and my career interest (medicine). At the end of the graduation his brother and he found me. I knew his brother but Eric had to introduce himself to me. He shared he just finished his first year at the UW and knew of a summer healthcare program I might be interested in. He asked to exchange emails.  He did email me the information for the program but we didn’t exchange any additional emails or contact until I began my first year at the UW. I ran into him on the Ave my first week and we stood on the corner of the street talking for at least a good hour. At that time we exchanged phone numbers. Throughout the years we kept in touch via text and would run into each other frequently on campus, in classes, or at events. We always would have long, genuine conversations. We built a friendship I appreciated.  Then my senior year, and Eric’s first year out of college, he took me out on a date. After that the rest is history 🙂

Q2: What makes your relationship special? Tell us some things that you both value in your time together. (example: pushing each other to new limits, love to travel, huge comic book fans, foodies, etc.) What makes your relationship unique?
A2: Eric and I both love fitness. I think it is actually one thing that attracted us to become close friends in the beginning. I grew up playing sports my whole life and Eric really got into weightlifting when he came to college. So as a couple, one thing we make a priority is going to the gym together.  We love working out together and creating workouts to share with one another.  We both really enjoy that it pushes us mentally and physically. It’s rewarding to watch yourself grow in all areas including gaining strength, endurance, and tone. It has taught us a lot about commitment and consistency. We both serve as each other’s accountability partner which I greatly value. Eric gives me the encouragement (or swift kick in the butt) when I need it most. I’ll be taking my group fitness instructor certification exam soon and Eric plans to pursue a personal trainer certification. I think it makes our relationship unique because we equally value it. We both have a lot of health risk factors because of our genetics and racial/ethnic background which drives us to live healthy lives and be passionate about helping others do the same!

Q3: How did you know your partner was the one? When did you first know this in your relationship? (these may often be the same moment, but aren’t always)
A3: I knew Eric was the one, by the way, he showed his love. He may be a big guy but he is really a teddy bear. He is truly an authentic soul. Eric is always thoughtful, super supportive, and family-oriented just like I am. He is willing to jump in and try new things and be open to new ideas. Again and again, he showed up for me. He was straight forward at the beginning of our relationship by telling me that he was there for the long run. He knew he wanted to marry me. I wasn’t quite there in the beginning but I would say definitely by 3 months of being together I knew. We had grown so much in that little time. I could see how well we complemented each other. We had a mature relationship in the way we could resolve conflicts and communicate with each other. He made me feel like the most important woman in the world. How could I not fall for this guy?!

Q4: Give us all the details about the proposal. How and where did it happen? Was it a surprise? What was the planning process?
A4: Once we hit our 1 year (or maybe even a little before) I was wanting Eric to propose. I kept dropping hints and bringing it up to him. Eric would repeatedly tell me it wasn’t the right time and he would really like to wait until he finished grad school (fair). After me nagging for a little while we finally had a full conversation about it. In the end, we agreed it would be best to wait. I left it alone after that. Then last summer Eric moved to Boston for a summer internship. I planned to come to visit at the end of his internship in August but because I was missing him dearly I made a spontaneous trip in July to visit for a weekend. On Saturday he took me all around downtown Boston. We walked about 10 miles that day. We ended the tour near the water where Eric told me he wanted to show me this really cool spot. We finally arrived at “the spot” but it ended up not being the right place. Eric was pretty defeated but I told him it was okay and we can just find somewhere to sit down and rest. Nearby there was a small garden area with benches and covered by trees. It was a perfect spot to rest in the shade. We walked over and sat on a bench looking out onto the garden and waterfront. I began sharing how much I loved Boston and could see us living there for a little while. Then we moved to talking about the future. Before I knew it Eric got more serious and began confessing his love for me. Not completely out of the ordinary but interesting timing I thought. It wasn’t until his face began to get red as he awkwardly slides his right side of his body off the bench towards the ground did I realize what may be happening. Eric, being someone who isn’t about grand public gestures, didn’t quite get down on one knee but was below me as he asked me to marry him. I was completely surprised! I thought this day wasn’t going to come for another year. When I called my parents to tell them they weren’t surprised, though my mom did her best to act surprised. Eric had actually called them the weekend before to ask for their blessing (ahh what a gentleman). Eric had it in the back of his mind he wanted to propose when he left for Boston. This internship was a new chapter in his life and he wanted to find a way to make me part of it. He didn’t really have a whole plan to propose that weekend but he knew it was the right moment.

Q5: We’re all about the bling… Tell us all about that ring!
A5: Eric didn’t have the ring when he proposed. He went during the week before to pick out some rings but couldn’t decide on one before he proposed. I shared I wanted something pretty but simple.  So Sunday, the day after he proposed, he took me to the jewelry store and showed me what he picked out.  His number one pick was a ring with two diamonds coming together. He shared it was depicting us (two souls) coming to together as one married couple. It was perfect. I loved the simplicity and the thoughtfulness behind it. Needless to say, it’s the one I have!

Q6: Are you excited to start planning your wedding day? Do you have any ideas in mind yet?
A6: I’m excited for sure. However, I’ve been so busy working and being in grad school that it fully hasn’t hit me. We’ve just been chipping away at different things here and there. Right now we have most of the big things done (venue, dress, food, photographer). During our spring break, we hope to get some more things done like sending out save the dates and thinking more about the smaller details of the wedding. We are fortunate that our venue is so beautiful on its own that we don’t plan to do too much decorating. And as simple people, our biggest goal is making our wedding something to bring all our friends and family together to take part in our special day, laugh, eat delicious food, and dance carelessly throughout the night. We are just so happy and grateful for the privilege to have a wedding and have supportive parents throughout the entire process.