Tommy & Morgan Proposal & Engagement: Ellensburg, WA

This summer, Ross and I met Morgan at a Starbucks in Ellensburg. She explained that she was probably going to get engaged any moment, and wanted to start planning her wedding as soon as possible. We scheduled an engagement session for July, assuming her fiance, Tommy, would have proposed by then. With the date set on the calendar for a July engagement session, you can imagine our surprise when Morgan's mother called us in June and asked us if we wanted to do a "pre-engagement" session to document the actual engagement!

Tommy wanted to incorporate Morgan's airplane into the proposal, so he organized a crew to fly a plane with a banner reading, "Morgan Marry Me" over the field by Morgan's house. The challenge? How do Ross and I capture this private moment without Morgan seeing us? We met with Morgan's mom the day before, and Ross selected a bush to hide in, and told Tommy where to stand.

On the day of the proposal, Ross was prepared. Carrying his camera and lighting gear, he ran to the designated spot and wrapped himself in a tarp. He created a hole in the bush that his lens could fit into.

And here are some favorites from the Engagement photo shoot:

The story in the Daily Record describes the actual proposal, so we'll let you read on...

A marriage proposal out of the blue

'Banner of love' surprises Kittitas Valley woman

By DAILY RECORD STAFF

Tommy Wilmart’s proposal of marriage last Sunday to Morgan Brownlee came right out of the heavens. Literally. “As far as Morgan knew, her family and the Wilmart family were getting together for breakfast Sunday morning, however, there was much more going on than breakfast and both families were in on the plan,” Marilyn {mother of the groom} said. As Marilyn tells it, the proposal was truly a family affair. “They told Morgan there was no church service Sunday, and Sunday morning was the best time for the two families to meet with their busy schedules. “So while Tommy and Morgan made their way to the Brownlee’s for breakfast, Tommy’s parents, Tom and Marilyn, along with Morgan’s father, Ritch, headed down to Bower’s Field to get the banner ready for the airplane that was to fly over the Brownlee farm only an hour later. “Morgan’s mom, Melissa, helped Tommy sidetrack Morgan and get her to the spot he was to propose. To do this, they told Morgan and Tommy that her father had dropped his wallet earlier that morning while irrigating, and it was urgent that we find it because it contained a lot of money.” Morgan and Tommy made their way up the ditch bank and along the fields in pursuit of the wallet. About 15 minutes later, Tommy brought Morgan successfully to the spot where the blue and white Super Cub plane would fly over. At the sound of a low-flying aircraft, Morgan “perked up and walked toward the plane curious to see who it was and what it was towing.” “Only seconds after, Morgan realized what it was towing and what it said,” Marilyn said. “All she could say was ‘Oh my gosh!’ as she wrapped her arms around Tommy. Tommy then knelt down, pulled out the beautiful ring, and asked Morgan to marry him.” Marilyn said Morgan, “without any delay or hesitation” said “yes with all her heart, and a smile consumed both of their faces.” Photographer Ross James, of Ross James Photography of Ellensburg, captured the airplane and the moment while hiding in a tarp behind tall grass.

(You can read the full version of the article online here.)

These pictures are from both the real proposal, and the scheduled engagement session that we had in July. Both were at Morgan's family farm, as well as a few pictures at Tommy's family residence. We are both very much looking forward to their October wedding. They are such a fun, relaxed couple to work with. We will see you two lovebirds soon!