Elaine & Garrick | Birmingham Christmas Market Engagement

Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year! And what makes it even better? A super sweet engagement shoot at the Birmingham German Markets!!

I met Elaine and Garrick on a chilly evening in December in Birmingham city centre. Unfortunately… it started to rain. And I mean RAIN. We all desperately wanted the shoot at the market (what could be more Christmassy?!) and this was the last available day we had. So with umbrellas in hand, we carried on!

Elaine grew up in a Chinese takeaway and still has a major love for food (we quickly bonded over this, obviously!). She’s even said, “There are more pictures on my Facebook about food than myself!” Garrick loves games, comics, superhero movies and as Elaine puts it “is a massive geek but by no means introvert or shy.” Together, these two are laid back, fun to be around and perfect for each other!

They jumped at the challenge of having their engagement shoot amongst thousands of Christmas shoppers… in the pouring rain and freezing cold and STILL with huge smiles on their faces. I am beyond grateful for their adventurous spirits and willingness that made this shoot so fun and totally worthwhile when it could have easily been the opposite. And to be honest, I don’t think the weather made any difference! I actually love the outcome of the photos and I am relieved and so happy to know they feel the same. :)

Keep scrolling to read the proposal story! It is hilarious, genuine and sweet. A perfect picture of these two!

 

“He proposed in November 2015 on our anniversary. He surprised me with tickets to the Lion King and we stayed at a hotel in Oxford the night before, the room was amazing! The next day he bought me a lovely dress and we enjoyed the show in London.

There was suppose to be a romantic walk down the Thames from the hotel to the restaurant afterward but it obviously did not go according to plan! The train was late leaving me little time to get ready for the meal and he did not take into account the freezing weather in November or my aching feet from traveling around London. The last thing I wanted to do was walk in the freezing weather when we were already running late!

 

 

Nevertheless, it was our moment and it was memorable! He proposed at the hotel. In the rush of getting ready he gave me my anniversary card. I opened my card in a huff as we were running late and just wanted to read it quickly as he was tying his shoelaces. The card had a sweet message then ended with an arrow pointing down saying ‘Look down. I am not really tying my shoe laces.’ In what seemed like an eternity for him I moved the card from my face and looked down. I saw him kneeling on one knee and holding up the ring in a box.

 

 

He blurted out something I did not quite catch as he was half sobbing and I was in shock. I stepped back, did a double take at him and the ring…could not believe what was happening. My first words were ‘What the hell?!’ I then snapped the ring up from his hand as he was still waiting for my answer and burst into tears.

I pretty much left him on the floor and just took the ring! He then got up and said, ‘I assume it’s a yes then!?’ To which I blubbered, ‘OBVIOUSLY!'”

 

 

Congratulations again, you two! I am so excited to be your wedding photographer and I can’t wait to celebrate with you at Castle Bromwich Hall in May!