Surprise Proposal at Presidents Park in Clemson

Clemson, SC Proposal

This proposal was an extra special one. Kayla was one of my closest friends in my college design classes. We did group projects, many classes, and so much more together! Kayla has a way of making anyone feel comfortable and welcome.

Jacob and Kayla have been dating for over 3 years. I remember getting dinner with Kayla in Downtown Anderson around the time they had started dating and hearing about their relationship and she had also started a new job. We ate tacos and chatted and I remember being so happy for her and all the exciting things in her life. We picked up where we had left off from our college days like no time had passed.

I didn’t meet Jacob until the proposal day, but we did chat over the phone and email quite a bit. Jacob went to Clemson and was an engineering major. He said when he toured Clemson, he first felt peace about going to the school when he and his tour group walked near Presidents Park rotunda. Fast forward a few years, and when he was thinking where he’d like to propose to Kayla, he knew it had to be the same special spot.

Proposal Day

Jacob and I chatted over the phone, and emailed back and forth a bit to plan the logistics of their special day. Of course, once the day came, it was a chilly and rainy day, but that didn’t stop Kayla and Jacob from their date day he had planned. They started out at Grace Coffee in Clemson and walked around campus in their raincoats, ending at the rotunda. 

Thankfully, Kayla is a go-with-the-flow girl, so she just went along with Jacob’s date that he had planned. 

I was hidden behind one of the posts of the rotunda, peeking down the pathway every now and then to see when they got into the rotunda. When I heard them talking quietly, I knew they were in place, and I’m pretty sure I heard Jacob say “I’m going to propose to you now” and then he got on his knee. 

I popped out, started photographing, and Kayla looked over and saw me. I quickly smiled and kept shooting. She of course answered “yes” to his question and was all smiles! It was so sweet. 

After I hugged and congratulated them, we walked all around the rotunda at Presidents Park and then over to some of the buildings on campus for photos of the two of them. It was a fun time hearing more about their relationship and wedding plans.

I’m so excited for them and can’t wait to photograph their wedding day in October!! Congrats Kayla and Jacob!