When Derek reached out to plan his proposal to Liz, he knew exactly where he wanted to do it. Sagebrush, the Austin bar where they first met in person. As an Austin proposal photographer, I love when stories come full circle like this and this Sagebrush Austin proposal was one of those perfect full-circle moments.

Their story started years ago when Liz almost didn’t give Derek a chance. He showed up fifteen minutes late to their first date, and in her mind, that was strike one. But something told her to stay and it’s safe to say she’s glad she did. Since that first night, the two have made a habit of coming back to Sagebrush, often sitting in the very same chairs where their story began.

This Sagebrush Austin proposal had been in the works for months. Derek teamed up with Liz’s girlfriends to pull off the ultimate surprise. A plan that started with a “brunch invite” and ended with the most emotional yes.

As an Austin proposal photographer, I’ve seen so many creative ways to pop the question, but this one had me holding my breath behind the stage, camera ready and heart racing. I’ve known Liz for years, so the stakes were high. She could not see me before the big moment and thankfully, the plan went off perfectly. The second she realized what was happening, her expression said everything: shock, joy, disbelief, and the purest kind of happiness.

But the surprises didn’t end there. After she said yes, they gathered just down the road at The Little Darlin’ to celebrate with friends and family.

Out of the many proposals I’ve photographed, this Sagebrush Austin proposal stands out. It’s a full-circle story filled with nostalgia, love, and everything that makes this job so meaningful.