The Grand Del Mar Hotel | San Diego Engagements | Todd + Christine Part 2

So yes, I am so excited to share Todd and Christines part 2 of their engagement session. Christine and I had spent sometime throwing around ideas of were to shoot and when she showed me the The Grand Del Mar hotel we both knew that would be perfect!

It was my first time meeting Todd and Christine as we had several phone conversations. When I saw her beautiful radiant smile looking so gorgeous in her blue dress and Todd look so stylish in his suit, we were in for a day of glam!

The Grand Del Mar Hotel in San Diego has so many amazing places to shoot, I know we could of been there all day. Here are a few of my very favorites from our day!

Todd and Christine I couldn’t be more happy for the love you two share, and to be able to document your story at Wilson Creek Winery.

xoxo

Rita

The proposal by Christine:

Todd and I are high school sweethearts. After 8 years together, he toke me by surprise with a Valentine’s Day trip to Napa.  I thought to myself, “Yay, it’s finally happening!” We have gone on trips in the past, but never a surprised one. He told me we were going on the trip by sending me an evite from the steak house he had reservations for on Valentine’s Day. I thought I knew for sure this was going to be the place he would propose.

We left two days before Valentine’s Day early in the morning. Right before we headed out the door Todd said to me, “I want to give you your Valentine’s Day present early, so you can wear it while we’re in Napa.” Again, I thought,
“OMG I’m not even wearing the right outfit, my nails aren’t even done yet!”
He proceeded to pull a ring box out of his pocket, opened the box, and inside was….earrings. Earrings!!! I was thinking. “Thanks??” I questioned. I felt like an idiot. I must have had the most confused look on my face. So, we left for Napa and the next day we went wine tasting. He was acting normal, he didn’t seem nervous, and he’s a very shy person. I again tell myself, “Wow, I really over thought this one.”

Then came Valentines Day.  Todd wanted to switch the earrings in the ring box and put in the engagement ring. He knew I would want to wear the earrings to dinner that night. So his idea was I would open the box, and he would propose. But I kind of accidentally sped up the process. (smiling) It was around 10 a.m. I went into the bathroom to take a shower and get ready for the upcoming day. Right as he was trying to switch everything, I came out of the bathroom.

I looked at the dresser in the hotel room where I had all my jewelry laying out, and I realized my ring box was gone. I asked him, “Where is the box?” (I thought he was testing me, because he always tells me not to leave good jewelry out.) He then pulled the box form his pocket. As soon as he opened the box the ring flew out (because he had to switch it so quickly) and the ring hit my shoe and shot under the dresser. I thought to myself “Holy crap that wasn’t earrings!!!” He told me to help him look for the earrings. I got down on the ground and looked under the dresser, all the way back in the corner I could see a shiny ring! Todd reached under the dresser, pulled out the ring and asked me to marry him!! It was the best day of my life!!!