Engagement Announcement: John + Angela’s School Love

all photos by project duo photography

The first encounter…

John and I meet in 2007.  I was a Language Arts teacher for a middle school in Atlanta, and he was hired as the new band director. The band program at our school was struggling and he totally turned it around. I was inspired by his musical talent and his passion for teaching. John and I would eventually become friends. He was a consummate gentle man and his smile was infectious. When I would see him around the school, he would always ask me how my day was going, and he frequently had some funny story to tell me to brighten up my day. Though he attended every birthday party I invited him to, it did not hit me that John liked me as more than a friend. One day, a co worker approached me and laid it all on the table. She told me, “He’s got it for you real bad. He’ll even switch schools to date you.” At first I was apprehensive because I am not a fan of workplace romances.  However, the few co-workers who knew John’s true feelings for me convinced me to go on a date with him to the movies. He was so chivalrous, charming and genuine I had to go out with him again.

From the bride…

In July, John came home to Buffalo, NY to meet my parents. I wanted to give John a tour of Western New York, so of course I had to take him to Niagara Falls. We walked around and took pictures of the falls and the beautiful rainbow that was present the whole day. We went on the Maid of the Mist, which is a boat ride that takes you right next the falls! Unknown to me, John had the ring in his pocket. He was paranoid that he would lose it the whole time we were on the Maid of the Mist! When we got off the boat, John asked me to go to the observation tower, which has beautiful views of the falls, and he asked me to take a picture of him on his phone. I took the picture and turned to leave, but John said, “Wait! Let’s take one more picture of us together!” John then asked a gentleman from Spain to take a picture of the two of us. So I stood there cheesing, ready to take the picture, when John turned me around and got on one knee. He said, “Angela, you know I have loved you since the first time I saw you… I would love if you would honor me by being my wife.” I was totally surprised! Our friendly bystander took some amazing pictures on John’s camera phone.

Congrats Angela and John! We wish you the best of wedding planning and can’t wait for the big day!  If you’ve got an engagement, or wedding announcement you’d like to post on our site, click here for the form.