Marrying this Friday, May 6th, we congratulate Tracey & David’s upcoming nuptials by looking back on their intimate sunset engagement session in Kleine Reijke, South Africa!
Below, the couple shares the sweet details of how they first met, their first date, proposal, and more – including what they’re looking forward to most on their wedding day.
Keep scrolling for more details from their stunning sunset engagement!
- Couple: Tracey Coleman & David Mutombo
- Occupations: Creative Director & Site Engineer
Quick Facts:
- Wedding date: May 6, 2022
- Wedding location: Muldersdrift, South Africa
- Location of Engagement shoot: Kleine Reijke
How they met…
A week after landing in Johannesburg for my “last trip to South Africa,” I was invited to a weekend in the mountains for a friend’s birthday. I was the only single girl in the group of mostly couples, and while I had heard a single guy was coming, I was prepared to chill by myself all weekend and enjoy the scenery.
Until this tall Congolese guy walked into the birthday dinner the first night and I forgot about the scenery. Apparently one of the guys had invited his friend who was also looking to chill by himself all weekend. And when he arrived, my girlfriend mentioned I was there, and that we should meet.
Somehow during dinner, my napkin ended up on the floor. He says I did it on purpose. Whatever. It was an accident. Maybe. Either way, being the gentleman he is, he picked it up, and we locked eyes for the first time. I smiled. He smiled back. And we haven’t stopped smiling at each other ever since.
Their first date…
Since we met at a birthday weekend in the mountains, we had a few days to get to know each other. So I guess our first “date” was a nice walk along a trail to a river, where we chatted and got to know each other. I love water, so when he suggested we go for a walk to the river, I realized how attentive he is and is a great listener, even to the small things he had learned in only a few days.
Their proposal story…
During our first trip to Cape Town in November, we visited a gorgeous vineyard in Stellenbosch. I know, a gorgeous vineyard in one of the world’s most beautiful wineries, and I had no idea? Nope. Even when his 2 friends I had never met randomly came with us and volunteered to take an insane amount of pictures, I still suspected nothing.
After a lovely wine tasting and walk through the gardens, we stopped underneath a beautiful archway to take one last picture. As I stood in front of him to get ready for the picture, his friend motioned for me to move forward a bit. So I did. But when I didn’t feel him standing behind me anymore, I turned around confused. And then saw him on one knee with my ring in his hand.
I don’t remember anything after that because I spent the next 5 minutes ugly crying and walking around aimlessly as if this man was not on one knee waiting for me to say yes. Eventually, he got up, let me finish crying into his chest, and asked again. I said yes. I think? We’re planning a wedding so I’m pretty sure I did!
When they knew they found “the one”…
David: I realized early on I felt really comfortable with her. I really loved her energy, it was exactly what I had been looking for. When I was with her I felt like I was home. I have to travel a lot for work and used to spend days at a time out of town. But after I met Tracey I always wanted to come home to her, no matter how far I had to travel back.
Tracey: He showed me the God in him very early. I don’t remember exactly when, but early on (and often) he asked me to pray with him. Simple prayers, but it was so attractive to me. Every time I left for a work trip, he would stand with me in the terminal outside security and pray for my travel. And he prayed in ways I’ve never been prayed for. That’s when I knew this was different, and I did not want it to end.
Their engagement session & theme…
We didn’t have a theme but both wanted to be out in nature. David loves the Hartbeespoort area and Tracey loves sunsets, so it was perfect to catch a sunset out there for our engagement shoot!
Favorite thing to do as a couple…
Hang out with each other at home over a bowl of popcorn and good music, movie, or TV show.
Wedding planning so far…
It has been fun! We are getting married less than 6 months from our engagement, so that requires a lot of quick decisions, but we are beyond excited about bringing both of our families together from two different continents for what we have planned!
What they’re looking forward to most on their wedding day…
Having our friends and family see our love in person for the first time. And partying until they kick us out of the venue!
Looking for more sunset engagement inspiration?
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Vendors:
- Photographer: Shanay Greene Photography @shanaygreenephotography
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