{"id":3760,"date":"2011-07-23T13:20:24","date_gmt":"2011-07-23T18:20:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dotson-studios.com\/blog\/?p=3760"},"modified":"2011-07-23T13:20:24","modified_gmt":"2011-07-23T18:20:24","slug":"candace-carrolls-engagement","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/dotson-studios.com\/blog\/2011\/07\/candace-carrolls-engagement\/","title":{"rendered":"Candace & Carroll’s Engagement"},"content":{"rendered":"

We had an extra special opportunity last month to photograph my cousin’s engagement pictures and wedding. I’ve known Candace since she was born…literally…her brothers stayed with us when her mom went to the hospital to deliver her. I still remember the story that from the ultrasound they were expecting another boy, but got a surprise during delivery! We all loved Candace so much. Her curly hair and sweet spirit added so much to our family and watching her grow into an strong young lady has been amazing.<\/p>\n

When we first met Carroll we were immediately impressed and knew that they were a good match. We always love any opportunity we have to see them and hang out with them and when they asked us to photograph them we were honored and excited!<\/p>\n

We traveling up to Wisconsin for this event and had fun shooting their engagement pictures just a few days before the wedding. It was obvious these two people were ready to be man and wife and I loved seeing my cousin so happy.<\/p>\n

Congratulations Candace & Carroll…we love you!<\/p>\n

How did you meet?
\n<\/em>Carroll: Well, we met at college in our freshman year. A very close friend of ours, Suzi, met me at freshman registration. She had also met Candace a few months earlier at a tour of the college. She introduced us to each other by accident! God did the rest. It is important to say that Candace did not remember what I looked like after our first meeting. She did, however, remember my name because, in her words, “Who names a boy Carroll?!”<\/p>\n

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Anything special you’d like to share about dating?<\/em>
\nWe went to a Christian college where touching and walking together in certain places weren’t allowed. There was a plethora of other rules that made it interesting, to say the least, for a dating couple. However, one thing we learned was to be able to enjoy each other’s company. To converse and spend quiet time together was something that helped us to love each other more amidst trying times. For us, dating was a time to become close and learn about each other. We started as best friends and we will always be best friends.<\/p>\n

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Describe your proposal.<\/em>
\nCandace: Carroll has always done special romantic things for me. Back on Valentines day of 2009, Carroll had wanted to do something really romantic and out of the ordinary. He did 12 days of Valentine and I got a new gift with a poem just like the song on every day. Well, when he came to visit me for Christmas of 2010, he did the same thing. My Christmas came 12 days early. :) However, the difference this time was that he gave me a letter on every day. At the end of the eleventh day, Carroll took me to a special place where there was snow and christmas lights and a white little bench. \u00a0We sat at the bench singing christmas carols and then he proceeded to give me my last letters. \u00a0When put together it spelled “Will U Marry Me?” \u00a0He then officially got on one knee and asked me to marry him and I said “Sure” :)<\/p>\n

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What is your ring like?
\n<\/em>Candace: My ring is white gold with three-tiers of 3 princess cut diamonds and 4 circle diamonds in the band. \u00a0I never picked out my ring, Carroll did it all by himself. I never really gave him much information to work with. Every time I look at my ring I am just amazed how beautiful it is! \u00a0If anyone ever comments on my ring, I tell them that Carroll picked it out all by himself and that he is a keeper! \u00a0:)<\/p>\n

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How would you describe the way you feel about each other?
\n<\/em>Carroll: I feel like Candace is my other half. When I am near her, I am complete. She truly is the one and only thing I have wanted the most in my life. When you are bringing two imperfect people together, you expect for there to be moments of “irritability”, but we have learned that they are synonymous with learning experiences. We are taught by each other everyday in the words we say and the things we do. I can honestly say that Candace Marie makes me a better person.<\/p>\n

Candace: There are no words that do enough justice to describe how I feel about Carroll. \u00a0He is my best friend, my companion, my ray of sunshine and I don’t want to spend my life without him. \u00a0The best part about marriage is knowing that I get to spend my life, days, seconds with the man that loves me and that I don’t need to face my everyday struggles alone. \u00a0We are not two individuals, we are one person.<\/p>\n

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Do you have any special plans for your wedding that you’d like to share?<\/em>
\nWe are getting married June 11, 2011 in honor of Candace’s late grandparents, who were also married sixty-four years ago on June 11, 1947. \u00a0We have a McDonald’s Sundae booth built for the wedding to serve ice cream. Candace’s brothers also are bringing the family’s 1970 Plymouth Superbird (in honor of her father) and a 1969 Plymouth Roadrunner. Those are some classics muscle cars right there. ;) As you can tell, we want our wedding to be romantic with lots of fun.<\/p>\n\n\t\t