Let me tell you about Simon and Sara’s engagement at Waterberg Plateau Park in Namibia.
What I love most about photography is getting to know people and their stories. So guess my excitement when I received an email from Simon out of Belgium, to say that he is looking to surprise his girlfriend of 3 years with a surprise engagement during a special trip he planned to Namibia! I couldn’t pass this opportunity by to help him plan and surprise Sara at one of the most photographed scenic spots of the Waterberg Plateau National Park.
Simon and Sara are no strangers to Namibia. They do regular, annual trips visiting different locations around the nation and love to explore in all sorts of ways from camping to driving long distances to experience what locals experience. On this trip, he was adamant that he wanted this iconic view as a backdrop for their engagement. In a secret mission of arranging a “couple photoshoot”, Sara did not suspect anything strange as they regularly have professional photos taken during their exploring missions around the world. We arranged to meet each during a spectacular rhino drive the night before and got an amazing opportunity to literally walk with rhinos through the Waterberg Park. It was a great time for me and Simon to sneakily go over the arrangements for the next morning’s top-secret mission.
On the day of their engagement, the tour guides led us up to the scenic mountain spots with an early sunrise climb and arranged a special table and bubbly to celebrate the occasion. Simon nervously carried the ring in his bag and when everyone signaled and was in place, he popped the question! It was a beautiful, intimate moment for the two of them and I’m sure one they would never forget. Grateful to have experienced this with them.
Photographer: Johan Coetzee Documentary Wedding Photographer
The Couple:
Surprise Engagement:
Simon could not wait any longer! To much planning and excitement! I had to find my “hiding spot” quickly before he got down on his knees and popped the question with an amazing backdrop to support his cause!
Happily Ever After:
After the initial celebrations and some sparkling wine, we did a few couple photos before saying our goodbyes.
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