Lindsey & Daniel: Adams Park Winter Proposal and Engagement

Lindsey and Daniel’s story is a great one. They met some years ago after Lindsey had graduated and joined College Church’s 20’s Ministry. They had seen each other around and talked a few times, even serving together, but nothing happened. It wasn’t until 2019 when they began having more conversations and particularly enjoying each other’s company. If you know Daniel, you know he’s an outwardly fun and goofy guy with a kind heart, a trait that Lindsey loves; she said that his kindness is demonstrated through the way he serves the church and treats her. Lindsey is just as fun, although not as exuberantly displayed; her humor is packaged with witty quips punctuated with bright (sometimes sly) smiles that spice up any conversation. Her easy-going nature is something Daniel loves about her, how he can be himself without annoying her.

Daniel, being straightforward, made a resolution to ask Lindsey on a date. Every week in the beginning of 2020, he would say to himself, '“This is the day!” But Lindsey seemed to always be surrounded by people, and he couldn’t catch her alone. The weekend after Valentines Day, he decided that no matter what, he would finally ask her! Plans were thwarted once again when he saw that her mom and sisters were with her; there was no way he was going to ask her in front of her mom! Daniel didn’t have Lindsey’s phone number so he resolved to ask via email, the subject line being Continued Conversations…?. She said yes, and the rest, as they say, is history. The two just couldn’t be a better fit. No matter how many times we asked Lindsey if the relationship was headed down the aisle, she would shrug nonchalantly and say, “We’ll see.” without the coy smile that most girls who had high hopes for the wedding bells would do. All this to say, I love their free-flowing, zero-pressure relationship that isn’t easy to come by, especially in the Christian dating world. Nevertheless, a mutual friend of ours and I agreed last summer, while they were dating, that their engagement was on the horizon, even if they didn’t know it yet! It’s written here, folks: the Sara(h)s saw this coming!

When I asked if there was a time or moment they knew the other was the person they wanted to marry, Daniel’s exact words were “I don’t operate that way.” They knew they loved each other, but they were taking it one step at a time. They had a realistic talk about the future in early November as Daniel was thinking through his plans for his house. It seemed like everything was lining up and the next step was the church! Over Lindsey’s winter break (she’s a teacher), the two flew to Costa Rica where her family lives and went through the formalities, bringing marriage into more of a reality.

Daniel reached out to me a couple weeks prior about capturing the proposal. The ring was set to come just in time for Valentines Day, but there was a delay and we pushed the surprise back a week. Lindsey knew the proposal was coming; they had set the wedding date weeks before, had gone ring shopping together, and she even tried on the ring when it arrived at the jewelers earlier that week. The actual timing of the proposal was what she didn’t know, and in true Daniel fashion, he teased her all week leading up to the actual proposal. The delay was probably God watching out for our fingers and toes though because the temperature was in the teens on Valentines Day weekend, but rose to the thirties the following weekend! It was much nicer weather for a proposal, to be sure!

They started the day with lunch at Egg’lectic where they had their first date. Daniel and I agreed that he and Lindsey would arrive at Adams Park around 1:30pm and he would propose next to the fountain. I texted him specific instructions as to which path to take and where to stand, but he didn’t have time to see it. Thankfully, I still had full view of Lindsey’s face from where I was hiding! After their lunch, they strolled through downtown Wheaton, soaking in the sunshine and looking at the ice sculptures. Meanwhile, I was at the park galumphing through the unplowed snow in what I think was the sidewalk; hard to tell when you’re knee-deep in snow! I contemplated where the best view and hiding place would be. It’s harder to hide in the winter with bare bushes lacking coverage, but there was a tree with a trunk wide enough for me to squeeze behind. It helped that the shadow of the tree hid my shadow so neither would see a random shadow behind a tree. How creepy would that be?

A little past 1:30pm, I peeked out from behind the tree and spotted the two walking towards the fountain. I thought for sure Lindsey made eye contact with me because she was facing me, but she later told me that she didn’t see me at all! My head bobbed in and out as subtly as possible as I tried to get a glimpse of Daniel on one knee without getting caught. Finally, he went down and I popped out to capture her reaction!

I’ve known both of them for a little over a year; Lindsey was actually one of the first friends I made and was so welcoming when I attended her (now also my) small group. It was such a blessing to witness and be a part of this beautiful moment. It brings much joy to see what God has in store for you two! Congratulations!!

The moment Lindsey and Daniel found me snapping away! I joined the celebration and then we moved on to the engagement session.

These two made my job so easy; they’re naturally so joyful and make each other (and me) laugh!

Lindsey’s sister had come out to celebrate with them after the proposal, and she stayed to assist with the engagement session! She was great help, from moving large objects out of the frame to putting on instrumental music from Pride and Prejudice so Lindsey and Daniel had music to dance along to. They’re truly so much fun to be around!

As we were walking from Adams Park to the First Trust building, Lindsey stopped and knelt down to tie her shoes. From a few steps behind, it looked like she was the one proposing! So towards the end of the session, we had to take a photo with her “proposing” to Daniel for laughs; he was pretty surprised ;)

We ended the session back at Adams Park where Daniel and Lindsey recreated the proposal, but this time at the right angle. It was such a sweet moment to witness the proposal again, even though it was posed; it was an evident reminder of their love and commitment to one another.