Spencer called me on a Wednesday afternoon. He had big ideas for the coming weekend and wanted my help after seeing my blog post about Logan proposing to Kallie earlier this year. We immediately started coming up with a plan for Spencer to propose to his girlfriend Kelsey just two days later. His original idea included snow covered trees, but unfortunately we were coming off a week of rain in Revelstoke, and we had very little snow left in town. Instead, I sent him photos of some of my favourite spots around Revy and he decided on his favourite - Moses Falls; a sprawling waterfall just north of town on the west side of the Columbia river.

Because the couple was travelling from Kamloops on Thursday night, Spencer and I didn’t have a chance to work out the details in person at the location. It was all sorted out on the phone and with a few back and forth texts and emails. Kelsey loved roses and Spencer definitely wanted to cover the ground in rose petals. I thought this would be simple - I’d call up the florist, order some flowers, and we’d be good to go. But unfortunately the only one in town was closed for renovations! This meant Spencer would need to buy flowers in Kamloops and somehow get them to me in Revy without Kelsey noticing.

While sending me pinterest photos of ideas he liked, Spencer decided it would be great to get some pictures printed from throughout his and Kelsey’s relationship and have them hanging along the trail. Again, the restrictions of living in a small town revealed themselves as there was no way for Spencer to order prints online and have me pick them up somewhere in town. He would need to get this done in Kamloops and add them to the secret exchange the next day.

On Thursday evening Spencer sent me an ETA on their arrival in Revelstoke. I drove down to a gas station and waited in the hotel parking lot next door for them to pull in. As Spencer was getting gas he asked Kelsey to run inside and grab him a drink. I drove over the the pump next to him and grabbed the package.

My plan was to get gas as well so it wouldn’t look weird, me just driving up and leaving, but realized that the pump was diesel only! I made some comment about how I was at the wrong pump just as Kelsey was walking back to the truck and I drove around to the next one, crossing my fingers that she wasn’t suspicious.

Friday morning came and I set out to Moses Falls. Our original plan was to use the upper parking lot and have them walk down the trail to the falls. I knew it would be muddy and slippery but I figured the road down would already be blocked off for the winter. To my surprise the road was passable, so I texted Spencer to go that way instead, as it would make for a much simpler approach. Luckily communication was easy between the two of us, as Spencer is typically on his phone lots for work so Kelsey never got curious about who he kept texting.

It was raining when I arrived but it slowed to a nearly unnoticable drizzle as I was scoping out the spot and making a final plan. I spent about an hour getting everything set up. I put down my rubber car mat from my trunk and laid out a blanket overtop. I surrounded the area with rose petals and tied some stemmed roses to a tree. Next I started hanging photos around the spot and along the trail. I covered the path with petals as well and got my camera’s set up. I hid one on a tripod behind some trees to capture a time-lapse of the whole thing and found a spot where I could hide until they passed me. I left two stray petals on the ground at the start of the trail in the parking lot to help make sure Spencer brought Kelsey the right way. It was about half way up the trail before the photos and roses started, and another 50 metres before I would be able to start taking photos and they would be able to see the blanket and falls.

I finished everything just as Spencer texted me that they were on their way. There’s always a bit of anxiety in moments like this. Would they go the right way? Would my time-lapse work properly? Would I be able to get the right angle? I had prepared as best as possible though, and no matter what it would be a beautiful moment.

It wasn’t long before Spencer texted that they were in the parking lot and soon after that I could hear them approaching. Kelsey was practically shaking, so full of emotion realizing what was happening. I peeked over the log I was hiding behind to sneak a few photos just as Kelsey looked over and saw me. It quickly clicked that I was included in this whole set up, and she continued as if I wasn’t there.

I don’t have to explain much more - you get the picture! Heartfelt words were exchanged, tears were shed, and of course she said yes!

Click below to view the time-lapse!

After the successful proposal I congratulated the happy couple and we laughed as we let Kelsey in on me being the woman at the gas station the night before. She admitted that she thought nothing of it at the time, other than it being embarrassing for me to go to the wrong pump! We took some more photos around the falls and then built a little fire down by the river for a couple more before cleaning up the trail and heading our separate ways.

It’s special moments like these that are some of my favourite to document. I’m so happy for Kelsey and Spencer and wish them nothing but the best as they continue their story together!