Brooklyn Engagement Session: Spotlight on OTE couple Candice & Anwar
It’s time for another OTE couple spotlight! This week, allow us to introduce you to Candice & Anwar.
If the landscape for this session doesn’t look like anything you’ve seen in Atlanta, well, that’s because it’s in New York! Brooklyn Bridge Park, to be specific.
The couple didn’t choose a specific theme for their photos, but instead, opted to infuse the session with symbolic elements. Candice said “We chose to wear blue because it symbolizes trust, loyalty, and confidence- which is the foundation on which we’ve built our relationship. We then also had to throw it back a bit with the classic Adidas and the t-shirts …simply because our shoot took place in Brooklyn.”
Candice, an Executive Assistant, and Anwar, a NYPD Sergeant, will be back in Candice’s old stomping grounds in just a few days to kick-off the festivities. In the meantime, we thought you might enjoy a little background on their courtship & engagement!
We love the story behind their first meeting too. In the wedding & event industry, it’s one of those moments you usually only see in movies. Candice said “While living in Atlanta, I planned Party Event Weekends and as fate would have it, I met the man I would be planning to spend the rest of my life with as well. Anwar was one of the attendees of my annual event in November of 2011. We ‘knew’ each other prior to the event because of a Facebook group but had never met or talked. We officially met and introduced ourselves in passing on an elevator the first day of the event. There was definitely a mutual attraction, however after our elevator moment; I became completely oblivious to Anwar’s attempts at getting my attention all weekend. He even asked me to dance once and according to him, I blew him off. It wasn’t until he reached out to me via Facebook after returning home to New York that I began to take an interest in him. Our first date was during my first visit to New York and of course I wanted to do all things touristy which Anwar thought was so completely corny, but he was not going to disappoint by saying no. We walked the Brooklyn Bridge, ate cheesecake from Juniors, visited Times Square and had dinner a Thai Restaurant off of Canal Street.”
So, how did he pop the question?
Candice: “We love to travel, so I always just assumed that Anwar would propose while we were on vacation; I couldn’t have imagined a more perfect proposal than how it actually took place. I am the girl who LOVES family and Anwar is the guy that LOVES family just as much, so having our family be a part of our proposal was incredibly special. It was Christmas Morning 2015, my family was in New York for the holidays. We have a tradition that is to take turns allowing each person to unwrap all of their gifts before moving on the next person. It was my turn to open gifts, we were all laughing and talking and then I unwrapped this one particular box there was nothing special about it but the entire room became silent- there was a second smaller box inside, which then had an even smaller box, A RING BOX, with the sweetest love note ever! I was completely surprised and of course, I said YES! Anwar is a very private person, so the note fit perfectly for his personality, he must have known it was conditional since he wasn’t down on one knee.”
Anwar: “I had plans for two different ways of how I wanted to propose, I wanted our families to be able to share in the moment but also knew that I wanted to officially propose on the Brooklyn Bridge. The next day, I convinced Candice that we should take her sister sightseeing. Her sister who loves to take pictures used her tactics to somehow get the ring from Candice to photograph. I was so nervous, my hands were shaking, Candice unsuspecting of our plot was posing for pictures on the bridge as I got down on one knee and asked her to share forever with me and marry me. She said YES, without hesitation and with a huge smile, I teared up while everyone on the bridge was clapping and cheering for us.”
We’re really looking forward to their “Sophisticated Romance with a touch of Glam” Wedding on June 17th! And The couple is excited to exchange vows and kick-off a lifetime of travel, exploration, and new experiences together.
Be sure to head on over to Chic Brown Bride to see Candice & Anwar’s session featured too!
Photographer: Joshua Dwain Photography
Makeup: MemaCreations