| How in the world do 2 photogs in 2 countries with the same passion find one another…. Well as fate would have it, a couple in love planning a wedding got them started in the right direction!
Matt was on a job in Feb 2005 shooting engagement session for a couple. During the shoot they told Matt of this amazing photog that they commissioned in Mexico for their destination wedding… The entire time, all they could talk about was her amazing ability to radiate sunshine with the biggest smiles and most gorgeous eyes…plus, her photos were show stoppers! They gave her web address to him. He figured what the heck, send an email to this stranger and say HOLA. He attached photos from the engagement session and commented on how awesome each others jobs were…next thing you know, Matt had a pen pal in Mexico… So, this was starting to get interesting… and In August, Matt went to mexico for a visit. Matt had planned the trip with his roommate, but at the last second he backed out…it would be Mateo SOLO headed for the sandy beaches and crystal blue waters of the Mexican Caribbean…
His world changed the moment we set eyes on each other… He was immediately seduced by the gaze of her eyes. They managed to spend a week of fun filled adventure, They got their diving certification together and traveled through the Yucatan for 10 days… it was the most amazing adventure ever!
Anyway, after the 10 day trip, once back in Atl…Matt couldnt wait to get back on a plane to come back…1 month later (and with a bacterial sickness still from the first trip, 8 pounds lighter) he headed back to see his Mexican Princess…. the sickness thing lasted for a long time…lots of doctors and lots of patience later, he was healed… All the meantime, sol & matt would trade photos of their adventures from their time apart.
They shared several visits back and forth for several months until October, 2005. Sol planned a trip to Atl, when simultaneously , 2 days after her trip to the US, Hurricane Wilma formed in the Gulf, and several days later SMASHED Cancun…Her 1 week trip to Atl turned into 1 month. Her town was CLOSED down… It was this trip that sealed the deal on the relationship. She met Matt’s parents for the first time during this trip… When she left, Matt cried his eyes out.
SO, Matt told himself that this isnt a normal thing and for those of you who wonder or not if you are in love…as you have all heard “ah, you just know when your in love….” yep, he knew! After Matt's first visit, Sol "already knew".. yes.. she was faster... , she told her friends: "I meet a guero (american white boy) and he doesn't know, but we are getting married!!! (How crazy is that?? ) Advance to March, 2006. Matt’s sister planned a wedding in Melbourne FL. Since all his family would be in attendance, especially his 90 year old Grandmother. This was the perfect chance to share their love for each other with the entire family. After asking his sister, his sis’s fiance, his parents, his sister’s in-laws, they all agreed that it would be ok for him to propose to Sol, 2 days prior (March 9) to his sister’s wedding, they all overwhelmingly said HELL YES, go for it!
SO, Matt planned it. He asked his friend and amazing photog, Susan Stripling, who they also had hired to shoot his sisters wedding, to come a few days early and sneak up on them in a restaurant…. Sol bought it, hook line and sinking into the trap. Now it was set. Susan was there because of the wedding, so it was normal to have a pro photographer there, and soon enough, Susan asked them to go out on the pier on the river for some photos… Sol had "No clue"…
Photos from this moment (proposal photos by Susan Stripling) |
