Stefany and Cindy: A Last Minute Lesbian Proposal
Stefany surprises Cindy with a personalized marriage proposal in New Orleans City Park
It’s never too late to make your proposal Extra Special.
If you’re a regular reader of this blog, you’ll know that last minute surprise proposals are my jam. While it’s ideal to have more time to plan things out, there’s something to be said for the excitement of springing into action for a proposal less than a week away. I had a crazy busy week planned already but when Stefany contacted me there was absolutely no way I couldn’t say yes. As a little queerdo myself, Lesbian proposals always tug my heartstrings in just the right way.
Stefany and Cindy are a Brazilian couple living in South Florida. Cindy is a hard woman to surprise and Stefany knew that if she planned the proposal too far in advance Cindy would find out. So she contacted me about a week before their trip in the hopes I was available. I was somehow off on that Sunday and jumped to help her create a memorable moment for her girlfriend.
Making it Personal
I had just incorporated photos into a proposal for the first time the month before with Moe and Jeti’s proposal. So when Stefany said she wanted a way to make it personal, I suggested adding some framed photos into the decor. I LOVE the extra touch that it brought to the proposal decor (plus the couple got to take the photos home with them for an added momento).
But, with last minute proposals come last minute challenges! I had ordered flowers to be delivered two days before but they were delayed. So on the day of, I left early to grab some from a grocery store. (Truth be told, I would much rather use a local florist and it hurts my soul a bit every time I order bulk flowers or dash into a grocery. But since the flowers are going on the ground, getting turned into just petals, and/or getting left behind 9/10 times, the cost of local florists is just too high. But in not working local I’m rolling the dice on delivery.) It is a REALLY good thing I left extra early because I unexpectedly drove directly into a massive second line!
Carnival Complications
The return of Carnival was wonderful but extra weird. There were not enough cops to cover all of the parade routes so sometimes parades happened without streets or interstate exits being blocked off. I always check the parade schedule when planning proposals during Carnival but this massive second line wasn’t on there. So I didn’t know to take a different route and ended up essentially parked in a sea of people. So what do you do when you get stuck in a second line in New Orleans? You accept your fate, open your windows and listen to the band while people dance all around your car! I texted Stefany letting her know I might need her to stall for a bit.
Once the bulk of the second line had passed, I used my Bourbon street crossing skills (IFKYK) to carefully maneuver out of the crowd. I took a chance on going the wrong way down a one way so I could navigate around the parade and get to the proposal on time. I still had to stop and get roses!
By the time I got to the fountain to set up, I was only a tiny bit behind schedule. But, of course, there was another photographer there doing portraits on an old-school square-format film camera. I waited patiently while he finished up his portrait session before racing to set everything up. I may have been cold when I got there but after a few minutes of rocketing everything into place, I warmed right up!
I sent Stefany a thumbs up and soon they were on their way.
A Wonderful Surprise
Cindy, the woman who was hard to surprise, did NOT see it coming! And Lady, the New Orleans Proposal Photographer who rarely cries, commenced the waterworks.
After Stefany proposed and presented Cindy with rings for both of them, Cindy got down on one knee and proposed right back! I giggled and cried watching the sweet exchange of rings. The sun was almost set and there was beautiful golden light illuminating the moss dangling from the oak trees behind them. Even with the hiccups I encountered getting there, everything was perfect.
City Park is the best place to propose in New Orleans if you ask me. And Stefany absolutely nailed it.
Enjoy this selection of photos from Stefany and Cindy’s sunset New Orleans LGBTQ Surprise Proposal photography.
