Ryan and Sammi: A Dockside Proposal
Ryan and Sammi met as law students at the University of Florida. Friends at first, they grew closer when they both ended up moving to Orlando to begin their careers. Soon after, Ryan realized Sammi was the “one!”
With an engagement now on the horizon, Ryan set out to look for the perfect place to ask Sammi to marry him. He decided Atlanta would be an excellent option, a unique choice considering neither of them live in the city.
He scoured the net for the perfect place to propose, eventually deciding on Piedmont Park. Nestled in the heart of Midtown Atlanta, the Park offered a welcome escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. Ryan wanted someplace that offered an air of seclusion, but wasn’t too much of a departure from typical outings in Atlanta’s midtown area.
Where in Piedmont Park did the proposal take place?
Ryan decided to propose to Sammi at Dockside, a lakeside location surrounded by a gorgeous array of trees.
“Aside from its undeniable beauty, the Dockside gave us an opportunity to have a fairly private moment in an outdoor setting,” he said.
The area was closed off and decorated with romantic standing flower bouquets and lit candles.
Sammi couldn’t believe how well Ryan had done at choosing a place that allowed them to feel like they were in their own little world.
“I’m still a little in shock at what a great job Ryan did at planning the proposal and what a gorgeous location he picked. It was fairly private in that when we walked down the steps and onto the dock, the trees surrounding the water hid all the other people in the park. It really felt like our own private moment. And then when I said yes and Ryan stood back up, everyone who could see us through the trees clapped and yelled congratulations. It was adorable!”
How did the Piedmont Park Conservancy help?
Jane Rollo, Director of Facility Rentals at the Piedmont Park Conservancy, was instrumental in helping to realize Ryan’s dream proposal. She directed him to Courtney Surber Paz, an Atlanta-area event planner, who assisted in coordinating the details.
“She helped me visualize the proposal setting, select and utilize the right florist to create a romantic proposal setting (and have the flowers moved back to our hotel room after the proposal itself), procure a driver, a violinist, and, of course, a photographer,” Ryan said.
Sammi was positively thrilled with the way the day turned out.
“Honestly, everything about it was amazing. I was so surprised and overwhelmed in the best way possible, and the beauty of the park definitely contributed to that. It was the perfect proposal location.”
Final Verdict?
“We’re going to make a point of coming back to Atlanta, probably annually at least, to celebrate our special moment there. I cannot speak highly enough of my experience with the Park. From start to finish, the Conservancy staff helped Sammi and I have a wonderful experience in a wonderful setting. I trusted them with one of the most important moments of my life, and I was right to do so.”
If you are interested in renting out Dockside or another venue for your special day, or if you would like to tour wedding venues please visit: piedmontpark.org/weddings
Guest Post by Aliya Seymour