Love & Happiness: Sunflower Farm Engagement in Memphis, TN

Sonja and Perris first connected on a popular dating site, quickly discovering that they were the perfect match.

A casual first date over drinks only continued to further deepen their connection shared online. Over time as their love grew stronger, Perris began planning their perfect proposal, and on a Friday that seemed like any other, a romantic candle and rose petal proposal awaited Sonja at home. With the assistance of their son, Perris asked Sonja to spend the rest of their lives together as husband and wife.

Bride & Groom-to-be: Sonja & Perris
Occupations: Safety Specialist & District Manager
Wedding date: May 22, 2020
Wedding location: TBD
Location of Engagement shoot: Shelby Farms Park, Memphis, Tennessee

Tell us how you met and all about the proposal. Simply put, we met on Match.com. For the proposal, Perris usually goes to work early in the morning. I usually go to work in the afternoon. On this particular Friday, March 22, 2019, Perry said his car broke down. He asked if he could borrow mine. Later that afternoon, he came to my job and picked up my car to use. When he came back to pick me up, I noticed he looked very nice. He was in a nice button-up shirt and blacks pants. Even his nails looked as if he had had a manicure. I kept telling him that I didn’t want to go out and that I just wanted to go straight home. My hair was done. I had no makeup on and he just kept telling me that I was beautiful anyway. We picked up our son Shane from after school care and made our way home. As Perris was getting his keys out at the door a red blindfold fell. As I tried to ask him about it, he insisted that I put it on. Once I put it on, he led me inside to the living room. After standing a while, I began to get antsy. I told a little white lie saying I had to go to the bathroom to get him to allow me to take off the blindfold. When I finally took off the blindfold, to my left I saw a red light shining the words will you marry me on the wall. To the right, there were candles(though not lit because his brother was having some difficulty with the lighter and that’s why I had to wait so long with the blindfold on), rose petals and balloons saying “will you marry me” on the floor. Straight ahead of me was Perris on bended knee with a ring. As I began to walk towards him, Shane came running towards me with a ring of his own but he tripped and fell causing the rings to fall out and get lost in the carpet. Thankfully, the candles that he tripped on weren’t lit. Perris waited patiently as I put on Shane’s rings and made my way to him saying yes.

Describe your engagement session. Love and happiness was our theme.

What did you do on your first date? On Jan 22, 2017, we met up at Bahama Breeze in Memphis for appetizers.

What’s your favorite thing to do as a couple? We enjoy traveling and making memories together.

How has wedding planning been so far? As fun as watching grass grow. It’s frustrating because Memphis doesn’t have a lot of bridal events and expos.

Tell us what you’re looking forward to most on the wedding day. We are a blended family. Other than seeing the look on Perris’ face when I walk down the aisle and becoming Mrs. Strong, I’m looking forward to including my wonderful bonus son, Shane, in the ceremony in a unique and surprising way.