Cristina and Jose wanted their engagement session with Vanessa Velez Photography to reflect both of their cultures (she’s from Puerto Rico and he’s Cuban-born and raised in Miami), so they had one shoot at San Cristobal Fort in San Juan, and a second in Matheson Hammock Park in Coral Gables! The architecture at San Cristobal Fort is such a beautiful backdrop, and the park in South Florida was perfect for them because they love the beach.
A multicultural San Cristobal Fort engagement shoot in Puerto Rico and Miami, FL
On June 7, 2012 we met at Starbucks. It was game 6 of the 2012 Eastern Conference finals (Miami Heat versus the Boston Celtics). I had my Heat jersey on and Jose made a smart remark about the game. We walked outside and started to talk and talk. Jose could not stop talking about his family and his 7 little cousins. We were both missing the game so I take out my phone and show Jose the score (I know now not to do that). We kept talking until we realized we were the only 2 people left at Starbucks, and they were locking up the outside furniture. Once we realized our 2 cars were the only 2 in the parking lot, we exchanged numbers and our lives changed forever.
On May 24, 2013 we flew to PR to take a week long cruise leaving from PR. We landed late that night and drove to my parents’ house in Aguada. The next morning we had reservations at Rancho Marina restaurant at Lago Dos Bocas in Utuado, PR.
That morning Jose rushed to ask my dad for my hand in marriage over coffee while I was getting ready. On our drive to the restaurant Jose was very calm. We also had to take a boat ride to get to the restaurant and Jose had the ring in his pocket wrapped in tissue paper. The entire time Jose kept his hand discretely over his pocket. We had lunch and Jose wanted to take a picture at a huge mango tree next to the restaurant, but it was raining.
We had to sit and wait for the rain to stop and then we walked over to the tree to take our picture. My brother is taking our picture when Jose says, “These pics are boring, let’s take some fun ones, you look at that mountain and I will look at the other one.” After a while, with my back turned looking at the mountain I say, “Can I turn now?” When I turn Jose is down on one knee and says, “Cristina Lorenzo I love you, will you marry me?” I looked at him and said, “Nooooooo way, are you kidding me right now, you are joking right?” Then he says, “Cristina are you just gonna leave me here on one knee?” I jumped up and say, “Yes! Yes! I will marry you!” I then took the ring from his hand and we start hugging. He looked at me and said, “Wait, I need to put the ring on your finger.” We laughed and he placed it on my finger, then all my family started screaming and clapping. I think I had them scared for a moment with the whole, “Nooooooo way, are you kidding me” (while waving my finger and arms as if I said no for real). The next day we went on our cruise as a newly engaged couple. – Cristina
Artists
- Photographer: Vanessa Velez Photography