"Our love story began in Los Angeles and Malibu has always been a special place for us. Both William and I studied in California and we always make time to go back there at least twice a year. I can't imagine having the shoot anywhere else," Belinda said. The couple had their photos taken surrounded by the beauty of Malibu Rocky Oaks and El Matador Beach, the very beach where they had their first date. The huge estate and vast beach added such a grand atmosphere to the pictures, which suited the effortless yet glamorous concept the couple wanted for their engagement session.
Elizabeth Messina is known for her artistic photos that evoke a dreamy quality. Perhaps it is her effortless and un-staged approach that makes the images turn out very naturally. "I like how Elizabeth would sometimes steal candid moments and how her styling is very natural and simple. She also has the ability to make the couple feel relaxed, which is very important for any shoot," said Belinda.
All their photos came out beautifully, but it doesn't mean that there were no scares on the day of the shooting. "We watched the weather forecast for days before the shoot, and every day we would be worried as the forecast showed heavy rain on our shooting day. That day, however, it did not rain a single drop, so shoot went perfectly smooth!" Other than the weather, the couple was also nervous about how the results would turn out. "Elizabeth shot with a film camera, which didn't allow previews. So, I was a little worried at the beginning. It was not until she showed me her iPhone snaps of us that I believed she had captured us perfectly. Elizabeth has undeniably amazing eyes that could frame any scene," Belinda added.
Read on as the bride tells us about her proposal prior to the engagement shoot:
The best proposal, in my opinion, is when it happens unexpectedly, and this one sure did! William had planned this for quite some time before finally popping the question. He had even asked for my parents' approval months before.
As I'm an Aman junkie, the proposal was done during a trip to Amankila in Bali. William was supposedly on a business trip and I was quite bummed that he couldn't meet me in Bali on that long weekend. We were talking as usual and I was anything but suspicious. The second day of our trip, my parents wanted to celebrate my grandparents' anniversary with a nice dinner in Ubud. Before that, however, she wanted us to take a picture during sunset on the beach. We met up at the lobby lounge before heading down to the beach. One thing led to another, and I finally had to walk by myself to the beach accompanied by the hotel staff.
When I walked down the beach, I immediately saw this beautiful setup complete with rose petals and flowers. My heart was pumping fast, and then I saw William coming with a bouquet out of nowhere. He then led me to a first stop, where there was a booth filled with our pictures from the four years we've been together. I just couldn't hold my tears anymore. It didn't stop there, he then took me to a second stop where rose petals were shaped into a heart on the sand and an orchestra was playing behind us.
He then got down on one knee and popped the question. I was so caught in the moment that I didn't realize my family was watching us and there were a few photographers around us who hid behind the bushes and trees, trying to capture the occasion. After saying yes, I ran to my family and they were all crying including my parents, my brothers, and grandparents. It was a really touching moment. He knows how much my family means to me. It only made it even more special that he chose to include all of them in our special moment, witnessing every scene. The night continued with a private dinner by the beach house, accompanied with the orchestra that William had flew in from Jakarta. The night ended with another pleasant surprise when we watched fireworks that William had prepared by the beach with a bottle of champagne. Truly memorable.
