In August my cousin Mike asked if I would capture his proposal to his girlfriend, Traci. I, of course, said 'yes,' which is when he told me his plan. After Traci accepted the ring Mike custom-designed at Anne-Marie's Fine Jewelry in Canton, the couple would take an hour-long hot air balloon ride with pilot Beth Davidson.  My job was simple: stay hidden until the proposal was captured, tag along for the rest of the trip, and keep the secret.

Mike and I met early Saturday, September 9, to talk through the details and select a hiding spot for me. As I learned at this time, a large amount of hot air ballooning is "up in the air" and depends on wind speed and direction, so we didn't actually know if it was going to happen. I arrived back at the launch site at 530p--still uncertain but hopeful--and watched as Beth Davidson and her crew conducted tests and set-up the balloon. Beth then decided that if the conditions stayed the same by launch time then Mike and Traci would get to go on their balloon ride.

So Mike was texted, and he picked Traci up to go to his parents house (this was a lie). Along the way, he realized he had gone the wrong way (which was also a lie), and had to turn around at Amherst Elementary School. When they pulled in, Traci saw the hot air balloon ready to be inflated, and Mike dropped to one knee and proposed. Traci, of course, said 'yes' and the couple hurried over to sign their waivers and review safety instructions.

It took Traci a few minutes to realize that I wasn't a member of the crew, and there's a really great photo in here of that moment. Once the secret was out, we took some quick photos by the balloon and sent them on their way. I then joined the "chase team" which included stops at Massillon's Twistee Treat, Affinity Medical Center, and Great Escape movie theater. The balloon finally landed at a commercial business site where the couple helped to pack the balloon back up. We returned to Amherst Elementary for a celebratory champagne toast from Beth, and then I went home to edit these photos.

For many long weeks, I kept this secret (including during a party with the entire family), and I am now very excited to share these photos with you. Congratulations, Traci and Mike! Welcome to the family, Traci!