Katelyn Evans had no clue she was in for an engagement surprise carefully planned by her boyfriend, Colton Drollinger, and her friends. The group had organized a photo shoot for an advertising campaign for Haue Valley Weddings and Events in Pacific, Missouri, and Katelyn showed up that day thinking she would play the role of model and be done.
But the camera ended up capturing much more than smiling faces and beautiful clothes. As she and Colton posed together among the flowers and foliage, he knelt down and asked her to marry him.
Several wedding vendors were involved, from caterers to florists, and the end result was a magical day, Katelyn says. “My friends had simply asked if I wanted to model a dress for the day, so I said I would do it,” she recalls. “I had no idea they were working with Colton behind the scenes. But when we arrived at Haue Valley, he said some really sweet things to me, and that’s when I started to suspect something!”
The set for the photo shoot was adorned with 1,800 roses, peonies, dahlias and eucalyptus stems, and Katelyn’s beaded gown sparkled in a shade of dusty pink. “I was amazed at the effort that went into making our engagement so special,” she says.
After the emotional proposal was caught on film, the couple went indoors to find family members, many from the St. Louis area, waiting to celebrate with them. “I was incredibly surprised to see the people I love most there,” Katelyn says. She and her fiancé are planning a July 2018 outdoor wedding and evening reception, both at Haue Valley. Katelyn teaches fifth grade and coaches cross country, and Colton is studying horticulture at Missouri State University.
resources
ceremony & reception | Haue Valley Weddings and Events
music | R.C. eMCees
wedding party
maids of honor | Kelsey Evans, Lindsay O’Neil
bridesmaids | Jenna Wills, Ashley Heitmann, Kenzie Drollinger, Emily Drollinger, Alisa Pashia
best man | Kole Kelley
groomsmen | Cody Fitchpatrick, Darren Cox, Pierce Gibson, Nathan Strait, Ryan Carter, T.J. Evans
bride’s parents | Tom & Gina Evans of Imperial
groom’s parents | Greg & Mendi Drollinger of Pierce City
