We (Dakota, his Aunt Mindi, his sister Jordan, and I) spent the evening before this proposal at the Appell Center, throwing rose pedals everywhere, helping Dakota adjust his vocals, and planning every single detail of the event down to the minute.
Here’s how the proposal went down:
Carly and Dakota walked into what was supposed to be a reception before the symphony played at the Appell Center in York, PA.
Dakota excused himself to go to the bathroom, and instead of having a room full of people to mingle with, Carly was left in an empty waiting area. That is…until she was greeted by her sister-in-law-to-be, Jordan, with a glass of champagne.
Dakota nervously slipped through the door to the theatre, took to the stage, and started fiddling around on his guitar while Jordan stalled.
By the time Carly was ushered in and told to follow the rose pedals to her reserved center seat, Dakota was playing a tear-jerking cover of Allen Stone’s song, Consider Me.
I imagine it was the most thrilling 3 minutes of both of their lives (so far).
She joined him on stage afterwards where he drew the ring from his pocket and said, “10 years ago, we met on a stage…so I thought it was fitting to start the next chapter of our lives on a stage as well. So Carly, will you marry me?”
And, well, the marquee sign in the photos tells you exactly how the story ends 😉
![reserved sign on seat with rose at the Appell Center in York PA](https://lmudrockphoto.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/appell-center-proposal-1024x683.webp)
![Carly walking into the proposal](https://lmudrockphoto.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/appell-center-proposal-2-1024x683.webp)
![Dakota singing to Carly at their Appell Center proposal](https://lmudrockphoto.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/appell-center-proposal-3-1024x683.webp)
![Dakota singing to Carly at their Appell Center proposal](https://lmudrockphoto.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/appell-center-proposal-6-1024x791.webp)
![woman in empty theater](https://lmudrockphoto.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/appell-center-proposal-4-1024x683.webp)
![Dakota singing to Carly at their Appell Center proposal](https://lmudrockphoto.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/appell-center-proposal-5-1024x683.webp)
![Dakota singing to Carly at their Appell Center proposal](https://lmudrockphoto.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/appell-center-proposal-7-1024x683.webp)
![Dakota singing to Carly at their Appell Center proposal](https://lmudrockphoto.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/lauren-mudrock-photography-1024x683.webp)
![Dakota singing to Carly at their Appell Center proposal](https://lmudrockphoto.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/appell-center-proposal-9-1024x683.webp)
![Dakota singing to Carly at their Appell Center proposal](https://lmudrockphoto.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/appell-center-proposal-10-1024x791.webp)
![Couple kissing on stage](https://lmudrockphoto.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/appell-center-proposal-11-1024x683.webp)
![appell center proposal](https://lmudrockphoto.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/appell-center-proposal-12-1024x683.webp)
![appell center proposal](https://lmudrockphoto.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/appell-center-engagement-session-1024x683.webp)
![appell center proposal](https://lmudrockphoto.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/appell-center-proposal-14-1024x683.webp)
![engagement ring and champagne glasses](https://lmudrockphoto.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/appell-center-proposal-15-1024x683.webp)
![appell center proposal](https://lmudrockphoto.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/appell-center-proposal-16-1024x683.webp)
![hugging family](https://lmudrockphoto.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/appell-center-proposal-17-1024x683.webp)
![york pa proposal](https://lmudrockphoto.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/york-pa-engagement-photographer-1024x683.webp)
![appell center proposal](https://lmudrockphoto.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/appell-center-proposal-19-1024x683.webp)
![appell center proposal](https://lmudrockphoto.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/appell-center-proposal-20-1024x683.webp)
![kissing in front of she said yes marquee](https://lmudrockphoto.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/appell-center-proposal-21-1024x731.webp)
![york pa proposal photography](https://lmudrockphoto.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/appell-center-proposal-22-1024x683.webp)
![appell center proposal](https://lmudrockphoto.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/appell-center-proposal-23-1024x683.webp)
![popping champagne at appell center](https://lmudrockphoto.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/appell-center-proposal-24-683x1024.webp)
![popping champagne at appell center](https://lmudrockphoto.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/appell-center-proposal-25-683x1024.webp)
![couple popping champagne](https://lmudrockphoto.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/appell-center-proposal-26-1024x683.webp)
![appell center proposal](https://lmudrockphoto.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/appell-center-proposal-27-1024x683.webp)
![lauren mudrock photography](https://lmudrockphoto.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/lauren-mudrock-photography-2-1024x683.webp)
![family greeting couple after proposal](https://lmudrockphoto.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/appell-center-proposal-29-1024x683.webp)
![family greeting couple after proposal](https://lmudrockphoto.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/appell-center-proposal-30-1024x683.webp)
![appell center engagement session](https://lmudrockphoto.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/appell-center-proposal-31-1024x683.webp)
![appell center engagement session](https://lmudrockphoto.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/appell-center-proposal-32-1024x683.webp)
![appell center engagement session](https://lmudrockphoto.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/appell-center-proposal-33-1024x683.webp)
![appell center engagement session](https://lmudrockphoto.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/appell-center-proposal-34-1024x683.webp)
Congrats, Carly and Dakota!
You were clearly meant to be. So much love between you two and your families. Here’s to many years of laughter, friendship, and love 🙂
Special thanks to Mindi and Jordan and the Appell Center crew for putting this all together!
All good things,
Lauren
![lauren mudrock and her cat tucker](https://lmudrockphoto.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/meet-lauren-lauren-mudrock-photography.webp)
Lauren is a traveling personal branding photographer who’s located between Baltimore and Philadelphia in York, PA. She takes killer high-end headshots that make you say, “That’s me?!” and “That’s me.” at the same time. If you’re looking for photographs for your Baltimore- or Philly-based business, or looking for a portrait photographer in York, PA, family photographer in York, PA, or portrait photographer in Lancaster, PA, or portrait photographer near Baltimore, get in touch!