Downtown Kansas City Engagement Photos // Katie + Jake

This guy was taking this girl on his family vacation before they were even "official" — to all those around them, there was a lot of "will they / won't they" in the time that led up to their first official date, everyone could see just how much they cared for one another — and there's zero doubt that feelings between them not only existed, but were growing.

By the time their first date happened, they were essentially already a couple, and they continued to grow from that point on. So when it was getting close to their 5-year anniversary, Katie figured if ever a time to propose, Jake would do it around then... and knowing how hard she is to surprise, she admits to being surprised now, looking back, that she didn't see the signs.. Like, when months before their big anniversary, he offered to take her shopping for a cute new outfit on a random night out to try a new restaurant. Or when he was weirdly quiet through that dinner. But... after dinner when he just somehow knew about a happy hour at a nearby special-to-them-hotel... Katie's senses were triggered.

When they walked on foot and Katie offered a shortcut to the hotel, but Jake suggested they take their time, look at the pretty lights instead... Katie's heartbeat spiked. And then it happened.. he told her how much he loves her, how he wants to spend his life with her, and down to one knee he went…