NC State Carter Finley Stadium Proposal | Erica + Jonathan


Let's start at the beginning- when I first spoke with Jonathan about his plan to propose to Erica, I knew this was about to be the sweetest session EVER.


Erica loves NC State. She is a recent graduate and is now studying for her Master's Degree here too! She loves all things Wolfpack, especially going to games. Enter Jonathan- he's a UNC kind of guy, but even more so, he's an Erica kind of guy. When he told me he was dreaming up a proposal at her favorite place - Carter Finley Stadium at NC State University - I knew I was in store to witness some serious magic.


We had a super sneaky plan that I would just 'happen upon them' while walking around the empty stadium and ask if I could snag a picture to use for the NC State Alumni Magazine. Erica was super sweet and immediately agreed.

A couple dressed in a navy sweater and red sweater poses together on a football field in a stadium.
A couple gets engaged at this Carter Finley Stadium proposal at NC state.
A bronze statue of a wolf stands overlooking an empty sports stadium with red seats and a large scoreboard.

I thanked Erica and Jonathan, exchanged info to send them their 'magazine photo', and turned to leave. Then as they headed away in the opposite direction, I kept glancing back for the perfect moment... and then BAM! Cue all the happy tears.

An engagement at Carter Finley Stadium at NC State University in Raleigh, NC.
A women reacts to being proposed to at Carter Finley Stadium at NC State University in Raleigh, NC.
A women in a red sweater gets engaged at a college football stadium proposal.
A man is on one knee proposing to his girlfriend in a red sweater.
A couple has a proposal at NC State University on the football field.
A close up of an engagement ring being worn by a women in a red sweater.
A couple hugs after getting engaged at the NC State Football Stadium.

Of course Erica said YES! Then it was time to celebrate! Facetime calls were made + we popped champagne & snapped a few cute pictures around the stadium of the newly engaged couple. I think the best part was when Jonathan revealed that all of their friends and family were waiting back for them to join them for an engagement party- ahh! Erica's reaction to the party was just as good as her reaction to being proposed too! So sweet.

A couple facetimes after getting engaged at Carter Finley Stadium.
A couple pops a bottle of champagne at their NC State Proposal Photo Session.
A couple posed against an NC State background at their engagement photoshoot at Carter Finley Stadium.
A man kisses his new fiancé on the forehead at their Raleigh, NC proposal photoshoot.
A women in a red sweater covers her face with her hands as she reacts to finding out about her engagement party.
A couple takes a selfie after getting engaged. She is wearing a red sweater and he is in a navy pullover.
A newly engaged couple sits overlooking the NC State football stadium.
A close up on an engagement ring in this Raleigh, NC engagement photo session.
A newly engaged couple walks away holding hands on the NC State football field.

One of my favorite things from this session was that Erica was wearing a necklace that had the coordinates of the stadium! It was a gift from a close friend for her graduation from NC State and Jonathan suggested she wear it... I love sneaky little details like that!

A women displays her coordinate necklace and her engagement ring.

With an engagement party waiting for them back at their friend's home, we snapped a couple pictures outside of the stadium near the wolves fountain before saying our goodbyes. I raced back home to send over sneak peeks to be printed for their party! It was so fun being sent pictures of the photos on display just hours after it happened and I know that Erica + Jonathan's friends and family loved being able to see the big moment as they were celebrating these two awesome people.

A couple poses in front of the wolf statue at their NC State Engagement Proposal session.
An engagement ring sits on the nose of a brass wolf sculpture.
A couple sits in front of a water fountain at their NC State University engagement photoshoot.

I can't thank Jonathan + Erica enough for letting me be a small part of their love story. I wish them a lifetime of love and happiness as they embark on this new journey together!

Jessie Peloso Photography is a lifestyle photographer in the Raleigh area and surrounding towns.

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