You've Got Love: Ryan & Katherine’s "You’ve Got Mail"-Inspired Proposal in NYC

Some love stories feel like they were written for the big screen—and Ryan and Katherine’s proposal was exactly that. Inspired by Katherine’s favorite movie, You’ve Got Mail, Ryan crafted a moment straight out of a Nora Ephron script, and I had the absolute joy of photographing every heartfelt second of it in the iconic 91st Street Garden in New York City.

If you know You’ve Got Mail, you know how it ends—two people who were destined for one another finally finding their way together in a dreamy corner of Riverside Park, surrounded by blooms and the quiet hum of the city. And that’s exactly where Ryan brought Katherine to ask her to be his forever.

With the city as their backdrop and the spring garden in full bloom, Ryan led Katherine into the 91st Street Garden. She thought they were just spending a quiet afternoon in the park—but Ryan had something much more magical in store. As they stepped into the spot where Joe Fox met Kathleen Kelly, Katherine began to realize this wasn’t just any stroll.

The garden was peaceful, the air full of that soft golden light you only get in New York at sunset, and tucked beneath the canopy of flowers, Ryan turned to her with the most genuine smile—and pulled out the ring.

“I wanted this to feel like your favorite story,” he told her, “because loving you has been mine.”

Cue the tears (yes, all of us!), the laughter, and the most joyful “yes” I’ve ever witnessed. It was intimate, meaningful, and oh-so-romantic.

After the proposal, we wandered the Upper West Side together, taking dreamy portraits that felt like movie stills. Katherine glowed with surprise and happiness, and Ryan looked like the man who’d just won the heart of his leading lady.

There’s something timeless about proposals that come from the heart, and Ryan nailed every detail—from choosing a spot rich with emotional nostalgia to tying in Katherine’s favorite film in a way that made it personal and unforgettable.

Ryan and Katherine, thank you for letting me be part of such a cinematic chapter of your story. I’ll never forget the magic in the air that day—and I have a feeling your love story is only just beginning.

Location: 91st Street Garden, NYC
Inspired by: You’ve Got Mail
Captured with love by: Courtney Simpson Photography