engagement Archives – A Lifestyle Blog by Tara Mackey

A Big Secret I’ve Been Keeping…

I’m engaged!

It feels so surreal to type. So surreal to say. I’m going to marry the love of my life!!!

I am so, so incredibly happy.

This may come as a surprise for those of you who know me a little bit. Because I really never had any intention of getting married. Last June, when gay marriage was made legal throughout the US, my thoughts really began to change. Now that marriage meant LOVE, I was kinda down for it. I am thrilled that I became so open minded about it, because spending the rest of my life with the love of my life is the icing on the cake on this dream called Life. He has been so supportive, so amazing. He makes me a better version of myself and has never wavered in his love for a moment. He really gets me.

The proposal really drove it home.

He recited my favorite poem – line by line. Memorized (it’s a loooong poem). And then he proposed at the Self Realization Fellowship Meditation Gardens, overlooking the beach.

It could not have been more perfect.

I was totally shocked.

Being a type A Virgo, it takes a loooot of effort to surprise me. But he pulled it off (another reason I know he’s the one!)
And I’ve been walking around on cloud 11 ever since.

We told family and some select friends (mostly people who will be at the big day!) and then I gave myself a lovely little while to marinate in it.

This has already been a BIG month, so sorry if I’ve been a little loopy lately… NOW you know WHY!!!

I am so excited to share this news with you, my tribe!! We are working on so many incredible things together. I am so proud of him and of us. I feel honored to be his and I am so excited to be a MRS!!!

Can we just talk about the ring for a minute?

In high school, my best friend once told me that my future husband would design my wedding ring. At the time, I shook my head and laughed it off. But I’ve never forgotten that.

This ring? A gemstone, naturally. It’s ethical, fair trade, sapphire (both of our birthstones!) hand cut into a perfect heart and surrounded by reclaimed (no mining involved!) diamonds. And it was designed by him.

Of course.

And it’s goooorgeous! I can’t stop staring at it.

It’s perfect. He’s perfect. Life is perfect. I am so, so happy!!! I’m gonna burst at the seams!!!!

Stay tuned for more love, updates and adventures!

With Love,

Tara

Agency Test: Vintage Love

by Tara Mackey | Blogroll, Happiness, Health, Modeling, My Organic Life

So, sometimes my agency gets especially creative. Sometimes they sit around and think “How can we make our models meet for some serious photos? Putting Tara in a TOTALLY commercial engagement shoot with another dashing Q model? And send them on a road trip – a few hours away from where they live? Even though they’ve never met before? Sure! Why not?” (right??…)

Not only did Q stick me and Andreas in a car alone to travel to Santa Barbara together without meeting one another before, to do the most intimate shoot of our lives, we actually (and surprisingly for me, since I assume everyone thinks I’m a geek) had an amazing time getting there and back!! Everyone else on set was so absolutely sweet and down to earth. I rarely get to look “demure and in love”, so this was a treat! Plus, wearing someone’s actual real live wedding ring (no pressure!) was so amazing! Like playing dress up! We got our Free People wardrobe on and were good to go!

The rest of the day was amazing, went smoothly, the sunset was beautiful, the drive was great, we accidentally visited Neverland Ranch (!!!?) and we all had each other laughing! Jess Wilcox brought a team with her, another photographer and an assistant – so I’m not sure who’s photos are what, but I truly love them all!

I saw Andreas recently at a casting (that I booked & he rocked! woo!!) and it was like family. I was in a great mood right away, laughing my butt off, reminiscing. It was just lovely. A huge part of the reason that I love this job, and that I love acting, is that the relationships you form with people on stage, on set or on a shoot is unlike any you get to form with anyone else on a “normal” job or even on a normal day to day basis.

Frankly, the crap you go through sometimes to get a good photo is a ridiculous bonding experience for everyone. I love this energy. I feel it a lot with other models I work with, photographers, wardrobe, MUA’s… It’s really inspired and I feel totally blessed.

I really, really enjoy working with people who live outside of LA sometimes, as this crew was. They bring a sweetness to the shoot that you don’t really ever get in Hollywood, and it made it easy to look happy and in love. 🙂

I really take a lot of pride in this shoot – shot half digital, half with film! It made my heart happy, and it really got my imagination going, but goodness does it put so much in perspective about where I am in life!

Don’t get me wrong – I absolutely love engagements and — oh, weddings! I cry at each and every one. I cried at PHOTOS of my best friend’s wedding. Photos. That’s how much weddings get me.

I love that people want to celebrate how they feel about one another. I love that people want to make that unbelievable and sweetest commitment. And goodness gracious do I love my married friends! More freaking power to you. ( My married with children friends get cookies and like 100 years of ridiculous respect. You guys… I’m so proud.) I admire it and I think you’re all really, truly blessed.