If you’re a fan of the movie The Twilight Saga, you no doubt know that its central character, Robert Pattinson, is incredibly charming. And what’s more, he’s quite the romantic (despite what the movies might want you to believe). So when it came time to choose photos for his New York Times wedding to Kristen Stewart last June, the iconic magazine decided to test out some of Pattinson’s best romantic skills by giving him the assignment of choosing the perfect proposal.
The result was this perfectly matched set of photos from the New York Times, where Pattinson stood beneath a tree with a heart-shaped box wrapped in twine.
But let’s take a closer look at what made these photos so special…
The Proposal
The photographer, William Claxton, had the chance to watch Pattinson fall in love with Stewart on Keeping Up With The Kardashians. And as luck would have it, he was also there to capture some of the most romantic and memorable scenes as Stewart accepted his proposal. Even if you’ve seen the show, you’ll still find yourself in tears as Stewart says yes to Pattinson’s proposal.
The New York Times published these photographs in black and white, which gave them a more sentimental and romantic appeal. But perhaps the most touching aspect of these photos is that Stewart chose to say yes to her lover’s proposal after a year of dating and despite the fact that she had just found out that he was the father of her soon-to-be baby daughter.
The Inspiration
For months leading up to his proposal, Pattinson dedicated himself to planning the perfect day. And it wasn’t easy. The actor had to make sure that everything was just right, from his outfit to the location to the proposal itself. He also had to work hard to persuade Stewart to say yes to his proposal, since they’d only started dating a few months before.
It was no surprise that these photographs were inspired by The Twilight Saga. After all, we saw in the movies how Stewart and Pattinson’s characters met and fell in love. So when it came time to choose his outfit for the proposal, Stewart couldn’t help but think of Bella and asked Claxton if he could pull off a similar look. And he did. These trousers and jacket are straight out of Edward Cullen’s closet.
Bella And Edward
If you’ve seen the movies, you know that Bella and Edward’s story was one of love and tragedy. The couple fell deeply in love, but it was Edward’s family that stood in the way of their happiness. Edward’s human mother wanted him to marry a blood relative, so he obliged and secretly wed Bella. But when his family found out, they forced him to divorce Bella. As you can imagine, this was quite the scandal (more so because of what it meant for Edward’s career than anything else).
So when it came time for Pattinson to propose to Stewart, he wanted to do so in a setting that would remind her of their movie story. And what’s more, he wanted to make sure that she would say yes, despite the fact that their relationship was brand new.
He chose New York City’s Central Park, because he wanted to give this romantic moment the fairy tale ending that it truly deserved. And as we know from the movies, the couple were completely and hopelessly devoted to each other by the end. So it was only fitting that they would end up in a place that was such a central part of Bella’s storyline.
A Symbol Of New York
If you’ve been to New York City, you know that it’s incredibly romantic to stroll through the city and find a bench or a grassy area to sit and talk or share a romantic moment. That’s exactly what Pattinson did, choosing this particular spot to propose because it symbolically represents New York City.
The spot itself is beautiful and has a gorgeous view of the city. But beyond that, it’s the place that Bella and Edward found themselves after their love story was made famous in the movies.
So it’s no wonder that Pattinson wanted to propose here. Not only is it associated with an incredible romance, but it’s also a place that the couple found themselves after their story was made public. Now when you walk by this spot, you’ll feel like you’re walking through the pages of a beloved book, reliving the magic of that fateful trip to New York City.
The Wedding Dress
We can’t talk about this moment without mentioning the wedding dress. As mentioned above, Stewart really wanted to wear something that reminded her of her favorite movie character, Bella. She chose an off-white dress with black polka dots, which is a direct reference to Bella’s white dress with black polka dots. Her maid of honor wore a similar dress, so it was only natural that Stewart would want to look at least somewhat like her character from the movie.
It’s clear that Bella and Edward’s story is one of love and tragedy, but it’s also incredibly inspiring, especially since it’s rooted in such an element of fairy tales, dreamy adventures, and happy endings. So even if you’re not a fan of the movies, you can appreciate the effort that went into making these wedding photos so special.