How To Pull Off The BEST Surprise Proposal
Let’s face it, proposing is freaking scary. Your girlfriend has probably been begging for years, her mom is texting you when you are going to propose and you are just SWEATING! Here is where I come in. I promise I have been to this rodeo a few times before and have a billion tips for you. As long as you are willing to be flexible, plan a head and remember that you and your partner are just going to be SO STOKED to be engaged- we got this.
First up on my list of tips for pulling off the best surprise proposal is to decide how much of the moment you want photographed, this will come in handy later when we are talking about picking out your location for the proposal. Some folks want every single second photographed, some want me to pop out from hiding once you have asked the big question. Either way- we can make it happen .
Next- LOCATION! Whether you want to get engaged on the valley floor of Yosemite or in some field just down the street from your house we can make it happen. In the case of us sticking local it is SUPER helpful if you go scope out the spot you want to propose and send me the pin so I can go there as well and make sure light will work out! I always suggest sunset for proposals because it makes the light so dreamy and gives you something to focus on/watch once I leave.
If you need suggestions for locations on where to propose you can check out my other blog post here to read more! And you can always email me as well with any questions.
Third and arguably the most nerve wracking part- your cover story. You can go a few different directions with this for your surprise proposal cover story. The photos above the sweet guy Phil had told his now fiancé that it was just a regular date night eating charcuterie and watching the sunset out at the Millville Plains here in Northern California. Little did Rachel know I was waiting at the beginning of the road waiting for them! We had planned to let then have 30 minutes of their “date” and at 6:30pm I would drive down the road, hop out of my truck, and shoot Phil getting down on one knee! That is just one way to do it, there are so many other cover stories I have been a part of and can help you craft the perfect story so she will never know she is about to be proposed to!
Fourth and final tip, have an idea of what your soon to be fiancé will want to do for her engagement photos! Some girls are ready to roll right into their engagement photos post their surprise proposal but most need a moment to be alone with you, go say hi to their friends and family waiting and pick their dream outfit out for engagement photos. Be sure to ask your photographer if they offer a proposal/engagement package where you can have them shoot your surprise proposal one day and schedule formal engagement photos another day! That gives y’all a minute to chill and soak it all in on the evening of, and then be super pumped for your engagement photos!
