Surprise! a Guide to Mountain Proposals

When Austin first messaged me on Instagram to help him plan his surprise proposal in the mountains, I was STOKED!

The notion of proposals just gets me all giddy, there is just so much to be excited for in the moment. And let’s be honest, we just can’t say no to joy.

So where to begin?! Ultimately the biggest thing with surprise proposals is the coordination of it all- whether you’re unleashing doves to a coordinated violinist on a balcony in Venice, or finding a forested nook among the pine trees where you can suddenly hear your heart thumping in your chest, it requires some logistics. 

That’s where two heads are better than one- and where Austin and I had several phone calls, text messages and emails to find the ideal location at the ideal time (with a bottle of bubbles, obviously) to make the magic happen. 

Savannah said she knew something was up, because of how weird he was acting as they left the hotel room. “Why are we going to meet these friends for drinks- we have literally never done that before!” Little did she know that her evening was about to be a whole lot more than she could’ve ever imagined. 

Helpful insights for a surprise proposal

1. If you are coordinating with a photographer, be sure the location is EXACT. I like to drop a pin, take photos and verify with any landmarks I can that the place is known. I arrive early and scout the area for certainty.

2. Come up with some kind of cue, physical or verbal, that lets the photographer know you’re about to pop the question. “What kind of bird is that?” “Wow look at those views” “OMG did you see that?!” Helps to let the photographer know that its on, and prepare the shutter fire!

3. Let me know what kind of bubbles you prefer- a celebratory moment is required.

4. If you’re a little anxious about a potential audience, try and think of locations that offer privacy. If you want the big hurrah moment in a crowd, just know others may be in the photos!

5. Deep breath! You’re about to set forth on the greatest adventure of life, and Im here to help you along for the start of the ride.