Yosemite National Park Surprise Proposal | Yosemite Destination Wedding Photographer | Tips for Planning a Surprise Proposal
It can be easy planning a session when both people know what to expect, but it can be daunting to those couples who plan a surprise proposal. It requires an extra sense of finesse and planning to ensure the only thing you have to do is show up and pour your heart out to the person you love in a place that is meaningful to you both!
When Dylan reached out to me from Kentucky and told me he was planning on proposing to his girlfriend in Yosemite, I was super excited to begin the fun process! The day started with planning out the exact meeting location and time to ensure we were on the same page. The two had never been to Yosemite National Park before, so this was a crucial step. When photographing any couple at Glacier Point, there is a particular understanding of light your photographer (aka ME) will tell you about.
Because of the differences in harsh light on Half Dome and the shade at Glacier Point, you need to wait until the sun is setting to take the perfect-even-lit photos. The best thing to do is wait until the light is at the right place and wait for my cue to greenlight your proposal! I remember waiting with other tourists in the area to take photos of the sunset and watching Dylan and Molly soaking up the views. Dylan and I would occasionally look towards one another, each eager to make a move. My heart was pounding in my chest as the sun began to set, and I took a few test shots to see how the camera was capturing the scenery. After a few test photos, I subtly gave Dylan the thumbs up, and he asked me to take a photo of them with Half Dome in the background. I acted like a tourist and smiled as Dylan handed me his phone. I told them to put their backs to me, and that was when Dylan got down on one knee, and Molly turned back around to see her boyfriend asking her to marry him. All the tourists around us cheered, and you could hear their clapping echoing its encouragement and congratulations to D&M.
After Molly said, "YES," I could feel my heartbeat finally begin to slow, and I am sure Dylan started to breathe again after holding his breath for so long. Planning a surprise proposal is nerve-wracking for my couples and for me, my friends. It takes a lot of planning and sometimes awkward waiting for the right moment to come. When that right moment is finally there, and everyone around you is cheering you on at over 7,000 feet of elevation, life is pretty great!
Are you planning a surprise proposal in Yosemite National Park? Here is the perfect set of tips to live by when considering asking your favorite person to marry you.
Let's talk about planning a surprise proposal in Yosemite! One of the most challenging and nerve-racking sessions there must be. Now, don't get me wrong, these sessions are A BLAST! It comes down to really putting on a good act and coordinating the plan down to the last detail to capture those genuine reactions! Here are some of my biggest tips I would like to share when planning a surprise proposal in Yosemite National Park!
10 Tips to Planning a Surprise Proposal:
Communicate your idea with your photographer, who will recommend amazing places and ideas to bring your plan to life!
Schedule a call to get ideas flowing and make sure you are both on the same page.
Share a Pinterest board with ideas.
Don't be afraid to ask your photographer (aka me!) for help.
Make sure you have each other's contact info and a clear idea of the timeline for the day.
Send shared dropped pins from Google maps or Apple maps and annotate accordingly, so you know where to meet. Save these details offline as cell service can be spotty in more forested areas.
Bring things that mean something to you and make the session reflect who you both are as a couple. (Blankets, Champagne, a change of clothes, etc.)
Keep an eye on the weather, especially in the winter months.
Take a deep breath. We're almost there!
Meet at the right time and let the rest fall into place. Let a few tears fall, get down on one knee, and make it happen :)
Now that the hard part is over, we can all run around and have a blast celebrating your love! if you happened to bring a change of clothes, feel free to change and we can run around in the golden hour light being silly and creating timeless memories! Afterward, we can spend a little time at blue hour and run underneath the stars, lanterns in hand.
I use this exact plan with every surprise proposal as a starting point because every session is different and requires a unique approach. Hopefully, these tips are a good place to start so your proposal is EPIC!
Enjoy Dylan & Molly's magical surprise proposal in Yosemite National Park at Glacier Point!