Your Guide to Pulling Off A Magical Surprise Proposal
Surprise proposals can be amazing and can make your significant other feel so special.
So where do you start? How do you coordinate with your photographer?
It can be so overwhelming to think about at first, but your photographer has your back!
There are several things to keep in mind and questions you need to ask yourself:
Know your partner’s comfort zone. Are they comfortable in public? Would they prefer a private proposal? Do they like or dislike surprises. As long as you know what they are comfortable with, you are on the right track to plan the perfect surprise.
Do you want your photographer to hide? Do you want them to blend into a crowd? Or do you want them to just be there? Make sure whatever you decide, your photographer knows your plan and expectations for them.
You might need to visit the location beforehand to make sure things will go smoothly the day of. Little things can make a huge difference in your photos. For example, you might not want to choose a location if it is frequently super crowded. You also might choose to stay away from a location where your photographer has nowhere to hide.
How complex do you want to get? I recently worked on a surprise proposal that had many moving parts. For example, we told her this was just going to be a regular photo shoot. Meanwhile, her family was hiding near the shoot location. We planned that while I was showing her how cute their pictures turned out (they were so cute!), he was sending her family a text to sneak out of hiding and gather behind us. Then, once everyone was in place, he tapped her on the shoulder and got down on one knee. It was so beautiful and she loved the surprise. Because there were so many people involved, this was more difficult to pull off but was totally worth it. Make sure you keep in mind that more elements can add more stress but if it is your vision, don’t be afraid to go for it.
With that, let’s get to planning your perfect surprise engagement!
Decide whether or not you want other people around. If you know you want family involved, see what their availability is like and let them know what you are planning. Keep in mind, some people struggle to keep secrets so plan accordingly!
Contact your photographer and schedule a consultation. This is a great way to check what dates are available and to make sure you and your photographer are on the same page.
Decide on a date!
Choose your location. (and have a backup location in mind just in case)
Visit your location if possible to get a feel for the area is you haven’t been there before.
Make sure you have everything you need for the day ready to go so you don’t forget anything. (Ring, flowers, etc.)
Make up a reason to take your partner out and keep it cool. Remember not to overdo it with the temporary lie. Your partner will notice if you are acting weird.
Think of what you are going to say and practice it a few times if you tend to get tongue tied.
Take a deep breath and go for it!
