Can I be the first to say congratulations if you’re planning a surprise proposal?! I’ve captured quite a few surprise proposals, and witnessing the happiness is truly a remarkable feeling. In the season of proposals, I wanted to take a moment and share a few tips to help you plan the perfect surprise proposal!

Plan Your Surprise Proposal for Success

Part of creating a memorable experience is brainstorming all of the things that make up your love story! Think of locations, favorite memories, first dates, or anything that might make your proposal extra special!

With that said, if you plan to propose at a special place, you’ll want to make all the necessary reservations! That way, nothing gets booked up, and plans don’t fall through last minute on your special day.

Dress to Impress (without tipping off your significant other about what you’re up to!)

Surprise proposals can be tough because you have to get the other person to dress up too. The right outfit, picture-perfect nails, hair all done… There’s a lot to plan for, especially if you’re capturing the moment! My best advice is to plan a special date when you both want to dress up for the occasion (and not suspect anything!).

Whether it’s to a fancy restaurant or maybe booking a photo shoot to capture you both as a couple (who’s totallyyy not about to get engaged hahaha), that way, you’ll both be on the same page of how to dress.

What to Say When Proposing

You’re likely to get caught up in the moment when you get down on one knee. And you’re supposed to! So don’t panic. Whatever you say will come straight from the heart and be meaningful to whoever receives the proposal!

If you’d like, you can even practice what you’re going to say word by word. It depends on what you and your significant other will appreciate the most.

Ring Shopping for Your Surprise Proposal

The engagement ring can be the hardest part of a proposal because you have to hide it! If you’re wearing a suit jacket, the pocket can be a good place to hide it. I’ve also seen it hidden in shoes without the box before! You want to make sure that it’s both easily accessible, but also in a secure enough place that it won’t fall out!

If you’re local to Charleston and are planning a surprise proposal, here’s a (totally unsponsored!) plug for my favorite jeweler, Sohn and McClure! Drew bought my engagement ring and wedding band there, and now they’re our lifetime jeweler!

Whatever you decide on, it will be a great moment to remember forever! If you have any questions or want to capture the moment, please email me!  I know there’s a LOT of planning that goes into a proposal, and I’m here to help. When you book me to photograph your proposal, we’ll schedule at least one pre-session phone call to make sure we both know every single detail of the plan. I’m happy to help with locations suggestions, and we’ll talk through exactly where I’ll be hiding out and where you can get down on one knee! I’d love to help you dream up the perfect proposal. :)