“Kyle and Sarah were living up in San Francisco when Kyle got a design job here in Orange County, so he moved to Laguna Beach. Sarah came to visit during Christmas and Kyle thought Hotel Del Mar would be the perfect spot as Sarah spent a summer living in Coronado during her college days and Hotel Del Mar was one of her favorite spots.  While Sarah’s family close by for New Years Eve, Kyle thought it would be a great time to pop the question so her family would be close by to celebrate. The plan was to set up a fake massage appointment as a reason to go to the hotel. They would arrive and he would go check in and say they were way early for their appointments and then go to the bar to get some champagne and walk the beach. At this time, I was suppose to walk up and say I am a local photographer trying to build my portfolio and was wondering if they would pose for a couple quick photos. In the middle of the shoot he would propose to her. Well shortly after they arrived he sent me a text, but accidentally sent it to Sarah instead. He thought for sure she found out, but luckily she didn’t check her phone. So I got a message saying that he was going to do it on his own and for me to try to get as close as possible. Well I followed them out of the bar and all around the beach without her knowing until he dropped down and proposed. She had no idea it was coming and I was photographing the whole thing!”

See more of Kevin’s work here. These pictures are another great example of why having a photographer at the proposal is key. Extra bonus: the engagement pictures they also got!

Congrats Sarah and Kyle!

Love,

1. He remembered ALL those dates! If you don’t remember specifics bring up memories your girlfriend would enjoy reminiscing. Ask her BFF to bring it up in conversation it will be too obvious you’re digging for information for your proposal.

2. He had a plan! The entire proposal choreographed down to the very last step.

3. He broke out in dance when she said “yes!” I’m not saying every guy to get up and dance for his proposal but you have to give this guy credit for stepping out of his comfort zone. I would bet he didn’t dance for the glory but rather for her. Try throwing in a fun-loving finale like this one.

4. He involved her family and friends in a thoughtful way. Not all guys feel comfortable proposing in front of her family and friends, which is totally understandable, but finding a way to incorporate the ones she loves most is always a go. If it’s important for certain people to be involved really adhere to it.

5. This is a biggie! He had someone capture the proposal on film!!

Love,

What I personally say “yes” to with this proposal!
1. Love the cheesy yet awesome HE LOVES YOU t-shirts.
2. Love that the signs are not only a great visual but contain a sweet message (he kept it personal).
3. Love when he kneels down to take photo with her on the polaroid camera.
4. Love how he runs back and grabs her purse after he pops the question…that’s true love right there!
5. Love her reaction and how she is claps along (his girlfriend clearly didn’t mind a public proposal but make sure your gal digs the public eye before you propose in a crowd).

I hope this proposal brightened your day and gives you some inspiration for how to pop the question! Happy proposing!

Love,

The Preparation Behind The Proposal:

A weekend trip to the bride to be’s dream getaway! I am photographer and Caleb took me to the Grand Canyon South Rim…but not only for the purpose of taking great photos! An eight hour drive from Las Vegas and ring pocket the whole time…he proposed during my second favorite thing (or third of you count hanging out with him!) HIKING!

The Proposal Story:

Life has been so crazy busy with a lot of new happenings and memories being made that there’s barely been any time to reflect! Two weekends ago life gave me one of those monumental, fantastic, glitter covered, head-over-heels kind of memories. The man of my dreams (and I really do mean the man of my dreams) asked me to marry him, and I hate to ruin the thrill of the story, but I definitely said, “Yes!!!!”

How did he ask? Well you see he very carefully crafted the engagement around my dream weekend, a weekend full of scenic photography and hikes up to breath-taking views. On Saturday morning we headed out to the Grand Canyon and packed our bags for an afternoon of hiking to the furthest edges of the South Rim for optimal photo-taking at sunset. We arrived with the masses of people for Memorial Day weekend and set out for a good hike to the various overlook points. See there was a shuttle bus that you could ride from outlook point to outlook point but Caleb suggested that we hike instead. Although I knew that Caleb likes hiking just about as much as he likes getting filings at the dentist, I jumped at the idea…because I love, LOVE hiking. So we hiked along the rim and stopped at our own small, private cliff just as the sun was going over the canyon. Caleb suggested that I set up my tripod and try to get some good photos. Then he also suggested that we take some photos together. (He likes taking photos as much as he likes getting his teeth pulled, just to put this in perspective.) So I happily jumped at this as well. We were taking photos off the edge, sitting, in all different positions. Then he suggested that we take a photo standing up. So I fidgeted with the camera and set the self timer once more. I ran over to him and next thing I know he is grabbing my hands and down on one knee, with a big, sparkly ring (that out of my excitement I missed entirely at first).

“Will you take a jump with me, Sarah Bouchard?”, he says calmly.

I am in awe, “Ugh, ut, ah…what?! What’s happening? Is this for real?” I say, as the excitement wells up inside of me.

“Will you marry me, Sarah?” he says.

I get the biggest smile on my face and…SNAP! The camera goes off and really captures my excitement, it captured the happiest moment in my life. (Yeah, that’s right the photo below is my real reaction, not posed!)

He said, “Well, will you?” and of course I answered, “Yes!” immediately! I jumped into his arms, (thank goodness he is stable and strong or we would have tumbled clear off that tiny 4′x6′ ledge we were standing on) and the rest is history.

The Ring: It’s a custom platinum ring made by Beards Jewelers in Texas. My fiance designed it himself with inspiration from some Verragio settings. The center stone is a round brilliant and it is 1.25 carats.

You can just sense the pure joy of this couple and we wish you lots of love and thoughtful moments in your future! Check out more pictures and proposal details at The Silhouette Studio Photography.

Love,

Q) How long (days, months, etc) were you planning the proposal?

 

A) Mikaela and I were introduced through a mutual friend of ours. We had seen each other before at Mikaela’s work years prior and also a few times at Church. We corresponded via facebook and set up a first date at a local Starbucks that we both frequently attended (but never seemed to run into each other there) The one time that we did run into each other before we were ever formerly introduced she and a pastor from our Church were behind me in line and I bought their drinks as a “random act of kindness”. Our first date (months later) stretched into 4.5 hours but it only seemed like a short visit!

 

Q) How did you pull off your idea?

 

A) As you know Mikaela is a wedding photographer and will sometimes do styled bridal or engagement shoots. My idea for the proposal was to re-create our first date but in a “vintage-starbucks” type setting and have Mikaela shoot the detail shots of her own proposal because taking pictures is what she loves to do! I ensured that she would have her cameras and lenses with her by asking if we could go on a photo field trip date. I started planning the engagement about a month before the actual date (which of course was weather dependent). I found myself spending a lot of time at different Starbucks’ (not a stretch for me) getting ideas and strategizing how to make the proposal unique/accurate all while having a personal touch incorporating special things from our relationship. I collected items from thrift, vintage and retail stores and of course a lot of product from Starbucks. One of the baristas actually saw me brainstorming and purchasing and asked if I was planning a proposal!! I shrugged it off and said “something like that” still in disbelief that she had found me out!

 

Q) What encouraged you to propose in a creative way?

 

A) The day of I spent about 4 hours (with the help of friends) setting up and recreating our first date/outdoor Starbucks. I arrived with her at the location (a clearing in the woods behind a friend´s house) and led her by the hand down a path. As we approached I told her to close her eyes and let me guide her the rest of the way because this “amazing shoot location that she would want to use for a styled shoot” would be that much more spectacular if she did. When I told her to open her eyes she did so and was in total disbelief. “What is this?!?!” “I don´t understand” “what?!?!?” to which I replied “This is my styled shoot”. (I had mentioned that as one of goals to complete on my 101 in 1001 list). We walked toward the setup and I suggested that we “grab the comfy chairs”. We both sat down and I had the ring box hidden in the seat that I was to sit in. We sat for about a half minute or so taking it all in and then I asked if she recognized anything. She said “yes this is our first date”. Shortly after that I got down on one knee, took out the ring and asked her to marry me! “Ever since our first date I knew you were the one…I fall more and more in love with you every day…Mikaela will you marry me?” (I had tears coming down my cheeks and Mikaela was holding it together *she said because she was still in shock and disbelief*) She said “yes of course”…after a brief pause and we hugged. Then we got up and went for a tour of the “Starbucks” and started shooting detail shots. 10 minutes later some friends that helped with setup came in to congratulate followed by family and friends trickling in a short time later. From that point onward it was a coffee/tea/mocha and Starbucks treats party!! I put on a barista uniform and began making drinks!

 

Q) Did you have any friends, family, vendors to help you?

 

A) The day before I proposed I got a close mutual friend of ours (Andrea) to invite Mikaela out for tea at Starbucks while I went to her house to ask her father for his blessing to marry Mikaela. He said that I had his blessing and I told him and Mikaela’s Mom that the following day was the BIG day! I phoned around and invited close friends and family to join us for about 45minutes after I planned to pop the question.

 

Q) How did you budget for the ring and the proposal?

 

A) The ring is from Shane Co. in the US and was chosen believe it or not, not because of the name but because I was searching for a vintage style band/setting and Shane Co. happened to have the one that I thought Mikaela would love most. It is a round brilliant ¾ carat center diamond in white gold with a total of 29 diamonds all together. I used money from savings and also put aside money each month for 3 or 4 months. Total cost for the proposal was only about $600 but lots of personal time went into it.

 

Q) What was your fiancee’s favorite aspect of the proposal (besides getting engaged of course!)?

A) Mikaela’s favorite aspect of the proposal was the detailed/personalized signage and “pick of my life” card.

 

Design Elements for Proposal:

 

Table cloths were made from old burlap coffee bags. The Starbucks and “Wi-Fy” hanging signs were hand painted on old wood and the candle was made using a Starbucks sample cup and melted tea-lights. Cake Pop holder was made from old wood.

 

 

Menu board was handmade. Signage and “pick of my life card” were printed out at Bourquin Printers in Abbotsford. Picture on menu board is from our shoot with Robyn at www.robynmichelleleephotography.com.

 

 

The furniture is all authentic and was lent to me by a friend of a friend with a Starbucks connection. Starbucks apron and light-up display sign were purchased on E-bay.

 

 

Treat display case was made by modifying an indoor garden terrarium from Home Sense. Product display in front of vintage till was made with a modified desk organizer from Home Sense. All the treats and merchandise were bought at different Starbucks locations.

 

 

Loving these photos and proposal?! Check out more incredible photos and Mikaela’s side of the story at Mikaela Ruth Photography. Now that is how to pop the question!

 

Love,