How to Plan the Best Marriage Proposal
If you’re ready to pop the question, read on.
Congratulations on making this huge step in life and deciding to propose to your significant other! This is an exciting time — one that can be planned thoroughly, documented and celebrated! One of the best ways to capture this moment is through documenting your marriage proposal with a proposal photo shoot. That’s right — a proposal photo shoot is when you hire a professional photographer to sneakily hide out and capture your ‘pop the question’ moment. This is a great way to have a professional capture the emotion and surprise of the moment that will live on forever. These photos also make great engagement announcements! Documentary-style, modern, casual or romantic, you can decide what kind of engagement you want, as well as how you want the story to be told visually.
Whether you want to pop the question on top of the Empire State Building or in your backyard, commemorating this event is a special way to tell your unique love story. Here’s a simple guide to help you prepare and plan the best proposal imaginable.
Plan a proposal that’s unique to you as a couple
The best engagements are the most authentic ones that speak to you as a couple. First ask yourself where and how this proposal will take place. Do you have a first-date spot that’s memorable? A place you love to retreat to on weekends? A landmark you both love? A favorite diner? Is there a significant spot they’d love from childhood? (maybe ask the family on this one). Do you want the proposal to be in a remote location or bustling with people? The setting and the creativity that goes into your proposal makes the moment that much more special and relevant to your beloved. Holding the proposal at a meaningful place will show them how much you care and how much thought you put into it.
Hire a Photographer
Hiring a professional to capture your special moment is a unique way to document your love story. A good photographer will freeze those life-changing moments and allow the emotions to tell the story. You can use these photos for your wedding, online for announcements and the wedding website, save-the-date cards and to act as a storytelling piece for generations to come. When you hire a photographer that specializes in engagements and weddings, they are steeped in this world and may also have great creative ideas if you’re feeling unsure of what to do. Most proposals are a surprise and you don’t have to worry about ruining it by hiring a photographer. Usually the photographer will hide out at a distance and be able to take the photos without your partner knowing. You can also keep close family and friends on standby, if you’d like to celebrate together. It’s important to communicate the logistics with the photographer beforehand so they know exactly where the proposal will happen and where they should be stationed to take the best photos. It’s a co-creation between the photographer and the person proposing and takes some planning and coordination.
To find a great photographer…
When perusing potential photographers’s websites, get a feel for their style: is it natural, light and airy? Is it moody and emotional? Documentary style? Romantic? You should feel an emotional connection and a hit of ‘yes! This is the style I am looking for,’ to move forward with a photographer. Next, check out their ‘About’ page. Do you get a sense of their personality? Their experience level and dedication? Where have they photographed proposals before? Are they flexible and open to getting creative with you around that big day? Most great photographers offer a free consultation call so you can ask these questions and get to know each other before booking. This is also a wonderful opportunity to try out this photographer to potentially hire for your wedding!
I love proposals, engagements & weddings. I love capturing the true essence of couples and why they fell in love in the first place. For a free discovery call to see if we’d be a fit, email me at mail@vanjamarkovic.com.