Most of the couples I work with usually work through the details of their day together. Watching that teamwork in action is incredible–they can pinpoint what matters most to them, create a wedding day that’s perfect for them, and really prioritize what’s meaningful.
While there’s always room for spontaneity and surprise, usually, both people are in on planning and experiencing the day as a whole. Surprise proposals, on the other hand, are a totally different ballgame.
When Aza reached out to me and said he wanted to orchestrate an RMNP proposal for his girlfriend on 3M curve, I was already on board. When he said it was going to be a complete and total surprise, I was 100% invested. There’s something vibrant and unforgettable about a surprise proposal–and something truly beautiful, too. Because, sure, you want to surprise your partner with the proposal of their dreams–but even if the surprise isn’t as, well, surprising as you might think, you’re still creating a thoughtful and intentional moment for you and your partner. In other words, surprise or not, it’s a win-win.
Still, Aza was really hoping to pull off a surprise. And I was fully committed to helping him do it. After a few Zoom calls back and forth, pictures exchanged, and the game plan set, the day of their proposal finally came.
Aza had told his girlfriend, Aalliah, they were setting off for an unbelievably beautiful hike. Decked out in hiking gear, they pulled up to 3M curve. They surveyed the view and took it all in together while I hid nearby with my Zoom lens, dressed like a tourist, casually pretending to take photos of the wildlife.
As soon as Aza got down on one knee, I snapped those beautiful moments. Was she surprised? Absolutely. Aza had totally pulled off the picture-perfect RMNP proposal.
As it turns out, the hiking attire is what really sold the surprise. They weren’t dressed up; they weren’t meeting up with a photographer, and nothing out of the ordinary was happening–Aalliah thought they were just heading into the park for a stunning hike.
After they’d shared that beautiful moment together, I finally introduced myself to Aalliah and Aza. Aalliah was shocked–but in the best kind of way.
In their packs was a change of clothes for both of them. Aza had told Aalliah that after their hike, they’d head out to a nice restaurant for a fancy dinner, so she needed to pack something a little dressier for their post-hike date.
Of course, the fancy change of clothes was 100% for some stunning RMNP proposal photos.
After they changed, we all made our way to Trail Ridge Road, an RMNP spot saturated with gorgeous views and plenty of spots to stop off and explore.
These two adorable people spent time exploring around, enjoying the views, and just basking in the joy of being newly engaged. Aalliah–dressed in a beautiful blue dress–was a total champ navigating trails and terrain in her high heels.
The rest of our time together was spent just existing in this pure state of joy. Aalliah and Aza’s surprise proposal couldn’t have gone better, and I could have been happier to see it all work out so seamlessly.
