Planning the Proposal

Kaiden and Rylee came to Juneau on a road trip from their hometown of Fairbanks Alaska. They wanted to explore other parts of Alaska, so they drove to the small town of Haines, then took a ferry to Juneau. Juneau can only be accessed by air or sea, as there are no roads in or out. Kaiden thought Juneau, with its mountains and coastal views, would be the perfect place to pop the question. What he wasn’t expecting was for there to be a rainstorm during their stay. On the morning of the big day, the rain stopped just long enough for a picture perfect engagement proposal at Skater’s Cabin.

Kaiden, an electrical apprentice in training, describes himself as “pretty unromantic and not good at planning”, so he reached out to me to help him plan and photograph the moment. According to him, Rylee was always talking about wanting to get professional photos of them, so we played it off as a regular couple’s photoshoot that he had booked during their stay. So, we met up in the morning at Skater’s Cabin for what seemed to be an average couples session. However, unbeknownst to Rylee, Kaiden had an engagement ring hidden in his pocket.

Popping the Question

Toward the end of the photoshoot, I helped get Rylee into place facing the glacier lake, while asking Kaiden to take a step back toward me. While her back was turned, Kaiden knelt down on one knee. When Rylee turned around, the look on her face was priceless. You could see the flood of emotions, from confusion, to realization, to shock, then to joy. She ran at Kaiden and hugged him, swaying back and forth they hugged for a full minute. Then she leapt on him in a (super adorable) full body hug. As the only person who had the honor or watching such a special moment, it was difficult to not let my own emotions get the best of me.

After the proposal, the rains picked up again. The next day, Kaiden and Rylee were back on the road again (well, first the ferry, and then the road). Their next stop took them to the old-timey goldrush town of Skagway. Then drove the Alaska Highway through Canada, stopping in Whitehorse (Juneau’s Canadian sister city), and finally making it back home to Fairbanks.

Quick Tips for Planning a Proposal

Planning a surprise proposal can be a nerve-wracking endeavor, but it can also be one of the most magical moments of your lives. As a proposal photographer, here are some quick tips on how to plan a surprise proposal.

1. Location, Location, Location: Whether it’s mountains or ocean you’re after, choose a spot that resonates with both of you and sets the stage for your love story.
2. Add Personal Flair: Inject elements of your shared adventures and inside jokes into the proposal to make it uniquely yours.
3. Know their love language: Understanding your partner’s love language can add an extra layer of thoughtfulness to your surprise proposal. If they thrive on words of affirmation, prepare a list of things you love about them. If they resonate with acts of service, prepare a surprise picnic for them.
4. Go with the Flow: Embrace the unexpected twists and turns of the moment, and remember that it’s the love behind the gesture that truly matters.
5. Plan a celebration: Think about how you want to celebrate after the proposal. This could be something simple, like bringing a 6-pack of your favorite drinks with you to sip on right after you’re engaged.

If you want to see more tips and trick for planning your own surprise proposal, be sure to check out my blog post: HOW TO PLAN A SURPRISE PROPOSAL. Finally, keep scrolling to see some of the photos from Kaiden and Rylee’s engagement proposal at Skater’s Cabin.

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