Portraits

How to Plan the Perfect Proposal

May 20, 2020

Hi, I'm Catie.
A wedding photographer based in Charleston, SC specializing in dreamy and true to life imagery for couples planning their dream wedding. 

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This blog is all about how to plan the perfect proposal. So I’m guessing if you’re reading this you are either

1. The boyfriend of an amazing lady who you are planning this proposal for

Or 2. The amazing lady who is trying to drop hints to the boyfriend who may be taking too long

Either way, welcome!

I am here to help you out regardless of if you are the girlfriend, boyfriend, friend, sibling, or parent! This post is all about how to plan the perfect proposal for that special person in your life.

And really it’s not too hard! You just have to take it one step at a time.

Proposal in Hilton Head, SC on a dock | How to Plan the Perfect Proposal

Step 1: Buy her dream wedding ring

Now really step 1 and step 2 could be swapped. You might want to ask for a blessing first, it’s up to you! I definitely think it would be a huge plus to show the ring that you so carefully picked out to the parents of your future fiancé! Also, a tip for you guys who have no idea what kind of ring she likes: go look on Pinterest! Most likely your girlfriend has a Pinterest board full of wedding ideas. I know I have one with all of my favorite types of rings!

Step 2: Ask for a blessing (if you would like one) from her/his parents or loved ones

After you have that beautiful ring, start thinking of the best way to ask her parents for their blessing. But make sure that your girlfriend isn’t anywhere near to hear you ask! Traditionally, you would ask the father for his blessing. But things have changed and they aren’t the same as they used to be. Therefore, it isn’t absolutely necessary for you to ask for his blessing. Stay true to yourself and do what you think your girlfriend would appreciate the most!

Step 3: Pick your location

This is where the fun begins! Ultimately, you want the location to be somewhere meaningful. I have captured proposals all around the Charleston area.

In Charleston, there are so many different locations for the perfect proposal!

But I am available for travel! If you are planning your proposal in a beautiful destination, contact me to see if I am available!

Step 4: Find a photographer to capture every single moment

Once you have your location you can start searching for photographers in the area. I recommend emailing a few different photographers and getting quotes. Don’t forget to ask them for past proposal galleries if they don’t have them up on their website! From there you can narrow it down to your favorite. You want a photographer that you mesh with and trust. You will also want them to be excellent with communication. This is nonnegotiable!

Step 5: Make a plan with that photographer

This is very important! You want to make sure that you are on the same page as the photographer. Why? Your photographer will position themselves in a hidden spot before you are even in the area. This way they are ready to capture the exact moment you get down on one knee! So if you don’t have a plan set out on the exact location that you want to propose, your photographer won’t know where to position themselves. A lot of times people will start to crowd around once they realize what is happening too.

My advice on how to make a plan: have your photographer visit the location the week of the proposal. They can either facetime you or send you pictures of where you should pop the question. That way you have visuals of where you need to be! And you won’t be panicking trying to find the perfect spot – your photographer will have already done the hard work for you!

Let your proposal photographer figure out all of the details!

boyfriend proposing to his girlfriend at Hilton Head proposal on folly beach, sc

Step 6: Put it all in action

My final advice, stay calm. Don’t panic. Everything will go perfect! Your photographer will be hidden and your girlfriend will have no idea what is about to happen. So soak in every single moment and know that you will have amazing pictures to look back on. It will be so worth it in the end!

If you are proposing to your soulmate in Charleston, please don’t hesitate to contact me! 

I absolutely love capturing proposals! And Charleston is such a magical place to be proposed to. You can find all of my information on proposals here > https://catherinehurtphotography.com/charleston-proposal-photographer

 

If you enjoyed this blog on how to plan the perfect proposal, you may like these as well:

Surprise proposal on Folly Beach

Hilton Head Proposal

Engagement Session in Downtown Charleston | Charleston Wedding Photographer

 

And to keep up with any proposals, weddings, or engagements I’ve captured, follow me on Instagram! 

  1. Hayley says:

    This is incredible!! Proposals are so much fun to photograph too!! Well done 🙂

  2. Sara says:

    I love your tips for planning a proposal!

  3. Nidya says:

    This is such a great resource! It’s an incredible moment and you DO want it to be as memorable as possible ❤️

  4. Jennifer says:

    What a sweet post!! Thank you for sharing these awesome ideas.

  5. Not only are your tips super helpful, but your proposal images are so beautiful! Thanks for sharing!

  6. Alyjah says:

    Great tips! Love that sunset photo over the ocean ?

  7. Courtney says:

    Great post idea! I love this!

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