Rahul reached out to me all the way from Houston, Texas with a big goal: plan a dream Big Sur proposal for his girlfriend Prasanna. They were already coming out to the area for a vacation, and he wanted to make it unforgettable.

We jumped on a video call beforehand to talk through vision and logistics. Rahul told me he loved the beautiful Big Sur coastal scenery and really wanted to emphasize that during the moment.

I knew exactly where to take them: Garrapata State Park!

I love getting to help execute a perfect Big Sur proposal.

I like to meet proposal couples at a local Starbucks in Carmel, CA about 15 minutes before their shoot starts. The goal is typically to be discreet, so I park my car outside and have the guy text me when he goes into Starbucks so I know they are there. Then, they follow my car down into Big Sur for about a 12-15 minute drive to our proposal spot off of Highway 1. 

We park and start walking down the trail. I have my cameras in hand and they follow me, all the while she has no idea that I am their photographer and going to capture their surprise proposal moment. It’s very common for people to be out with cameras in Big Sur, so my presence is typically not suspicious at all. 

Once we get to the spot, I let the couple walk past me and suggest something like “Hi there. You guys should go check out this vista point right there off the path, it’s beautiful!” Rahul agrees, of course, and leads Prasanna down to the path. From there, he takes the lead to pop the question!! I’m watching and snapping the whole time with the stunning Big Sur scenery in the background. Prasanna was so surprised and happy! You can tell by her huge happy smile. A fool proof plan!

Garrapata Park is such a perfect place to plan a Big Sur proposal. 

One main reason is accessibility. There are plenty of walking trails around that have beautiful vista points and so it’s very easy to guide couples through the process and set it all up, especially if they are coming in from out of town and not familiar with the area. We want to keep things easy and seamless for the couple to make the experience fun and successful.

After the proposal, we spent time exploring the cliffs and taking portraits as the sun started to drop.

Rahul and Prasanna were just an amazing couple to shoot. Super happy, go with the flow, and totally present with each other. They loved having their photos taken, and you could feel how excited they were to just be there.

Standing on the cliffs, overlooking the Pacific Ocean, celebrating their engagement together during sunset… It was magical!

Thinking About Planning Your Own Big Sur Proposal?

If you’re dreaming about planning a Big Sur proposal, I’ve got you.

From helping you choose the perfect location to mapping out a seamless, discreet plan like this one, I’ll guide you through the whole process so you can stay focused on what actually matters: the moment.

All you have to do is show up, take a deep breath… and ask the question. I’ll take care of the rest.

Let’s make it unforgettable!