Amy + Josh • Super Secret Waikiki Proposal!! (with purple roses)

Let’s pause for a second.

Like I’ve written before, surprises in the day-to-day grind aren’t really my jam.

I like having itineraries and getting things done when I need to. I like envisioning the end result and making the journey toward that result as smooth as possible ALSO while having fun.

BUT surprise proposals are seriously SO DANG CUTE, I just have to make exceptions for them.

Michele and Marvin from The Heart Bandits specialize in planning elaborate surprise proposals. Typically they craft a plan with their client under the guise of a “photo tour,” hiring a photographer, and stage a decorator and maybe a musician to stealthily set up a final location where that client surprises their partner the big question.

I’ve photographed a few proposals for The Heart Bandits before so I knew I was in good hands. That night, my couple was Amy + Josh, from California.

Lauren, boss babe of L-4-Love Weddings, took the lead in decorating the proposal site. She set up a gorgeous pastel purple heart made up of delicate roses. Our client, Amy, loves purple roses – hence, the decor. Lauren also organized a path lined with framed photos of Amy + Josh throughout their relationship.

CUE THE HEARTS AND “AWWW” because on the real guys, this proposal was so so cute. The guitarist began playing “Who I Am With You” by Chris Young as Amy + Josh approached the site, with their family in tow. Amy’s face was pure shock, then elation, then tears of joy.

It was so touching to be able to capture the entire evening with the two lovers and their family. These moments are once in a lifetime. Wow.

PLUS Amy + Josh were so great in front of the camera!! Chill, easygoing and basically telling me, “We’ll do whatever you think is best! Tell us what to do!” – which is seriously SUCH a nice thing as a photographer to hear.

I channeled their laid-back energy into prompting them in ways that would highlight their fun sides as well as bring out a quiet closeness. And in the middle of the busiest beach in the state – Waikiki, the worst place for photos – we managed to get some really intimate shots.

I’ll say the evening was a total success.