Surprise Proposal

Grand Tetons Summer Proposal

This summer proposal is what dreams are made of! I have shot over 30 proposals now in the Grand Tetons and I feel like I’ve gotten it down to the perfect system. So when Henry reached out looking for ideas and how to make sure it was documented and stress-free, (as stress free as proposing to the love of your life can be), I had his back!

Henry and Kira were coming from Australia to the US to travel for a month to visit National Parks. I loved Henry’s idea of proposing near Jackson Hole in the Grand Tetons so we FaceTimed about a week before they headed to the US to line out all the details. Henry mentioned how he and Kira were adventurous and truly loved having fun together. He was pretty certain that Kira would have no idea what was coming, and boy was he right! Kira was in complete shock and so excited that a “stranger” was taking photos of the beautiful moment. The weather ended up being just the right amount of cloudy after another hectic week of weather.

One of my favorite moments to capture as a Grand Tetons proposal photographer is the hug after the moment. There’s pure joy on both faces from such an exciting moment. Honestly I get a bit of a rush from it myself because I’m genuinely so excited for my couples! I’m so grateful Henry trusted me with documenting his epic proposal to Kira. It was a beautiful day with a mix of sunshine and overcast, which just so happens to be my favorite to shoot in.

If you’d like to see more proposals in the Grand Tetons check out this Winter Proposal.

Grand Tetons Surprise Proposal

Planning the Proposal

I normally don’t travel to Grand Teton National Park. November thru April. The Teton pass gets nasty during those winter months but when I got Jud’s email about coming to Jackson Hole in April to propose to Abbey, I had to make it happen!

I chatted with Jud on the phone a few times before meeting up and warned him that our winter was intense with over 400 inches of snow at Jackson Hole Mountain. Since he and Abbey had hiked in Bryce Canyon a few weeks prior in 5º weather, he was confident the weather would be just fine. We planned to meet on the outside of the park at Glacier View.

At the Grand Tetons

I was extremely grateful we were blessed with clear skies when just the day before clouds covered the peaks of the Grand Tetons. Jud and Abbey arrived looking astounding! Jud had told Abbey he booked a little mini tour guide before a fancy dinner in Jackson Hole after. I gave a few cool facts about the park while showing off the beautiful view. Then I asked if I could take a few photos since i’d been dabbling in photography, (dabbling for 10 years that is 😉). And that’s the moment Jud proposed to Abbey with the beautiful Grand Tetons as a backdrop! It was a perfect night!

I got to know Abbey and Jud and their 11 year relationship that started in the 8th grade! I thought that was so cute! Jud is a pilot and Abbey is a traveling nurse. I found out they did long distance for 5 months and hated it so now they try to stick together as much as possible. They travel to National Parks when Abbey isn’t on a contract. It was a fantastic night in Jackson with these two! I feel like best friends with them now! Congrats to the newly engaged couple!

Grand Tetons Surprise Proposal

Josh found me on Instagram a few months before he and Monica would be traveling through the Rocky Mountains! They had a few stops along the way including Jackson, Wyoming for the Grand Tetons and Island Park for Yellowstone. I was excited since they were coming all the way from Texas! They also were camping throughout their stops in October!

Josh had been to Jackson multiple times before this trip, but it was Monica’s first time! Josh was showing her all the cool things in Jackson and how amazing and beautiful the Tetons were! Josh took me to even a few new spots I hadn’t been before. I think that’s one of my favorite things is when clients pick out a location that means something to them.

Towards the end of the session Josh asked that we head to Jenny Lake. It’d been a while since I had been to Jenny Lake in Grand Teton National Park. I decided to follow Josh and Monica into the park. Monica and Josh were both amazing sports for smiling and going with my crazy prompts. I asked as we were finishing up if they had any other poses they’d like to try and Josh said, “I have one. Are you ready?”

I said, “Sure, what are you thinking?”

Right then Josh got down on one knee and told Monica his feelings for her and asked her to marry him! Monica said yes! I was so excited and completely surprised! I had no idea Josh was planning on proposing and he kept his cool the entire time! Their session will be always be on of my favorites for the surprise proposal and I love shooting couples from out of state! The clouds parted just in time for us to see the Grand Tetons! All around a session to remember!