The Pacific Northwest is a highly desired destination for adventure lovers, and oftentimes, couples are looking for a romantic getaway to celebrate the love they share for one another amidst the gorgeous backdrop of one of the three amazing National Parks. Whether you want to do day hikes, backpacking, camping, or something more strenuous, like rock climbing, or mountain climbing, the PNW has so much to offer, and there is so much to do here. So, why not make the PNW the backdrop for your proposal?
Anchor & Lace Photography has photographed over 20 surprise proposals, and it has become a specialty for our studio. We translate the desires of the couple into an unforgettable adventure, and use our creativity to deliver photographs that tell the story of how it all unfolded in the most beautiful way possible.
With as little as two weeks notice, we were able to plan and execute two surprise proposals in Mount Rainier National Park, all within a 24 hour period of time, and one of them involved sleeping in the car and waking up at 2:30am to hit the trailhead to make it to the location in time for sunrise. The behind the scenes story is where it becomes really challenging.
There are three key elements to planning and executing a successful surprise proposal.
CREATIVITY – we have that one covered, and plan to use every ounce of our artistic abilities to capture your proposal the best way we know how.
COMMUNICATION – we believe that transparency is the best policy when it comes to proposals, as we like to avoid unrealistic expectations. It is also very important to have a plan, and we have many plans we can set in place to help keep the plans discreet and make sure the surprise stays a surprise.
COOPERATION – we request that the person proposing cooperate and allow us to give the best advice and follow along with our knowledge and expertise in the area of photographing proposals.
Below are some examples of photographs taken at two of the most recent adventure surprise proposal sessions, and a description of how they transpired.
Keshav & Kavee – Mount Rainier National Park – Fremont Fire Lookout
Keshav had reached out to us roughly 2 weeks prior to the date he had intended on proposing, and it was an important date, since it was an anniversary. He planned to propose at Fremont Fire Lookout in Mount Rainier National Park. One of the major challenges was the timed entry at Sunrise Corridor, and needing a timed permit to enter the parking lot, and it was far beyond being able to plan exactly what time we would arrive and be able to park. Good thing he wanted to leave the parking lot and head to the trailhead at 2:30am.
The next challenge was why is this lone (but friendly) stranger along for the hike? Well, I had bear spray of course, and I was hesitant to hike alone. So, it worked out, we had a plan. Turns out Kavee really wanted to hike in with at least one other person. I was careful not to blow my cover, even when I pulled out my camera to take some pictures upon arriving to the lookout. I told them both I was a ‘hobbyist’ and brought my camera on all of my hikes. After pointing to the location they should be standing for the proposal, it was time to get into position to frame the mountain behind them. As you can see, it worked out really nicely. Keshav & Kavee now have a story to tell, and an amazing experience they will never forget. This was truly a momentous occasion for all of us, and I am fortunate to have made some new friends while we bonded when hiking under the starry night sky.
Jardyel & Jade – Mount Rainier National Park – Paradise Visitor Center
Jardyel had reached out with about 2.5 weeks time till the desired date to propose. He had thought about a few locations for the proposal, including Olympic National Park and Mount Rainier National Park. Eventually we would discuss and land on Mount Rainier National Park being the spot. The original plan was to be at Myrtle Falls near Paradise, but naps and traffic had other plans. So, it was time to reconvene and come up with a new plan.
We coordinated meeting at the bathrooms when they arrived at the Paradise Visitor Center parking lot to discuss a final plan for location and framing. The scenario would be, I am waiting for my family to come out of the trails at the beautiful steps in the shadow of Mount Tahoma, and I would offer to take a cell phone photo of the couple on the steps with Mount Tahoma behind them. This would be Jardyel’s signal of where to stand to do the proposal, and it worked. He stood with his arm around Jade to admire the view while I got my camera ready for action. Once I was in position, and knew he was getting ready to drop to one knee, I started capturing this beautiful and emotional moment for them. To date, it was one of the biggest reactions I have seen at a proposal, and it was delightful and refreshing to witness.
Planning on Proposing?
Feel free to get in touch to inquire about what your proposal might look like. We are willing to go on any adventure with you. Just give us a call or drop us an email inquiry on our website to connect. We look forward to getting to know you and hearing all about your plans.
We may have some input for one of many amazing locations nearby. If you are thinking of an adventure proposal in Mount Rainier National Park, Olympic National Park, or North Cascades National Park, we have tons of experience on the trails, and know of amazing locations to execute your surprise proposal.
Pricing starts at $1,500 and goes up from there, depending on your desired location, time, trail difficulty, distance, and more. See below for some examples of what pricing might look like for your adventure proposal within one of the three Washington National Parks. These prices include travel time to and from the location, hiking time to and from the desired proposal location, down time/waiting time, and 1.5 hours of photography time. Washington sales tax is not included in pricing presented here.
Just because you do not see a location listed here, does not mean it is not available. These are quotes based on just these ideas. If you have something different in mind within one of these parks, or another location entirely, we would love to hear about what you have planned.
Feel free to text Keith for more information at 253-906-9302 or use the REQUEST A QUOTE form on our website to reach out and connect.
We look forward to hearing from you, and helping make your dreams of a beautiful surprise proposal a reality.