Plan a surprise proposal at the Jersey Shore in eight steps! 

Pricing for any type of engagement session can be found here.

If you are looking to plan a surprise proposal or engagement on Long Beach Island you have come to the right place!  I have done so many of these over my career and I will help you plan and know what to expect.  Every inch of the 18 miles on LBI, my favorite spot on the Jersey Shore and the place I call home, is beautiful and different in its own way.  If you look through my blogs and website you will see I often suggest Barnegat Light beaches for many of my photo sessions.  For your surprise proposal on LBI I actually suggest every other town and not Barnegat Light!  Beach Haven, Surf City, Ship Bottom, Brant Beach and everywhere else in-between make for a better choice due to the nature of wanting to be out of the way but still needing to have you in my sites at all times.  I will explain more below!

 

Planning your surprise proposal on LBI step one:

This one is more than obvious. Find your person.  Get the ring. Reach out to me via email with your ideal date, location and time!  I wish that was all the steps but we do need to pay a little closer attention to detail when it comes to planning your engagement and proposal session.  Be mindful that peak holiday weeks the beach will be more busy.  There are also prime locations that will always have more crowds like the beach at the Sea Shell Resort in Beach Haven or the Joe Pops area in Ship Bottom.  Whatever area you want to use is fine by me but if not having crowds is important to you be mindful of what dates, times and locations you choose.

Planning a surprise proposal on Long Beach Island step two:

Simply your plans.  Sometimes people come to me whit big elaborate plans and that is great, I love that energy! Sometimes those plans are realistic and awesome like having Picnic Perfect do a set up for you, or having dinner reservations planned.  There are other times where people are hoping for a hidden location that guarantees no other people around or want to come in on a boat and make a grand entrance, or want to propose at the top of the lighthouse.  All these ideas are great but when we add too many moving parts there is a lot of room for error.  For example, the top of the lighthouse would be awesome!  But it is a very small and tight space with other guests, there is no way for me to guarantee I can photograph you in a situation like that.  I want you to have the engagement moment you know your partner wants but we also have to be realistic and work within reason.

Surprise proposal step three:

It’s great to want to have everyone around to celebrate!  But I strongly suggest having friends and family watch from afar or just meet them after.  Many times the friends and family come running as soon as they see someone say yes and I find it really takes away from the moment.  They will all be just as excited in 30 minutes.  Having a lot of people actually doesn’t give the person who was just proposed to time to process and enjoy.  Friends and family have the BEST intentions but often it very quickly becomes about them and how excited they are.  You are allowed to handle this any way you please but I suggest that you keep it to the two of you.  If you do want friends and family watching give them very strict instructions to wait for me to wave them down, that will probably be 15-20 minutes after you propose and everyone had a few moments to soak it in. When that happens it can be an awesome celebration!

 

Jersey Shore surprise proposal step four: 

Once you decide how many people, where and when I will review the how with you. I will ask you to text me several photos of the two of you so I know who I am looking for.   The day of I ask you text me what you will both be wearing if possible and if I am really lucky you can also text me when you park, but that isn’t necessary, just an added bonus! I will be sitting in the dunes on the beach, sunglasses on, acting like I am on my phone scrolling.  I am not, I am watching you closely but want to blend in.  I will ask you to try and position yourself so that one shoulder is to the dune and one to the ocean so that ocean is our backdrop like Erik did here.  I will also tell you to not start your speech until you are one knee to give me a little more time to get those iconic shots!  This is why I suggest anywhere inLong Beach Township, Beach Haven, Surf City, Ship Bottom and more over Barnegat Light.  The beaches there are about a 10 minute walk to the water and have hills and lots of greens, there are too many places to be and it can cause us to miss each other.  For your surprise proposal smaller beaches are better.

Surprise proposal on the beach step five:

WHEW!  You did it, you asked, the pressure is off!  The two of you take a few moments to talk and soak it all in.  By now they will realize I am there and you can wave and explain it all but I want to give you some space.  You planned this moment, they didn’t!  You had time to take it in, they are just beginning to process and generally need a few moments to process.

Surprise proposal on LBI planning step six:

Here is when we will do a little mini photo session!  I will keep it light and easy and guide you through where to stand and what to do.  I will give you easy and clear directions.  We spend some time here depending if it is just the two or you are if family and friends are waiting to come down will dictate how long!

How to plan a proposal photo shoot on LBI step seven:

NOW is the time if you have friends and family I will waive them to come over and be part of things!

Surprise beach proposal step eight:

It’s done, go celebrate!  In about a week or less you will have an entire gallery from me in your inbox!  I keep any photos for you I would keep for myself.  It really is that easy.  Still need to see more?  Search proposal on my blog for more!