Bryan & Elizabeth's Hawai'i Proposal at Secret Beach

Come with me to relive Bryan and Elizabeth's special day — because oh my gosh, this one was full of surprises, heartfelt moments, and so many beautiful little details I still think about. Whether you're here for the story, some advice for your own proposal, or a little of both, grab a cozy drink and let me tell you how it all went down.

Bryan first reached out through my website about a month before the big day, and honestly, that timing worked out perfectly for us to get everything planned together. (Little tip for anyone reading this who's planning their own: if you can, aim for a month or two out — it just gives us more breathing room to plan every sweet detail!) I sent over my package info and we hopped on a call soon after, and I could just feel how excited Bryan was. He was so ready, so thoughtful about every little piece of the day.

But here's the part that got me a little: Elizabeth was actually the one who told Bryan she wanted me for this. She'd been quietly looking into photographers before their trip and let him know — this was her photographer, for the proposal and for their couples portraits after. I don't think I need to say much more about why that made this whole thing feel extra special to me before I'd even met them in person.

Bryan, if you're reading this — you're one of the good ones. 🤍

(And hey, planning your own surprise? A month out is workable, but the earlier you can lock in your photographer and your dream sunrise window, the better — especially somewhere like Hawai'i!)

A joyful couple embraces and laughs on a wooden dock with a scenic lake and green mountains behind them.

Three Years, Five Trips, One Very Bold First Trip

Bryan and Elizabeth have been together for three years. This was their fifth trip to Hawai'i — a place that's become their favorite together over the years — so Bryan thought it was a no brainer to plan something special for their upcoming trip.

This also wasn't a solo mission for Bryan, either. Elizabeth's sister and husband were looped in as the day-of communication team, helping make sure everyone ended up in the right spot and keeping me updated, since the location wasn't exactly a straight shot. Secret Beach earns its name honestly — it does not want to be found — so having eyes on the ground mattered. It really was a team effort.

(Quick tip: if your spot is remote or hard to navigate, bring in one or two people you trust to help with day-of logistics. It takes so much pressure off you — and off your photographer, too!)

Couple holding hands walking barefoot on sandy beach with green hills and dramatic dark sky in background.

Couple sharing a romantic moment, woman displaying her engagement ring while smiling, with lush greenery in the background.

The Plan

Bryan had this vision in his head of a mountain meeting the ocean, and the moment he found Secret Beach, he just knew. It already meant something to the two of them, and paired with a view like that? There was really no other choice.

I'll be honest with you all — I always get a little nervous before a proposal, in the best way. My whole goal is to capture the moment exactly as it unfolds while still holding onto the feeling of it, and the way I do that is by kind of disappearing into the background. I tuck myself away, blend in like I'm just another person out for a beach walk, and shoot candidly from a distance so the couple gets to just be together, without a camera hovering over the moment.

As for the cover story — Bryan told Elizabeth they were headed to a restaurant out there, which, having done that twenty-minute walk through the brush and along the ocean myself, made no sense. But hey, it worked and we got a little laugh after when he told me! I got there early to set up while it was still dark (Bryan had actually watched a walkthrough video ahead of time so he'd know exactly where he was going), and since a pitch-black beach walk gives me a little bit of the heebie-jeebies, I brought a friend along for moral support. No shame in that at all.

(Two little nuggets worth stealing here: scout your walk ahead of time, even just through a video, so you're not fumbling around in the dark on the most important day of your life. And your cover story doesn't need to be airtight — something simple like "we're going somewhere special" will usually buy you all the plausible deniability you need.)

Couple walking hand in hand on a tropical beach with palm trees and mountain views in the background.

A pink watercolor book titled 'And This Is Only The Beginning' resting on sandy beach ground.

The Moment

Everything that morning came together so beautifully — no near-disasters, no wrong turns, just everything unfolding exactly the way Bryan had hoped. He'd put together a little book of memories for the two of them to look through together, and the second he handed it to her, I watched her heart just melt right there. I've photographed a lot of proposals, and I had never seen anyone do something like this before — it's honestly one of the sweetest things I've ever gotten to witness. Bryan, seriously, major brownie points.

They sat together with that little book for a while, flipping through their story so far, just the two of them. Then Bryan eased into his speech, got down on one knee, and asked the question that changes everything.

And she said yes. (I mean, of course she did — who wouldn't?)

Romantic couple holding hands on a sandy beach with ocean and mountains in the background.

Man proposing on one knee to woman on tropical beach with lush green mountains and sailboat in background.

Couple in white outfits sharing a romantic moment by a serene lake with lush green mountains in the background.

If You're Planning Your Own Surprise Proposal

Bryan really did so many things right, so if you're in the thick of planning your own, here's what I'd take away from this one:

Choose somewhere that already means something to you two. Secret Beach worked because it fit their story, not because it looked pretty on Instagram. A meaningful spot will always beat a photogenic one.
Always have a backup date. Sunrise, tides, and weather don't really care about your plans, so give yourself a little wiggle room just in case.
Scout it out, even from your couch. If the location is hard to reach, watch a walkthrough video or check the trail beforehand. You want to feel confident walking in the dark, not squinting at your phone with a ring in your pocket.
Bring in people you trust. A sister, a best friend, whoever it is — having someone help with logistics on the day takes so much pressure off you.
Find a photographer who knows how to disappear. Most people don't want to feel like they're being watched during the biggest moment of their relationship. Look for someone who can capture things candidly so you two can just be present with each other.
Make it personal, not just pretty. That little book of memories is what made this proposal stand out to me more than anything else. It didn't need to be extravagant — it just needed to be about them.

A joyful couple poses in front of lush green mountains in Hawaii, woman in white dress, man in light blue shirt.

Couple embraces in lush green meadow with dramatic misty Ko'olau Mountains backdrop in Hawaii.

Happily Ever After

They were absolutely over the moon — the kind of pure, giddy happiness that makes an early wake-up call and a slightly bug-bitten walk through the dark completely and totally worth it. Three years, five trips to the same islands, a little book of memories, and a mountain meeting the ocean right as the sun came up. Elizabeth said yes to so much more than a ring that morning.

Looking back on it now, what made this whole day so special wasn't just the sunrise, or the mountains, or even that gorgeous ring — it was how much thought Bryan put into every little piece of it. A book of memories to hold in her hands, a team of people quietly making sure it all went off without a hitch, a place that already felt like home to both of them. That's the kind of proposal that sticks with you, and honestly, the kind I feel so lucky to get to capture.

Congratulations, Bryan and Elizabeth — here's to trip number six and your wedding. 🌺