Give us the proposal details! When? Where? How?
I proposed in September (which is considered ‘summer’ in San Francisco, the weather is warm and there’s no fog!) at the bluffs above Baker Beach. The view is incredible with the golden gate, the cliffs, the greenery and the beach below. I hate surprises! So, I decided to beat her to the punch and I was going to make it a surprise, a big one.
My mission was to surprise propose to Laura, get all of our friends gathered to celebrate immediately after, and capture the moment. I decided to hire a photographer to hide out and capture the proposal in-the-moment. Together we scoped the bluffs a few days before and found the perfect spot for me to “do it.” We even coordinated the outfits and made sure the looks tied in and went with landscape. I then sent out a secret Facebook event to about 60 of our closest friends (Laura is a socialite and has a ton of friends) to tell them the news and ask them to meet us at the beach!
My best friend was in town from New York and it was the perfect ploy to getting Laura to the bluffs for “sightseeing” before dinner. I remember the day of, I was so nervous excited, but mostly because of the photographer being there and getting it right in the moment and in the right spot! I had some of Laura’s friends take her out that morning to get her nails done. I convinced Laura to wear the outfit I needed her to and we were out the door! At this point, everyone was waiting on the beach below, a bit hidden from where we were, and we start walking down the path towards to spot. It wasn’t the easiest spot to get to and it was a bit steep with some curves. As we got down to the spot I remember just trying my best to not forget the words I had rehearsed in my head. We got to the spot and as she was looking out to the bridge I said, “Do you know why I brought you down here?” She didn’t, so I proposed right there and it was amazing and the real surprise was that she had been carrying my ring around with her for a few weeks at that point and pulled it out of her bag moments after! It was just a really beautiful moment. You never know what you can expect in an experience like that, but it was surreal. After the joyous, “Yes!” was proclaimed, the photographer came out from behind the bush and we took some more photos before walking down to the beach where 50+ of our friends were waiting to celebrate. It was one of the more beautiful days of my life and ours collectively.
Cat’s Lens Photography
What has been your favorite experience planning the wedding?
Deciding to pick a destination that has meant so much to us and working with the local people to create an authentic experience for us and our guests.
How do you stay sane under the pressures of wedding planning?
Baby steps, try to stay very focused on one decision at a time, and when we start getting short we close our laptops.
Cat’s Lens Photography
What is your favorite part of using Joy for your wedding?
It’s just so easy to use! I love the beautiful templates designs, the transitions from section to section, and the guidance in the back end. It’s incredibly approachable and a satisfying experience!
What piece of advice would you give couples to ensure that they use Joy to its fullest potential?
Go through each section and really get to know the tools before jumping in. There are so many things that can be customized and the support page is a great resource when you have questions!
Cat’s Lens Photography
At Joy we believe that even though a wedding lasts a day, joy lasts forever. What does that mean to you?
Every day we experience and learn about each other. Joy is really being thoughtful and reflective of the life you’re creating alongside one another. Laura is my best friend and the deep belly laugh she gives me and I give her while we lounge on the couch, is everything. It’s the journey before and after that wedding day that counts!
