Planning the Surprise
Mike and Holly’s engagement has officially taken place as my favorite surprise proposal to date! Not only were we situated in the beautiful town of Crested Butte, Colorado but we were with friends, and all of the planning went as smoothly as possible.
When Mike came to me and asked if I would be there to capture the surprise, I didn’t need to think about it! My immediate answer was “Yes!”
Holly wasn’t planning for an engagement until at least the end of 2023, so keeping the proposal a secret was Mike’s biggest concern. Between secret phone calls with his dad and secret meetings with Allen and me, a plan was set into place.
He decided to propose while hiking over the weekend of July 4th. We were all going to be in Crested Butte with friends, so the setting was perfect!
Proposal Day
On Sunday, I woke up early for an engagement session with a different couple (more on that coming soon!) After our sunrise session, we all went back to the Airbnb to nap, make breakfast, and get ready for the hike. Holly was oblivious, so everything was going according to plan! There were nine of us staying at the Airbnb, but Mike, Allen, and I were the only ones who knew what was about to happen.
I packed up my bag (complete with a few bottles of Champagne) and brought my camera of some “scenery pictures” *wink* *wink*…
With it being a holiday weekend, the trail was pretty crowded. It took us about 5 miles before getting to a clearing. To really make sure Holly wasn’t expecting anything, I took pictures of another couple that was hiking with us. After that, it was time for Holly and Mike to get their pictures taken.
Mike and I planned it out. He would wear his backpack, and then I would tell him to take it off. When setting his bag to the side he grabbed the ring box, dropped to his knee, and popped the question.
Holly was shocked, to say the least.
Celebrating in Crested Butte
After the shock wore off, we brought out the champagne and celebrated with everyone! Then, we hiked back to the car while Holly and Mike followed behind. They soaked up the moment and spent the whole hike with just themselves.
After getting back to the Airbnb, we all took showers and prepared for a night on the town. We ate appetizers and margs, played darts at a local saloon, and then filled our stomachs full of Italian. All in all, I absolutely loved getting to celebrate Mike and Holly. Getting to photograph them was such an honor, and I cannot wait for the two of them to tie the knot!
If you are looking for a photographer to capture your proposal, let’s connect! I love the special and unique ways people pop the question!
