What Should I Do Before The Proposal?

You’ve Booked Your Proposal! Now What?

Here are 5 things to do to prepare to make sure your proposal and the rest fo your time in Carmel/Big Sur is perfect!

Ensure you’re directions to the spot are clear

If you have not received a text from me with a Google maps or Apple maps pin make sure to you do that! I can send you pin drops of where to park and where to stand on the day of if needed. Keep in mind many of the locations do not require spots to stand pin drops but some beaches and larger spaces do!

Also, if you’re coming to Big Sur, plan on downloading the Google area map before hand so you can find your way around and much of the area do not have cell service.

Think about what to wear

You might want this moment to be a surprise so how do you get her to wear something you think she will be happy with in the images after the fact? One way is to make reservations for dinner or, if she is into planning, tell you want to go to drink at Jacks in Pebble which is a higher end place to hang out than a local winery. I have had clients in the past also share with their future fiancé the location and tell them what they are going to wear and that she might want to match.

Another point on this is what you should wear. My main tips are be your self and avoid logos. That’s about it. If you love logos and need to have a brand shirt on go for it as you feeling comfortable is majorly important. But, logos date your photos and 20 years from now when you see your photos you might be able to place it in time which to some people might seem “funny”. But you do you!

Lastly, try to avoid reds and pinks. Bright colors tend to reflect on faces and cause your skin to not look natural.

Write something to say

This one is major to me. Get on Amazon and find a vow book. One you think might be used on your wedding day (but doesn’t need to) . You can have this in your pocket with the ring! Take some time before the proposal to write something in it you want to share. This will allow you to say what you want and not get tonged tied on the day! Also, 90% of the time she has no clue what you said after the fact as the minute she sees you on one knee its like black out, her heart is pumping, and she is only focused on what’s about to happen. I guarantee she will love this. Also, on the day of your wedding you can simply turn a few pages over and add to it your wedding vows. Talk about a memento.

Check your dinner reservation

If your session is, for example, at the Cliff in Big Sur, and the suns sets at 6:00. You might want to give yourself an hour or so to get there. So I would make my reservation for 7. You might want to spend a few more minutes at the cliff. Drive slow to Carmel. Find parking. Walk around a tad before getting to your reservation. So make sure your timing is on point here!

Think about the next day

Your epic proposal is booked! What are you going to do the next few days? I would plan a rough itinerary and find the coolest stuff to do while spending the rest of your visit in Carmel or Big Sur!

Here are some of my must do’s if you are visiting from out of the area. No particular order!

Hike in Big Sur
- My favorite is Garrapata (East Side)
Eat at Deetjans for breakfast
Plan an even more epic dinner at Ventana
Wine tasting in Carmel
Take an extra bottle of wine to a beach and watch the sunset (Monastery is a good one)
Visit the Aquarium in Monterey (1-2 hours for grown ups in my op)
Rent a SeaCar

TL;DR