SURPRISE! Will you marry me?

Title: Surprise Proposal in Fort Lauderdale – A Twist I Didn’t See Coming!

As a South Florida photographer, I’m lucky enough to meet couples from all over the country who come to Fort Lauderdale to soak up the sun, enjoy the beach, and create beautiful memories together. When Gracie reached out to me about a fun couples session while she and her boyfriend were vacationing here from Pennsylvania, I was all in. I mean, what’s better than a golden beach shoot to remember your trip by?

(P.S. — If you’re planning a vacation in Fort Lauderdale and want to take home more than just sand in your shoes, reach out! I’d love to help capture some unforgettable memories while you're here.)

We planned a lighthearted, love-filled session on the beach, and everything went beautifully — laughs, sweet moments, barefoot in the sand… all the good stuff. At the very end, I had just said my goodbyes, ready to pack up and head out, when suddenly her boyfriend said, “Hang on,” and started digging into his pocket.

In that instant, I knew.

Normally, I’m part of the secret proposal team — helping boyfriends plan every detail, choosing the perfect spot, strategizing where I’ll hide, what code word to use… all of it. But this time? I had no idea. And honestly, it was kind of thrilling.

Lesson learned: never turn your camera off until you're in the car!

I quickly backed up, repositioned, and captured every emotional second as he got down on one knee and asked Gracie to marry him. It was such a raw, genuine surprise — for both her and me! Her reaction was priceless, and I’m so grateful I was able to preserve that moment forever.

These two have such a special energy together, and getting to be there for this totally unplanned proposal was one of those magical photographer moments I’ll never forget.