Whenever a client books me for a surprise proposal, my first question is “what is your vision?” How will this man picture himself getting down on one knee and asking the lady of his dreams to marry him? Every answer is different…some guys have every step laid out and know exactly what they want; others have a general idea but don’t know quite how to plan it. When Derek first reached out to me, he explained how he and his girlfriend, Sarah, would be flying in from Florida and spending a few days seeing everything there is to see in NYC, so he knew he wanted his proposal to be somewhere in the city. We discussed Central Park and the various photogenic bridges and even the heart of Times Square. When the conversation turned to Rockefeller Center, the wheels in my mind really started to turn; whenever you google “Rockefeller Center proposal” 95% of the images that pop up are either at the skating rink or at the Top of the Rock. I knew this would be the opportunity to give both Derek and Sarah a unique and breathtaking proposal that I personally have not yet seen. Of all the locations in the city, there is a tiny spot in particular that delivers the “wow” factor of New York; when entering Rockefeller Center from 5th Avenue, there is a span of pretty gardens and fountains. If you stand at the very end of these fountains and look up, you are overwhelmed with the towering awesomeness of 30 Rock! The symmetry, the architecture and the feeling that you are in a garden makes this location unforgettable and one-of-a-kind. I told Derek my recommendation and that was it! Because New York City is always full of activity and surprises, I wasn’t completely shocked or thrown when I arrived the day of the proposal and discovered that a humongous, wet cement slab had magically been placed right where Derek was to get down on one knee…so with some quick thinking and secretive texting, our spot was moved just a couple yards forward, with the same view! Surrounded by colorful blooms, strangers from around the world and the activity of the city, Derek got down on one knee and it was obvious that suddenly it was like they were the only two people in this big, old city!

A very special “thank you” to this awesome dude who helped me get my setting just right!

I LOVE that laugh!!

Of course we had to call mama!!

This is SUCH a New York shot…and we had to! The goal is to always make your clients appear to be the only ones in a city filled with people, but sometimes capturing the hustle and bustle around two people in love is more romantic. It’s such a reminder that love is everywhere!

…only people in the city : )

One of my faves!!