Though I am not trying to brag, David and Lily’s Colorado mountain proposal at Berthoud Pass was pulled off effortlessly by David and myself. These two were heading out to Winter park on this gorgeous winters day in Colorado where I met them in a very convincing disguise.

A Proposal at Berthoud’s Pass

When planning their David’s surprise proposal for Lily, we knew we would have to get creative. When shooting a surprise proposal on a mountain, there are very few places to hide. In order to take that dream photo everyone wants when proposing without tipping off their partner a photographer has to find other ways to blend in.

For their proposal we went the acting route instead. The plan was that I would be up in the mountains birdwatching with my camera hidden in my backpack. When passing by while walking to Winter Park, David would suggest they ask me to get a photo of the two of them with their cellphone. I of course was fully immersed myself in the act of it. So I say "oh sure I'm not much of a photographer so hopefully its good." Then I continued talking about the birds I was looking for, while I walked them to a better view point.

Then, while Lily was looking at the cell phone picture, I grabbed my camera out of my backpack. While David got down on one knee and she was SHOCKED. Lily had no idea that the proposal was coming let alone being documented by a Colorado photographer! This strategy worked out really well since there wasn’t a good place for me to hide.

Planning a Surprise Proposal in the Colorado Mountains

When it comes to proposing in the Colorado mountains, I want to be there for my couples every step of the way. From the planning, to the location scouting to the actual proposal itself, I love helping my couples to feel prepared, confident and ready to go on the day of!

When it comes to documenting the proposal, if we aren’t in a city or town where there are a lot of other people, it can be hard for a photographer to hide, in order to document the moment. This is why I always suggest a few of my favorite plans. These are some very easy and convincing ideas for an effortless proposal.

Ideas for your proposal

Plan the proposal around your anniversary! This way you can book an anniversary photo session for you to pop the question mid session! I love this option as it encourages your partner to get a little dressed up for the day. Little do they know they've gotten ready for their proposal!
Having your photographer act like a tourist - much like I did for Lily and David’s wedding proposal! Acting as if you’re just there for the sights and the views is a great simple way to get your partner close to your photographer. Act as an avid bird watcher, pretend you’re on a hike with family or a partner, and pause to take a few photos of your own before they drop to their knee.
Have your photographer join you immediately after you pop the question! A sweet trend I’ve seen an uptick on lately is couples wanting to have some time together all alone during these big milestones. If this is the case, know that you can pop the question just the two! After they say yes we can meet up to take some portraits to celebrate.

If you’re looking to plan your own Colorado mountain proposal and you’re unsure on where to start, know that there are SO many amazing options,I love helping my couples plan their proposal for their loved ones and I cannot wait for you too!