surprise proposal photographer – Kansas City Photography

Twinkle lights, chilly fall nights and another newly engaged couple! Let’s talk about Matt & Cierra…

December 5, 2022 by Kansas City Photography, posted in Photoshoots, Surprise Proposals

Matt contacted us a while back while he was plotting his surprise proposal to Cierra. She had no idea what he was planning (insert Morgan Freeman’s voice: she did, in fact, have some idea. She just didn’t know the details). Matt chose the location: Overland Park Arboretum and Botanical Gardens and was very specifc about date and time and even worked out getting their parents together back at Cierra’s parents house while the happy couple wandered through the Luminary Walk. Nothing says romance like twinkly lights and candle lit walks through the woods!

Matt and I had corresponded through text throughout the week and even on the day of, he texted me the colors of their (dark) coats so that I could find them in the (dark) woods! Well, we did our best! I texted him a picture of where I was and as casually as possible, they strolled by me and asked if I could take their picture in front of this amazing tree. OF COURSE I CAN! So using Cierra’s phone, I captured a few shots of them standing and then Matt dropped to one knee in front of a crowd of people and proposed!

He opened the ring box backwards at first but neither of them minded!

There was a large group that applauded and cheered when Cierra said yes and the rest of the night was a breeze! Cierra and Matt met 12 – that’s right – TWELVE years ago. They attended different high schools and colleges and now after all of that, they have moved back to the KC area – together – and are saving up to buy a house and travel a little and keep doing all the things they love.

Matt and Cierra love getting out and about around town, trying new things together – restaurants and activities – and sometimes, they just soak up being couch potatoes and watching their favorite shows together over and over!

Not THE tunnel of love but we certainly made it theirs!

The best thing about night photography (or really any dimly lit location) is that your subjects really have to stay still for a period of time to get some of the best shots. Thankfully, this couple was all about sticking the pose for the camera! They really committed to these shots and I had so much fun capturing them – and all of the love they share! Congratulations to these two, thank you for letting me be a part of your special moment and evening and I can’t wait to hear about all the wedding plans!!!

From Alabama To Mississippi To St. Louis – A Surprise Proposal Under The Arch!

October 30, 2022 by Kansas City Photography, posted in Photoshoots

Mack’s mom reached out to me about a month ago, asking if I could help with her son’s surprise proposal. He wasn’t from the area, and had big dreams of pulling off a surprise proposal to his now fiancée under the St. Louis Gateway Arch!

I clearly wouldn’t be writing this blog post if we didn’t knock it out of the park:

These two traveled quite the distance to make it to St. Louis! Mack and Belle are both from Alabama, but now both live in Mississippi, but even more exciting … are looking for houses in St. Louis!

As for making this Arch magic happen … we hatched a plan! Mack’s mom has a good friend who lives in St. Louis. Mack made up an elaborate fib that this friend really wanted to show them the arch! She was supposed to be meeting them there and then they were going to lunch. Well, safe to say she never showed …

I asked Mack to program me in his phone under the friend’s name, just in case Belle peeked over his shoulder to see who he was texting. The next challenge? Getting Belle in position. There was some rope blocking off this gorgeous expanse of grass right in front of the Arch. I instructed Mack to step over it. He did … and Belle wouldn’t.

After some gentle coaxing, and Mack getting a stranger to take their picture with his phone, Belle relented and stepped over the no-no ropes. Worth it! Sorry, City of St. Louis … we promise it was worth it, and we didn’t ruin any of your grass!

The couple told me they crossed many times in college, and Belle says they joke they were always destined to meet (maybe it’s not a joke, though, because it seems true!). What officially sealed the deal was when Mack moved into the apartment upstairs from Belle.

But it started for Mack a little earlier, “I’ve been planning this proposal for months now. I asked for her mom’s permission to marry her daughter back in July and have been coordinating everything else since then. I’ve wanted to marry Belle from the moment we met.”

If that isn’t the most romantic thing you’ve ever read …

From Belle: “The first time I met Mack, I was like a little kid again, excited to sit next to him and scared to talk to him. I thought Mack was so chill and funny and not to mention, attractive.”

So, one would think a romantic trip to St. Louis might have tipped her off a proposal was coming? Nope!

“I’ve been joking for several months about a proposal, but he played it off so well I had no idea. I’m seriously the hardest person to surprise and I’m still shocked!” Belle wrote to me.

Since this blog post is truly about their love story, I will let the couple have the last words.

Belle: “Mack is the man I’ve always dreamed of. He completes me. It’s crazy that we grew up in different towns and I didn’t know him for 19 years of my life. I don’t know how I ever lived without him.”

Mack: “Belle is the most kind hearted giving person I have ever met. Her attitude towards life and hard working funny personality is what makes her truly special. She is always ready for an adventure and I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life loving her.”

Congrats, you two! Hopefully we will see you at the wedding! 😉

Surprise Engagement! Dinner? Detour? A dream gondola proposal…

August 13, 2022August 13, 2022 by Kansas City Photography, posted in "How To" / Tips & Tricks!, Photoshoots, Surprise Proposals

Calvin and Zoe met a year ago and as far as Zoe knew, this was just going to be a normal fun evening at the Country Club Plaza celebrating their one year anniversary at her favorite restaurant – The Melting Pot. What was actually going to happen was a well-planned surprise detour with a dream gondola ride!

Calvin and Zoe have enjoyed this last year together exploring Kansas City, going to local festivals, laughing together (a lot) and drinking all the coffee – so when Calvin received a call on their way to dinner telling them their reservation was pushed to later in the evening. She wasn’t too disappointed, she figured they would just walk around the plaza until it was time to eat. The caller was Calvin’s best friend and this ‘delay’ was all part of the master plan. Calvin lead her down to Brush Creek and suggested walking by the water… where the gondola ride awaited.

She was blown away by the detour and was just soaking up the spontaneous fun. She had no idea what the rest of the trip would bring. The gondola ride headed west while I headed east to set up for the rest of the trip!

As they turned around and headed under the bridge, the gondolier signaled to Calvin and he reached over the edge of the boat and brought up a bottle from the side of the boat that contained a message – a handwritten love letter just for Zoe. The details of the letter remain a mystery but I can tell you from afar, there was nothing about this letter that Zoe didn’t love. When I tell you Calvin took the time to plan this…. there wasn’t a detail missed.

While the boat circled near the bridge, the couple appeared to just be enjoying the evening ride when Calvin made his move and got down on his knee, IN THE BOAT, and proposed.

Zoe said later that she had no idea any of this was going to happen and feeling surprised was a true understatement! After she said YES!, he revealed I was there to capture it all and we headed back to the dock for our photo shoot!

Congratulations to this amazing couple! Thank you so much for letting me capture this moment — I can only imagine the fun you two will have in the years to come!

A Romantic SURPRISE PROPOSAL Picnic!

October 10, 2021October 11, 2021 by Kansas City Photography, posted in Photoshoots, Surprise Proposals

A few years ago, these amazing people decided to give online dating a try because, (and we all agree), meeting people these days is just hard. Especially meeting the right people. Except not for these two. They matched, and there was no looking back!

After three and a half years of eating good food together, exploring KC, and drinking all the wine … Ty planned out the sweetest surprise proposal; he was ready to ask Emily to marry him.

He coordinated all of the details, including hiring us (months ago!) to be there to capture these moments! As the day approached, Ty followed through on every detail, including making sure Emily was picture ready without knowing that she was going on anymore than a glamorous picnic date with her lovely boyfriend.

The details came together perfectly! On October 9th, 2021, while enjoying a warm, sunny, beautiful afternoon in Loose Park, Ty got down on one knee, asked Emily to marry him … and she said “yes!”

And from the couple themselves – “We both love how well our personalities work with each other. No matter the situation, we’re both always present to provide advice, support, or dumb jokes with each other.”

We’ll be keeping an eye out for your wedding date announcement! 😉

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A Surprise Proposal at Loose Park!

December 21, 2020 by Kansas City Photography, posted in Photoshoots, Surprise Proposals

Have we mentioned we love surprise proposals yet? Oh, we have? Well, one thing is for sure, they will never, ever, ever get old! We LOVE everything about them. The secret emails, the code words, the excitement and shock when someone gets on a knee … like this Sunday at Loose Park!

Matthew reached out to us December 1, letting us know he had just moved to Kansas City a few months ago with his girlfriend, Angie, who is attending KU. He ordered had already ordered the engagement ring, and was wanting to set up a surprise proposal.

The ring finally made it in on December 19, so we were ready to set the surprise date! Matthew had originally envisioned Penn Valley Park for the proposal, but the day of we ultimately decided on Loose Park!

Once Matthew had the ring, the plan was set in motion. We even exchanged photos so we knew what each other looked like (we don’t get to see each other until surprise proposal happens usually)!

These two lovebirds first met when Matthew watched her dog over Thanksgiving three years ago. When she came back from her trip, to a well pampered pup I am sure, they continued talking!

Matthew fessed up that he’s a wild child (his words!) and said “I love how Angie accepts me for who I am and what I do. Her love is my rock and keeps me grounded!”

They can be goofy together, too, clearly!

We here at Kansas City Photography wish you ALL the best in the world! Props to planning a surprise proposal for Angie! Don’t forget, we do weddings, too! 😉

Want to plan your own surprise proposal? Send us a message!

A Surprise Rooftop Proposal in Downtown Kansas City!

August 22, 2020August 23, 2020 by Kansas City Photography, posted in Photoshoots, Surprise Proposals

Even though it was their 5-year anniversary, Willie still managed to convince Alisha she wasn’t going to be proposed to that day. All of his hard work certainly paid off, too!

Last week, Willie reached out to me about planning a surprise proposal for his girlfriend of 5 years, Alisha. In his own words to me, he said, “I know, I know…it’s about time!”

He decided on the Rooftop Garden Park in downtown Kansas City. We agreed to meet at 7:20. My second photographer, Alyssa, and I were 30 minutes early. No sooner did we get up to the roof garden did Willie walk in!

As I say with all of my surprise proposal clients, when you arrive, I will not acknowledge you. We can’t give away the surprise! I always instruct my client to walk in front of the camera and just pop down on a knee.

We couldn’t have practiced it better!

Of course, she said “yes!”

Alisha and Willie met 5 years ago in Joplin, Missouri, when Alisha was teaching English. She told me they had an instant connection, and planned their first date at a restaurant called “Instant Karma.”

She said the name of their first date restaurant seemed really fitting! She was right!

“After 2 years together in Joplin, I moved back to KC to start my new job at a new school. We did a year of long distance and then he moved up here with me.”

And now, they’re engaged!!

Alisha told me Willie is the perfect compliment to her type A personality. “He is compassionate, caring, and just the most wonderfully considerate person,” she said.

Willie told me he avoided mentioning any weddings, proposals, or rings all week. He confessed he knew exactly how to get to the rooftop park, but pretended he didn’t when he was taking Alisha to it.

He had actually scouted out the location the week before. He even went over and received her parents blessing to propose the same week!

All of us here at Kansas City Photography wish you the best! We can’t wait to see what wedding plans you both cook up. Don’t forget to keep us in mind. 😉

CONGRATULATIONS, Willie & Alisha!!

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Make sure to follow us on Facebook! Planning your own suprise proposal? Shoot us a message today and we can help!

A Romantic Surprise Proposal With The Kansas City Skyline!

February 18, 2020 by Kansas City Photography, posted in Photoshoots

Jimmy reached out to me a week ago via email seeing if I was available for … his surprise proposal to his girlfriend, Lauren! Eeeeeee!!!! If there’s one thing we love at KCP, it’s a surprise proposal!

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After readily agreeing and setting the date for Saturday, we immediately jumped into trying to figure out a location. Jimmy had at first thought about proposing at the location of their first date, Broadway Arcade, for sentimental value. However, we ultimately decided on the WWI Museum for the scenic view of the Kansas City skyline.

We set a calendar date labeled “brunch,” so Lauren wouldn’t be suspicious if she had his phone, exchanged photos of what each other looked like, and we were set! Well, at least that’s what we had thought …

Fast forward a week to the day of the surprise proposal. I arrived early to scout out the location, and noticed yellow ropes saying “do not enter” all over the property. I quickly texted Jimmy and told him what was up. I called a security guard for the WWI Musem and he told me there was too much ice on the landing, and the ground we were going to do the surprise proposal on were closed. OH NO.

Thankfully, I wouldn’t let this poor security guy off the phone just like that. I told him the big plan, and asked if he had any suggestions for me. He did, and I quickly drove there to find a new proposal spot! I filled in Jimmy, and we were set … again!

Jimmy did great. He walked right by me as instructed, pretending he didn’t know who I was. I waited for them to get several feet ahead, and then started casually following, pretending to take photos of other things until he got down on one knee …

The next thing Jimmy saw out of the corner of his eye was me sprinting into the snowy field and kneeling onto my own knees to start snapping the moment.

Lauren told me she was definitely surprised! Jimmy had a list of plans for the morning that included a trip to the WWI Museum, brunch, and grocery shopping … so she wasn’t expecting him to pop the question!

Of course, she said “YES!”

That ring? GORGEOUS.

And Jimmy set up this next moment perfectly. All day throughout Valentine’s Day just the day before, Jimmy left these little candies around with sweet love messages written on them. Before getting down on one knee, he handed Lauren this for her to read:

It says “This is where I propose.”

He let that sink in for a second, and then pulled out the ring!

As far as how this love story began, Lauren was transferred to the Kansas City area by her job. She lived in a different state before her transfer here — and only six months after her big move, met Jimmy. It was fate!

She said her first impression of him was that he was very personable and outgoing. “My favorite thing about him is how selfless he is. He will always put everyone else first, and do just about anything to make someone else happy.”

Jimmy told me that other than being blown away by her beauty, his first impression was that she had a great sense of humor, even laughing at what he calls his “terrible” jokes.

“My favorite part of Lauren is how she never lets me get down.” He said he has never met someone who loved and supported him as much as she does — and that she makes literally every situation better.

If these two lovebirds aren’t just the cutest!

“I have a higher sense of confidence in life knowing she is by my side,” Jimmy told me.

I can’t wait for you two to start planning the big day. All of here at Kansas City Photography wish you the happiest life together! Let’s chat wedding once you set a date! 😉

A Surprise Rooftop Proposal In Kansas City!

March 26, 2019March 27, 2019 by Kansas City Photography, posted in Photoshoots

We just LOVE surprise proposals. They are so romantic, and seeing the look of genuine shock and excitement as a significant other gets down on a knee … priceless!

Daniel reached out to us about two weeks ago. He had planned on doing a surprise proposal to (then) girlfriend (now fiancée), Julia. They’ve been together since August 2018 after they met on Coffee Meets Bagel.

Julia told us she’d been going through her calendar guessing which day Daniel would propose, but she had not guessed it would be Sunday!

Daniel met us at Rooftop Park (also sometimes called Green Roof Park), which is in downtown Kansas City. It’s a park that’s, you guessed it, on a rooftop!

Daniel said he knew he wouldn’t have much left to hide once he got Julia up there with him, so he dropped down to a knee almost immediately! No worries, though, our photographer, Dawn, had her trigger finger on point!

Julia said she thought he was going to propose the last five times they went out, so by our session Sunday she convinced herself it wasn’t happening! Ohhh, but it did! And she was more than happy to say “YES!”

Right after the surprise proposal, we launched right into a miniature engagement session. These two lovebirds are so incredibly sweet, and we are honored to have been there to capture this moment!

Hope to see you at the wedding! 😉

Planning a surprise proposal like Daniel? Contact us!

3 Tips On How To Pull Off A Surprise Proposal

May 9, 2018May 9, 2018 by Kansas City Photography, posted in "How To" / Tips & Tricks!

At Kansas City Photography, we love LOVE. So much so, that we’ve had several clients come to us with their surprise proposal plans. Since we’re the photo pros — we wanted to give you some tips on how to pull it off successfully!

1. Have A Plan

The first step to success is setting up “the plan.” You don’t want them to know what’s coming or that would ruin the surprise, right? Several of our clients have planned the proposal on anniversaries. This way, the two of you were already planning on going out and doing something anyway, so it doesn’t seem as suspicious.

You could plan it around a holiday or special day of the two of you. If that’s not your style, then you could always plan it around an activity the two of you do together often, so as not to raise any red flags.

Take Kyle, for example. He planned a brunch with his now-fiancee Emily. Afterward, he told her they had an appointment to go look at a house. There was conveniently enough time after brunch and before the “realty appointment” that they could go take a walk in Loose Park … where we were waiting. 😉

2. Find The Perfect Location

Picking the perfect place for the backdrop of when you officially started planning your “forever” is crucial!

But we are here to help! We know people take this one seriously because our “Top 10 Photoshoot Locations” blog gets hundreds of views a day! So, that is our gift to you, dear reader, 10 potential locations all in 1 blog post for you to peruse.

Get the time, the place, and then …

3. Contact Us!

This is definitely a moment worth capturing and remembering forever! Once you have the plan in place, reach out to us and let us know what you’re planning.

We usually exchange photos so that we know what the other person looks like and will be ready when we see each other.

We arrive at the location 15 minutes early. What we do is pretend to be taking pictures of other things. Roses in the rose garden, a fountain, etc.

When you arrive at the scene, there is always that brief moment of eye contact before we go back to pretending we aren’t supposed to be there. Once you are on one knee, we turn our cameras around and capture all of the emotions and reactions!

Hats off to Tony & Katie — who had one of the best reactions we’ve ever seen!

Keep in mind we travel! There is no distance too far for love. <3

Make sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram!

Surprise Proposal at Loose Park!

April 23, 2018 by Kansas City Photography, posted in Photoshoots

We at Kansas City Photography LOVE surprise proposals because get beautiful candid shots of the exact moment a couple starts their journey from “you and me” to “we”.

Kyle contacted us about a week before he was planning to pop the big question, with time and location already figured out! Tatiana got to bust out her ancient ninja skills and enter stealth mode as Kyle and Emily entered the scene.

Although, Kyle ended up kneeling a bit far away since Emily told him she didn’t want to get in the way of Tatiana’s shot. Much to her surprise, she was the main subject!

And as usual, as Tatiana grew closer and closer snapping away there’s that awkward conversation of “Congratulations! I’m not creepy, I promise. I’m supposing to be here doing this!”

Emily seriously had ZERO idea this was happening, and Kyle’s planning skills are on POINT- that’ll come in handy for the wedding!

“I had one of my good friends ask us to go to brunch on Sunday morning. I had mentioned that morning that I wanted to go on a walk and run some errands later that day. While leaving brunch, I had our realtor text us about a “fake” showing she wanted us to meet her at. This was perfect as it left an awkward amount of time prior to the showing from the time we left brunch. I said, “Let’s go for a walk at loose park to kill some time before the showing.” While walking around the rose garden at loose park, I got down on one knee and asked her to marry me! Everything worked out perfectly and she was totally surprised.”

That explains why Emily was so confused asking, “wait… so there’s no house showing today?”

No, girl, but you get a ring instead!

And what a ring it is!

Seriously, kudos to Kyle! He got everyone in on it, including her mom who took her to get her nails done the day before. He thought of everything!

Kyle and Emily met in Junior High and were friends throughout high school. They attended Kansas State together when they became a couple. Five years later, they are now engaged!

Emily was so shocked she almost felt betrayed by how many people knew!

“You all are a bunch of liars!” She proclaimed through the smile that just couldn’t fade away.

Kyle even arranged for their family and closest friends to meet them after the shoot to celebrate. He was pretty certain the answer would be yes!

Thank you so much to Kyle and later to Emily for letting us be a part of your incredibly special memory! Your smiles are contagious and we can’t congratulate you enough!

We would love to talk wedding photos with you soon. 😉