Completely, totally, enthralled and obsessed with these sweeties Josh and Sarah who got engaged during a romantic Santa Monica proposal at sunset! Josh randomly found me on Yelp, and we hopped on the phone so I could hear a bit about their relationship. Immediately, I could tell these two share a special connection. Josh spoke of Sarah with such sincerity and excitement. I knew her reaction would be so joyful when he asked!

The Big Plan

At the time when Josh and Sarah got engaged, they lived in Santa Monica together close enough to take long beach walks often. When Josh and I chatted about his plans for the proposal, he told me that he wanted to catch Sarah by surprise. His way of doing this was to do what they always do together: walk. A Santa Monica proposal at sunset just made sense. He told her that for the evening, they’d walk along the beach to go grab a drink at one of their favorite bars. Eventually stroll back at dusk. On the way to their drink spot, he planned to pause and take in the view with her. Then… drop down to one knee!

The Results

Personally, this idea of transforming an ordinary moment (as ordinary as a beach walk at sunset can be- we are privileged Californians, after all!) into an unforgettable experience is incredibly thoughtful and romantic. A true celebration of what life actually looks and feels like, channeled into a night they’ll talk about for the rest of their lives. As a Los Angeles wedding and engagement photographer, I photograph couples in unique locations all over the city. I highly recommend Santa Monica or Malibu as the perfect beach locations for a sunset proposal. After your engagement, sitting and recapping the moment together on the sand is the perfect way to unwind, just like Sarah and Josh did at theirs.

The night itself: stunning in every way. Golden glowy light bouncing off the waves. A pink sunset matching the flowers on Sarah’s top. Somehow a busy crowd that parted to give these two plenty of space to celebrate their love story. But the pure, genuine joy emanating from their faces was the best part. Josh and Sarah love each other wholly. Witnessing this overwhelming happiness and documenting it…I couldn’t ask for a better job!

If you’re looking to get engaged, I’d LOVE to be a part of making this moment special by documenting your connection. Like this Santa Monica proposal at sunset? You’ll also love these San Diego engagement photos.