What Happens on the Day of a Guided Proposal: From Hello to Polaroids
If you've been thinking about a guided proposal, the most natural question is what the day itself will actually look like. Who turns up, when, and how does it all work without ruining the surprise?
Here's the whole thing in order, from the first message to the last Polaroid, so you can picture it before you commit to anything.
Before the Day: The Love Letter
It begins with a conversation. You get in touch through the contact page, by email or on Instagram, and I get to know you both: how you met, what you love about your partner and what you'd like to say but might struggle to say on the day. From that, I write a love letter in your words. It's short, sweet and personal, and you can review it and change it until it sounds completely like you.
We also talk about where you'd like to propose and when. The location and time are your choice. If you'd like inspiration, my post on where to propose in Snowdonia is a place to start.
Arriving
On the morning, afternoon or evening of your proposal, I show up at the place and time we've agreed. I come with your love letter in my hand and my camera resting at my waist, ready for the moment you've planned.
The Introduction
I introduce myself to your partner and let them know that we've been secretly working together to craft your love letter. This is the moment when the surprise really begins. You're standing there, nervous and smiling, and I'm about to say what you've asked me to say.
The Letter
I read your love letter aloud. It's short and sweet, made of your words and delivered calmly, so there are no trip-ups and no nerves getting in the way.
I deliberately don't photograph this part. The reading stays locked away, and can only be accessed through your memory. Your partner hears it, and you stand there and listen, and nobody is trying to hold a camera up to it.
Why the Letter Isn't Photographed
Not everything needs to be photographed. The reading is the one part of the proposal I choose to leave out of the pictures, because those words are meant for your partner alone. Keeping the camera down means nothing comes between you and them, and the moment lives in memory, which is where it's meant to be.
The Question
When the letter has been read, I put it away and my camera comes up for everything that follows. The "down on one knee" moment, the question, the "yes" and every emotional reaction after it are captured as they happen. You don't need to pose or make anything happen for the camera. You just have to ask.
The Polaroids
Straight afterwards, I hand you Polaroids that develop in your hands. You'll both see the moment appear in front of you, and then they're tucked into your love letter so that you can take it home. It's a keepsake that lets you remember the moment and feel it too.
If You're Nervous About the Camera
Plenty of people feel awkward being photographed, especially at a moment like this. The good news is that you aren't asked to pose. My style is candid, so I'll capture what's happening while you concentrate on each other, and I've written more about how candid, documentary-style photography works for couples who hate posing.
Who a Guided Proposal Is For
It's for anyone who knows exactly how they feel but worries about getting the words out: the nerves, the pressure and the fear of the sentence coming out wrong. If you'd rather your words arrived exactly as you meant them, a guided proposal takes that weight off you, so you can concentrate on the moment itself.
What Happens Next
Your photographs are ready within 4 weeks and uploaded to your Love Story Album as its first chapter. Your proposal also includes one year's complimentary membership of the Love Story Registry, and 10% off an elopement with Elope with Leon whenever you're ready to continue your story. If you'd like more photographs together in the weeks that follow, my engagement shoots are a relaxed next step.
What It Costs
A guided proposal ceremony is £695 and includes personal guidance and support, your bespoke love letter, photography, Polaroid keepsakes, your Love Story Album and the registry membership. You can see everything that's included on my services page and the guided proposal page.
A Few Practical Notes
If you'd like to keep it quiet, there's more in my guide to keeping a proposal secret.
If you're wondering whether to speak to their family first, I've written about asking family before you propose.
Outdoor proposals depend on the weather, so we'll always have a plan B.
If time is short, here's how a short-notice sunset proposal on Anglesey came together.
Your part in all of this is smaller than you think: turn up, listen to your own words being read and ask the question. I'll take care of the rest.