So, you’re planning to propose to your S/O and you’ve decided on Cape May, NJ as your location. Let’s get down to the details! I’m here to offer my best tips and share a general timeline of events.

I recently traveled to one of my favorite photo destinations to document a friend’s proposal. This was an extra special week for the couple; it marks their 10 year anniversary! They have been tossing around the idea of getting engaged soon after Brett completes schooling, so Bella knew it was coming soon. With 10 years being a huge milestone she was also suspicious of this celebratory trip to Cape May. Brett decided it was best to propose the night before their anniversary to keep her on her toes. If you plan to keep the proposal top secret, it’s important to think about these little things.

Now that you’ve booked your stay in Cape May, you’ll want to settle on a location for the proposal. The beach is going to offer you plenty of space to potentially get decorations set up along with a gorgeous photo backdrop following the proposal. Sunset Beach on the bay side is a popular spot to watch the sun set over the ocean. It’s an easy ruse too because so many others flock here for a good view. Brett settled on the beach directly across from their inn so they could walk directly over to the picnic set. If you were looking for some different location options check out:

• The Cape May Lighthouse
• Washington Street Mall
• Willow Creek Winery and Farm
• South Cape May Meadows
• Historic Cold Spring Village
• Cape May County Park and Zoo

Let’s talk about decorations! You may decide to opt out of the big display and that’s totally okay. I’m all for a simple proposal. (Plus, it’s a little easier to hide!) If you’re planning to go all out with either a picnic set or a rose petal walkway, I have a few tips to make things more photogenic.

I recommend keeping your props to a minimum. This way the ones you do choose stand out more. A sign is always a cute idea and really adds a personal touch. When choosing a sign, make sure your sign and letters have a good contrast. This helps the words pick up better on camera. Find my favorite letterboard at Target!

When choosing your props, it’s good to keep a color scheme going to ensure everything matches. Think about the colors in your scenery and start there. Keep in mind, we’ll want this color scheme to coordinate with whatever outfits you choose to wear. Try your best to hint at the dress code to your S/O for a seamless look. A few more items you can include in your display are…

• A picnic blanket
• Flowers
• Champagne + glasses
• Throw pillows
• A snack board or cake

We have our location and decorations set, what’s next? Let’s talk about the timeline of events. You might plan to propose and then dive into an engagement photo session. You could also plan a photo session for you and your S/O and pop the question in the middle of the shoot.

The best time of day for those dreamy and glowing photos is golden hour. This is the hour right before sunset where the sun sits low in the sky. For this June session in New Jersey, the sun was said to set at 8:30pm. Because of this, we decided to begin the proposal at 7:30pm for the best possible lighting. (Note: If you’re proposing in a very shaded area you may have to begin a little earlier to conserve sunlight.)

If you’re planning to propose in Cape May, NJ or beyond, I would love to capture it for you! I’m based in Berks County, PA, but I love to travel. My focus when photographing your proposal is on capturing the emotions as they unfold. I want you to have this moment for yourselves while I simply observe. Leading into your photo session, my goal is always to make you feel confident and comfortable in front of the camera while creating photos that feel true to your relationship. I’ll guide you through each pose step by step and allow your personality to shine through. I think we make a good match — let’s get in touch!