Julien had a whole list of ways he wanted to launch his surprise proposal in Carmel Valley to Shanise, one of which included a HELICOPTER TOUR! Also on the list: staying in a treehouse at the Om Oasis Retreat in Santa Cruz, going to the boardwalk, biking along 17-Mile Drive, and visiting in the local area here to see tide pools. He really planned a blockbuster day for her with the cherry on top being the helicopter tour/landing. It was so epic! I was pumped to be their local Carmel photographer for this awesome proposal. Read on for all the smiles!

Carmel Proposal Photographer

Julien and Shanise met in college while attending Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo then relocated to the Bay Area for work. They have been together for seven years now, complete with moving in together and having a fur baby! We recreated said fur baby’s presence at their surprise proposal in Carmel Valley with a puppy plushie. The two of them are SUCH a sweet and fun couple. They chase adventures everywhere and are so smiley with each other!

Carmel Valley Surprise Proposal

This surprise proposal in Carmel Valley started with a private helicopter landing at Joullian Vineyards (same pronunciation albeit different spelling from Julien’s name!). He had this big beautiful picnic set up as the cherry on top for Shanise including her favorite pizza and lots of other surprises for her throughout the day. Nothing like pizza and a proposal, right? And isn’t the staging just the cutest? The whole thing felt so intimate and romantic for this surprise proposal in Carmel Valley. We photographed all around the property and got these dreamy shots out of it! I love all the greenery in their photos!

Dreamy Details

One of my favorite details of the day was the written letters from Shanise’s parents. Julien had written to them asking if he could marry their daughter, and they wrote back with their approval. SO dreamy! Handwritten letters never go out of style! It was so heartwarming seeing Julien gift them to Shanise and having her read them. I know I’d definitely be tearing up a TON!

Something else that I thought was really touching was that Julien had a replica of a hospital sign in sheet because when they were still dating/before they were official, he went in to visit Shanise while she was getting a surgery. Only a patient’s family or significant other could visit so he said he was her boyfriend. As of his surprise proposal in Carmel Valley, the replica now reads “fiancé”! And you guessed it! On their wedding day, it’ll read “husband”! This was such a neat detail that is so uniquely Julien and Shanise and their story. I’m so jazzed that I got to be their local Carmel photographer for this special day!

Planning a surprise proposal in Carmel Valley? Get a local photographer on your team! Contact me here. I’d love to get to know you, lend my expertise, and make the special day you’re dreaming of!