As a Leavenworth photographer, I love that this town has become a romantic destination for couples. With that comes being a destination for surprise proposals. In fact, Leavenworth has quickly become one of the best places to propose in Washington state year-round, but especially in the winter. Snowy mountain and river views and downtown Christmas lights make great backdrops for proposals. Most couples also make a big trip out of the occasion and stay a couple of nights after to celebrate- exploring Leavenworth shops and restaurants and and partaking in winter activities such as sleigh rides and visits to the reindeer farm. Which is exactly what Mahdi had in mind for his upcoming trip to Leavenworth with his girlfriend (now fiancée!!) Selva. He reached out to me a few months before their trip to help him plan the perfect winter proposal at Lake Wenatchee.
The Planning
Mahdi reached out to me in the fall and shared that he and his girlfriend were planning a winter trip to Seattle. They lived out of state and this would be their first time visiting the PNW together. They saw some travel videos on Leavenworth and knew they had to make a stop there as well. Mahdi also shared that he wanted to propose on this trip and wanted the big moment documented. He wanted to propose somewhere in nature and away from the crowds in downtown Leavenworth. I suggested Lake Wenatchee State Park as it fit the bill nature wise and I knew it wouldn’t be crowded in the middle of winter either. It’s also very easy to get to doesn’t require any hiking.
The Propsal
That day, I got to Lake Wenatchee early to start blending in! I like to have my cell phone out like I’m just another person enjoying the scenery. And I usually will have my cameras tucked out of sight in my backpack (with settings dialed in and ready to roll!) so it doesn’t seem suspicious. With the popularity of hiring a photographer for proposals, I never want the person being proposed to to start realizing what’s happening too early. I’ll only pull my cameras out when I know the couple is in place and the proposal is starting to happen.
Our plan was to have Mahdi ask me to take a photo of them with the mountains in the background and then after I handed his phone back, he would propose. I usually like this plan because it really takes all the guesswork out of where the person proposing needs to stand, if they’re at the right angle for the camera and if I’m in place ready to go. So many moving parts during a proposal and they find this approach really helpful and having the photos portion of the proposal be one less thing for them to worry about!
Mahdi’s plan was a success and Selva said yes! I let them have some time together to soak in the excitement. Then I got to introduce myself and share that Mahdi had actually been planning this moment for a few months! She was so surprised it was so sweet!
We took advantage of the nice day and took some portraits on the beach before Mahdi and Selva headed back to Leavenworth to celebrate. I love getting to spend a little time with couples after the proposal because this is when I get to hear more about them and their story. Up until this point I have only communicated with one of them and while I get some sense of who they are as a couple it isn’t until the day of the proposal that I get to see the whole picture. Connecting with the couples I photograph is so important to me and it really helps in telling their story authentically.
Keep scrolling to see some of my favorites photos from Mahdi and Selva’s winter proposal at Lake Wenatchee.
Thinking about proposing in Leavenworth? Check out my list of tips and advice I put together to help you plan your own magical proposal in Leavenworth Washington!
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