There’s just nothing like a Charleston Beach Proposal! Today, I’ll be sharing 5 of my best tips for pulling off a romantic surprise Proposal at one of Charleston’s gorgeous beaches. I’ve been so lucky to photograph many proposal in the Charleston area … but my favorite by far are beach proposals!

Carter and Hannah’s recent proposal inspired me to write about tips I’ve learned over the years to keep and pull off an epic surprise!

Let’s go …

Tip #1: Hire a Charleston Proposal Planner

First things first. Hiring a Proposal Planner is a genius idea! And if it’s within the budget, worth every penny! I LOVE working with Jena from Propose Charleston. Carter and Hannah JUST moved to Charleston and between starting new jobs, getting moved in, and learning their way around town … this is where a Proposal Planner can save so much time!

Jena will not only scout the perfect location for the Proposal, but she will map out exactly where the bended knee moment will best happen. This eliminates so much stress as you’re trying to finalize purchasing the engagement ring, etc.!

Tip #2: Hire a Charleston Proposal Photographer

Let me just say, your partner is going to be soo excited when they look over and see that you’ve thought ahead to hire a professional Charleston Proposal Photographer! There’s such a lovely feeling knowing that the best moment of your life has been captured on camera. And then the fact that you hired the photographer as a surprise just adds another layer of thoughtfulness.

As a Proposal Photographer, I can also brainstorm the best time of day for lighting, foot traffic, etc. that will all help in making for gorgeous photos!

Tip #2: Create a plan that explains why you’re getting dressed up for the beach.

Hear me out: This is all about pulling off a surprise! I would have raised an eyebrow if my husband had planned a walk on the beach for our proposal and encouraged me to get all dressed up. And then pressure to rush out the door … I would totally start to wonder if something’s up!

What I’ve seen work really well over the years for Charleston Proposals on the beach is to have a plan that also makes your attire make sense. For example, make a reservation for dinner at 8pm. But then say that you want to take a quick walk on the beach beforehand. The dinner plans will help guide your partner in how to dress for the proposal. Without telling them how to dress! ALSO … when coordinating with a Proposal Photographer, it’s important that you’re both synced with the timeline.

Tip #3: Look ahead at the Tide Chart. (Especially after there’s been a big storm and/or around a Full Moon!)

This isn’t a make or break detail, but it’s a win if you can plan the proposal around the Charleston Tide Chart to get incredible photos!

Here’s why: When the tide is low, you naturally have a smaller the beach. This means you have more people that are likely to not only be walking alongside you, but also in the backdrop of all your photos!

Here in Charleston our high tides are HIGH. Meaning, downtown can flood without it even raining! This one I learned the hard way! I once had a family session that was scheduled right after a huge thunderstorm. The storm had caused quite a bit of erosion from it also being a Full Moon, and so much of the beach was just GONE! On this gorgeous day, there were so many people out walking on the little beach there was to walk along. As a photographer, it just meant having to work really hard to make sure other beachcombers (and dogs!) weren’t in all the photos. This also can mean a less intimate proposal.

Tip #4: Plan the Proposal for 1.5 hours BEFORE sunset … for the best light!

Short and Sweet: Planning your Charleston Beach Proposal about an hour and a half before sunset allows for you to comfortable stroll along the beach, have the bended knee moment, and a mini engagement session … all within that ideal Golden Hour time! That will also give a buffer if you get caught by the bridge or have a hard time finding parking! As a natural light photographer, this is the best time for me to work!

Tip #5: Make a Rain Plan

A Rain Plan is something that I always discuss for a beach proposal! It’s not only about creating a Plan B, but also shifting to Plan B (or Plan C) and still maintaining the surprise! For example, if it’s just a small shower – make a plan for how you will wait it out without blowing the surprise. OR if your photographer is flexible, for the sake of the surprise, it might be better to shift to the next day. Again, if my husband had insisted us get dressed up and walk on the beach with umbrellas, I would probably think he’s lost his mind and either know he’s up to something … or worse, start an argument! (LOL!)

Creative Team:
Planning: Propose Charleston
Proposal Photographer: Jen Keys Photography
Videography: Palmetto Wedding Films
Florals: Propose Charleston