Middleton Place Proposal wrapped in Florals ... Literally!

Ben & Kateryn’s Charleston Proposal at Middleton Place

Some proposals are simple and sweet. (And that’s beyond perfect!)
And then there are proposals where someone quietly decides, “Yes, I’d like the moment I ask her to marry me to look like a garden decided to stand up and applaud.”

Ben, visiting Charleston from Houston with his girlfriend, Kateryn, went with option two.

This proposal wasn’t just “planned.” It was produced.

And for the first time, I stepped into the world of actual floral design and created a twelve-foot grounded floral arch overflowing with roses and hydrangea to frame their proposal spot under the live oaks of Middleton Place. And I had so, so much fun bringing this dream vision to life!

Sometimes more is more … and other times, more is definitely more!

Middleton Place: The Perfect Setting for a Charleston Proposal

Middleton Place is known for many things—historic gardens, sweeping river views, moss-draped oaks—but what I secretly love most is the light. The dappled light under the trees is such a dream.

There’s this late-morning glow that filters through the Spanish moss—soft, broken, golden—and on this particular day, it landed right across the florals perfectly!

It was warm, romantic, a little dramatic… a perfect sunny day!

And yes—when Ben knelt in front of the arch (and Kateryn instantly realized what was happening), the florals did exactly what they were designed to do: they framed the emotion without stealing the moment.

How a 12-Foot Grounded Floral Arch Elevated This Proposal

Designing the florals myself was a first at this scale – and a reminder that florals don’t just decorate a proposal. They can define it. Just like a wedding!

They create:

a sense of intention
a sense of “this was planned just for us”
a sense of scale that matches the significance of the moment

Grounded florals especially keep things feeling natural but elevated. Less “wedding aisle,” more “a secret garden that bloomed right where he’d ask her to marry him.”

The combination of roses, hydrangeas, eucalyptus, and lush greens felt romantic and architectural, complimenting the existing beauty of Middleton Place.

(I actually had a guest ask me if the flowers were from the Garden while I was setting up!)

Why Florals Are the Secret to an Unforgettable Proposal

Whether you’re planning a Charleston proposal or dreaming up something meaningful somewhere else, florals add a layer of thoughtfulness that your partner immediately feels. If ever there were a moment for flowers … it’s this one!

Florals can:

create a clear focal point for the moment
transform open space into a curated experience
elevate the photos with texture and depth
make the moment feel like it’s straight out of a story book

They’re not just beautiful—they communicate intentionality. And … they are incredibly practical for a Proposal ….

Proposal flowers mark the exact spot for the bended knee moment! So there’s no guessing where – or if the photographer knows where – it takes the guessing of “is this a good spot” out of the equation!

What is a Grounded Floral Arch for a Proposal?

A grounded floral arch is basically an arch without the tall structure overhead. (Here’s an example of a standing floral arch!) Instead of flowers climbing upward in a big curve, everything is arranged low to the ground, almost like two lush, garden-style floral pillars that rise from the floor and frame the couple from either side.

For a proposal setup, it creates that dreamy, intimate “grown-from-the-earth” feeling without blocking the view or feeling too formal. It’s romantic, soft, and very natural—like stepping into a little pocket of a garden. It doesn’t say “wedding ceremony” but is such a statement for Proposals!

Ben & Kateryn’s “Yes” Moment!

In the end, everything came together exactly the way Ben hoped it would:
the florals, the moss, the light, the quiet pathway, and the moment Kateryn realized what was happening.

Middleton Place will always photograph beautifully, but this proposal reminded me how much design can shape a moment, not just frame it.

It was personal, thoughtful, and unforgettable—everything a Charleston proposal should be. What an absolute honor to have been trusted to not only document, but design this perfect milestone moment for Ben and Kateryn!

Let the wedding planning begin!!!