An Art Gallery Beach Proposal in Rockaway Beach
Olivia (she/her) and Kanon (she/her) didn’t just get engaged. They built a moment that reflected every year of their love.
What started with a missed message on Hinge turned into ten dates in two weeks, a pandemic spent writing letters across state lines, and a relationship that kept choosing itself, even when the world felt uncertain.
So when it came time to propose, Olivia created something just as intentional: a beachside gallery in Rockaway, where six years of memories were laid out frame by frame. With the ocean as their backdrop and their story unfolding in real time, the moment wasn’t just about asking the question. It was about honoring everything that brought them there.
How Kanon and Liv Met
Liv: We first matched on Hinge in 2019. I was not a great messenger and accidentally ignored Kanon’s messages for a few weeks, but once we set up to meet in person, the rest was history.
Our first date was on Halloween night, and Kanon wore a pink cowboy shirt with bedazzled fringe. Given the holiday, I asked, “Is that your costume? Are you a cowboy?” only for Kanon to reply, “Oh no, this is just my regular clothes!” I was enamored.
Less than two weeks later, we were on date number 10, and our love story was unstoppable. But in March 2020, the pandemic hit, and we had to separate, just a month after saying “I love you.”
Separated between California and North Carolina to quarantine with our families, we wrote letters, sent cards, and mailed flowers in long-distance love as the world seemed to fall apart. We flew across the country in PPE and met each other’s families – far sooner than any queer couple might be comfortable with – but anyone who saw us together came to know: we were meant to be.
Tell us more about your unique, art-inspired proposal.
Olivia: When Kanon had to travel away for a week, I got to work making my proposal plan happen! I had saved all of our letters and notes from the past six years of our love and made six framed collages – one for each year – planning to propose with our own personal art gallery on the beach in Rockaway.
When our sixth anniversary came around, I surprised Kanon with a packing list and an itinerary for a weekend away at the Rockaway Beach Hotel. After a special night out, brunch, and a spa day, I told her I was going down to the beach to “check the weather.”
I was really meeting my sister and our engagement photographer, Elvira Kalviste, to set up the art gallery with flowers and champagne for the perfect surprise.
I picked her up, and we walked down to the beach together. I pointed at the framed collages and said, “Must be some kind of art gallery – should we check it out?” Unbeknownst to Kanon, this was an exhibition of our love. We walked down the frames as I told our story, Elvira snapped photos, and my sister held a JBL speaker blasting the playlist I had made for this moment.
At the last frame, I ran to grab my purse (because I was wearing a skirt with no pockets! The patriarchy!), came back with the ring, and recited my proposal. Even though I was recovering from a back and nerve injury, I kneeled, having practiced achieving a perfect 90-degree bend in physical therapy! And then, she said YES.
What did it feel like, right in that moment?
Kanon: Pure excitement and happiness. Bliss!
Olivia: Same! I was nervous all day, but once we got down to the beach, I’ve never felt more in the moment, more excited and blissful. It felt like the beach belonged to us. A dream come true.
Tell us more about your experience finding engagement rings.
The year before, at Christmas time, we decided we were ready to start shopping and planning our future together. We shopped around New York City first to learn what we wanted, but we quickly realized it would be challenging to shop for two engagement rings together as a couple.
Many people dismissed us as two friends shopping for ‘imaginary proposals’ to men. Other places proudly boasted that they ‘had sold a ring to a lesbian couple before.’ Other places assumed we would want the same exact ring for some reason!
We decided to seek out rings one at a time so each of us would feel special. Kanon found the perfect ring from a designer called Kimai, who just happened to have a New York pop-up where she could try on the exact ring style.
Olivia never found a ‘perfect ring’ until she came across a designer called Rendrag Jewelry, who hand-carved rings with unique patterned details and signet-style bands. We designed the ring together with Rendrag.
How has it been navigating stereotypical expectations for women getting engaged?
Life has its regular challenges, but the only real challenge we’ve encountered as two feminine-presenting women is navigating stereotypical expectations for women who are engaged.
Since Olivia proposed to Kanon, we are officially an engaged couple. However, only Kanon currently has her engagement ring, which has caused a surprising amount of confusion! People often ask if we are “half engaged” or look expectantly at Olivia’s hand for a ring. While Kanon also plans to propose with a special moment for Olivia, the experience has shed light on the lingering expectation that women who are engaged must always wear a visible ring to signal their engagement right away.
Olivia has learned to say “I proposed” instead of “I got engaged,” which helps ease the process, and we try to take the time when we can to explain that we will both have special moments to surprise each other.
Ultimately, it’s double the rings, double the proposal, double the fun!
Why did you decided to have the proposal captured by a photographer?
Olivia: We knew we wanted to have our photos taken to capture the moment! Knowing that a talented artist would be there, capturing everything as it happened, helped me be present.
I wanted to work with someone who focused on a more documentary style, someone who could really capture the essence of our love just as it is. I found Elvira Kalviste by searching for documentary-style photographers in the Rockaway Beach area, and I came across her blog post about another couple’s Rockaway Beach engagement shoot.
Elvira’s skill set was perfect for the day, and we’re so happy with how the photos turned out! She really empowered us to be ourselves and be with each other, and the pictures are awesome.
Captured by Elvira Kalviste
Rings Kimai & Rendrag Jewelry
