One woman is on one knee, holding out an engagement ring to the other. They are on the rocks by the ocean as the sun sets, creating a warm glow in the background.

A Proposal by the Beach

On the rocks by the ocean where they first met, Kelly (she/her) managed to pull off a surprise proposal with a photographer hiding nearby. To Emily’s (she/her) surprise, Kelly had also planned to have their closest friends and family on the beach nearby to celebrate.

How did you know that you wanted to propose? 

Kelly: Honestly, I always knew I would be the one to propose. I joked with Emily that if I didn’t do it first, she’d be ready six months in! 

Eighteen months into our relationship, something clicked for me, and I just knew it was the right time. We’ve got a strong and healthy relationship, and we’ve always talked about getting married. 

Plus, being 33 and 28, we’re both very aware of that biological clock – we both want to carry kids one day!

How did you plan the proposal?

Kelly: Emily is a total planner and loves knowing every single detail of what’s going on, which made it tricky! I told her we had a dinner reservation at a new restaurant and put it on her calendar two weeks in advance. 

But she’s so observant, she knew something was up. 

I accidentally slipped up when she overheard me talking to a friend about booking a photographer. Thankfully, we covered it up by saying my cousin wanted family photos. 

On the day of the proposal, she even asked outright, “Are you proposing to me?” I had to think fast and told her I wasn’t ready yet. She totally fell for it!

Two women sit side by side on rocks by the sea, with their backs to the camera. The waves crash in the background as they lean into each other, creating a peaceful scene.
The couple sits on a large rock, holding hands and gazing into each other's eyes with a backdrop of city buildings and greenery behind them. One woman wears a white shirt, and the other wears a crocheted orange top.
Standing on the rocks by the sea, one woman kisses the other's cheek as they embrace. The ocean and a distant building on the horizon add depth to the scene.
A close-up shot of the couple looking into each other's eyes, with one woman smiling broadly. Their expressions show joy as they stand near the water.
The couple sits on a rock, one woman embracing the other from behind. The background includes towering city buildings and palm trees.
A close-up of the couple's hands, with one wearing a gold engagement ring featuring an oval-cut diamond. The focus is on the ring, with hints of their casual attire visible.
The couple holds their hands up, showing the engagement ring against the backdrop of the setting sun reflecting on the ocean.
One woman is on one knee, holding out an engagement ring to the other. They are on the rocks by the ocean as the sun sets, creating a warm glow in the background.
The couple kisses as they celebrate their engagement, with the sunset over the ocean behind them. One woman holds her hand up to show the engagement ring.

Tell us about the proposal.

Kelly: I wanted it to be special, so I chose the exact spot where we met – on the rocks by the sea. I’d already hired a photographer to capture the moment from afar. 

When we got to the rocks, we cuddled for a bit, and then I reached for the ring. I said, “These are the rocks where we said hello for the first time, and now they’re where I’m going to ask you for forever. My beautiful Emily, will you be the wife of my dreams?” 

She said yes, and we had a beautiful moment together before the photographer came out of hiding.

How did you celebrate afterward? 

Kelly: After the proposal, we had a surprise celebration on the beach with our closest friends and family. Emily had no idea! When we walked up to them, everyone shouted, “Mazel tov!” It was such a joyful moment to share with the people we love most. 

We even had a drone filming the whole thing – talk about a 21st-century proposal, right?

Two women walk hand in hand through a grassy park area with scattered trees. One wears a white shirt, and the other wears an orange crocheted top and white pants.
The couple dances in front of a large, heart-shaped wooden sculpture, with one partner twirling the other under her arm.
One woman lifts the other playfully in front of the wooden heart-shaped sculpture, both laughing as they enjoy the moment.
The couple kisses on the beach with the ocean and a cloudy sky in the background. One wears white pants, and the other wears tan pants.
The couple stands on a platform overlooking the beach, with modern city buildings and people on the sand visible in the background.
Surrounded by friends and family at an outdoor celebration, the couple lifts their arms in celebration while guests cheer and take photos.
Under string lights, the couple stands close together smiling, while friends nearby capture the moment on their phones.

Photography by Matan Segal

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