Big Sur has long been a perfect location for romance - with its towering redwood forests and rugged coastline, it's no wonder that so many couples choose to propose here! Its remote location and otherworldliness makes it an ideal location for proposals, especially now that Highway 1 has reopened in 2026. If you're thinking of getting engaged in Big Sur, check out the guide below for tips on how to choose a location for your proposal and important things to consider when travelling to this area!

D reached out to me as he started planning his proposal, and knew he wanted an intimate spot away from the crowds to ask the love of his life to marry him. I had the perfect spot in mind, so we planned to meet up in the same spot so that I could photograph his surprise proposal! It was such a sweet moment, and we got to chase the sunset on the beach after. You wouldn't even know how cold and windy it was with how gorgeous the view was! Check out the rest of their proposal below.

If you're looking to propose on the California coast, you definitely can't go wrong with Big Sur! A surprised P with a proposal on the coast, then we continued to beach for sunset portraits. Check out the rest of their proposal and engagement session below!

Who says unpredictable weather is a bad thing? Just as we drove down the coast for these two's engagement session, a thick layer of fog settled over the coast. We couldn't see a thing - the coastline was entirely covered in a blanket of white. But then we drove around the corner, and the coast revealed itself in the most incredible way. We couldn't believe the incredible mix of sun and fog that covered the cliffs. Check out the rest of M + O's Big Sur engagement session below!

J + A were travelling all the way from Australia to visit the West Coast - a place they had always dreamed of visiting. As big outdoor lovers, they set their sights on all the major parks, from the moody forests of the Pacific Northwest to the grand mountains of Yosemite to the diverse coastline of Big Sur. Since they were staying at Alila Ventana Big Sur (one of my favorite properties in the area!), he knew that this part of the trip was the perfect place for a surprise proposal. I walked him through the perfect timing for that dreamy sunlight through the trees, and it turned out exactly how he had always imagined! Though we originally planned to stay on the property for more photos, I mentioned that on the drive down, I noticed an incredible fog layer over the coastline that would be so amazing for them to see. Since they didn't get to see any of it on the drive down due to the fog, we decided to make a last minute change of plans to drive up to Bixby Bridge - and it certainly didn't disappoint! Check out the rest of their proposal below.

Since these two were considering eloping in Big Sur, they figured why not take their engagement photos at the same time while they were scouting out the area! These two flew across the country to capture their engagement photos in the redwoods and coast of Big Sur. Check out the rest of their high fashion engagement session below!

These two had a photo of Hurricane Point in Big Sur hanging in their home for years. So when A reached out wanting to plan a surprise trip and Big Sur proposal for his partner, I said “We got this.” 5 days later, he popped the question overlooking the cliffs of the California coast. Seeing K tear up as he read a love letter to her was absolutely worth the last minute planning. Check out the rest of their Big Sur proposal below!

N surprised S with a beautiful floral set up overlooking the ocean for his Big Sur proposal! After the proposal, he had a second surprise for her. He had secretly planned for their families to come out to celebrate with them - they had actually been sitting upstairs on the restaurant balcony the entire time! After popping some champagne with them, we continued to the coast for some engagement photos with just the two of them. It was the perfect way for them to both share a private proposal and include their families in their big day. Check out the rest of their Hyatt Carmel Highlands proposal below!

Though they had always talked about coming out to the California coast, she had no clue that this entire trip was planned so that he could surprise her with the proposal! Check out the rest of their  emotional, heartfelt proposal below!

​W + S didn’t get a chance to take their wedding photos when they eloped three years ago, so they decided to celebrate their anniversary by taking their wedding photos in Big Sur. Goes to show that it’s never too late to get dressed up again!