A Westminster, Colorado proposal photographer who really cannot keep a secret — and somehow pulled it off anyway.
Let me tell you a little secret—I'm HORRIBLE at keeping secrets.
Like, really bad. I once planned a surprise 30th birthday party for Aaron, and the entire time I was planning it, I felt so awkward and scared it was going to slip out. I basically avoided him for weeks because I couldn't trust myself.
So when Emilio asked me to help plan a surprise proposal for Hannah, my first response was absolutely, yes, I'm in! But my second response? Pure fear. Fear that I was going to ruin the surprise. As a Westminster, Colorado proposal photographer, I've learned that the best sessions come with a little fear and a whole lot of trust.
Finding the Perfect Location
Emilio didn't want to wait long to ask her to marry him. He was ready to take that next step. So we quickly got to planning.
But that's where things got a little tricky.
Fall came and went and took all the beautiful leaves and colors with it. We were left with brown and bare trees. Not exactly the romantic backdrop we were hoping for.
Emilio had one important detail I had to make sure I could deliver on. He wanted me to be hidden when he popped the question so they could have their moment together, just the two of them. Then afterward, I could come out and take more photos.
Which sounds simple enough, right?
Except now we had to find a location where I could completely disappear. And if you know me at all, you know stealth is NOT my strong suit.
The Lightbulb Moment
Back to the drawing board to find the perfect location. But then I remembered this cute Christmas tree lot in Westminster, Colorado — and as a proposal photographer, I knew right away it was perfect. Aaron used to work there when we were first married, and we always loved sitting outside watching people buy their Christmas trees. The environment was so romantic — the twinkling lights, families laughing, the excitement of the season. That would be the perfect spot!
I could blend in with all the other people walking around looking at trees, and there's no way Hannah would suspect anything.
A week before the proposal, I met up with the family that runs the tree lot to scope things out. I let them in on the plan, and they were so kind — they said I could hide in the trailer when the day came. That way, if my disguise failed and Hannah spotted me right away, it wouldn't ruin the surprise.
Getting Into Character
So the plan was set, and now it was time for me to figure out a disguise so she wouldn't recognize me.
I was at home digging through the back of my closet, trying to find clothes I don't usually wear. At first, I felt a little silly. But then I thought about how much I loved that Emilio wanted this moment to feel so intimate and special. This was about giving them that private moment together. I threw on the outfit, grabbed a mask, and took a deep breath looked in the mirrow and said " you got this"
The Big Day
I got there early on the day of and hid myself in the trailer. The moment they arrived, my heart was pounding. Though honestly, I'm sure Emilio's was worse.
After a few minutes, I came out and started moving around the lot, trying to blend in. Spoiler alert: I was not smooth. I made awkward eye contact with some random guy and definitely freaked him out. But I couldn't worry about that—I had a proposal to photograph.
Emilio and I had agreed on 4:11 for the big moment, so he had to stall. Those 11 minutes dragged on forever. I watched him keep checking his watch, getting more and more nervous. When they knocked over a tree and started laughing, I almost broke cover to help them. They were scrambling to pick it back up, both cracking up, and it was honestly adorable. But I stayed back, camera ready, waiting for 4:11.
The Moment
At 4:11, Emilio got down on one knee.
Hannah froze, hands flying to her face as the tears started. I stayed back to give them space, so I couldn't hear what they were saying. But I saw her nodding. They were both crying, and she bent down and hugged him so tight. He put the ring on her finger, and the tears started falling all over again.
I watched them hold each other tight, and I was a mess trying to take photos through my own tears, hands shaking.
Then she spotted me. We all had tears streaming down our faces and just started laughing. I hugged them both, and Hannah was so shocked, asking, "Who knew? How did you plan this?" She asked Emilio, "Is that why you were getting nervous when I was walking in the spare bedroom? You didn't want me to find the ring!"
Everything Turned Out Perfect
Looking back, I was so relieved I didn't ruin the surprise. Being able to capture this moment for them meant everything to me. Hannah deserves to be loved and cherished like this, and watching Emilio show her just how much he loves her was incredible.
Despite all the challenges—the planning, the brown trees, trying to stay hidden—everything turned out exactly as it should have. It was perfect. Not because of any of the details we stressed over, but because two people who love each other decided to start their forever together.
Congratulations, Hannah and Emilio. Thank you for trusting me with this moment. I'll never forget it. ❤️
If you're looking for a Westminster, Colorado proposal photographer who will put on a disguise, hide in a trailer, and cry through the whole thing — I'm your person
