From Surprise to Snapshot: How It Works

When you book your proposal with us, we help plan every detail—including how to naturally flow into a post-proposal portrait session. Once the ring is on and the happy tears have been shed, we’ll gently guide you into a few relaxed, candid photos to preserve that just-engaged glow. Think of it as an impromptu celebration where the champagne is your smiles and the confetti is the Maui sunset.

How to Prep for a mini engagement session

1. Dress with Confidence: Choose an outfit that looks great on camera and makes you feel amazing. Neutral tones, soft fabrics, and beachy textures always photograph well. We can even help with outfit inspiration before the big day!
2. Let Us In On the Secret: The more we know ahead of time, the more we can help. Share any special details you’ve planned (like a special ring box, a gift, or family surprise) so we can guide the session seamlessly.
3. Trust the Process: After “YES,” you’ll be in the moment—and we’ll take care of the rest. Our photographers are pros at giving just enough direction so your photos feel natural and true to you.

Capture the Just-Engaged Joy

Your proposal is just the beginning. A mini engagement session right after the moment adds so much depth and emotion to your story—and creates images you’ll treasure forever. Ready to plan your stress-free, beautifully documented Maui proposal?

Let Engaged on Maui help you plan the moment—and the magic that follows.

Want to see some proposals for inspiration? Check out this Maui Picnic Proposal or this Oceanfront Helicopter Proposal!

The post Turning Your Proposal into a Mini Engagement Session appeared first on Engaged on Maui | Maui Proposal Photographer.

Planning a proposal is exciting — but let’s be real, it can also be a little overwhelming, especially when it’s a destination like Maui. Between figuring out the timing, picking the perfect location, and making sure your partner doesn’t suspect a thing, there’s a lot to juggle. That’s where Engaged on Maui comes in. We specialize in crafting unforgettable proposal experiences so you don’t have to stress. Here’s your go-to guide on how to pull off the perfect Maui proposal — seamlessly and stress-free.

1. Timing is Everything

One of the first things to consider is when to propose. Sunset is a classic for a reason — golden light, dreamy skies, and a romantic vibe. But early mornings can be just as magical and more private. We’ll help you pick the best time based on lighting, crowds, and your schedule. Want to keep it a total surprise? We’ve got tricks for that too.

2. Let the Pros Handle the Logistics

Planning a proposal from afar can be tricky, especially if you’re not familiar with the island. That’s why we take care of all the behind-the-scenes details — permits, weather monitoring, set-up, and more. Whether it’s a beach picnic, a helicopter ride, or a mountaintop moment, we handle the logistics so all you have to do is show up and pop the question.

3. Always Have a Backup Plan

Maui weather is usually a dream, but we’re always prepared just in case. We’ll build in flexibility and have an alternate location or timing lined up. That way, your proposal stays stress-free no matter what the skies decide to do.

4. Choose the Right Vendors

Florals, photography, hair and makeup, even musicians — we’ve built strong relationships with Maui’s best vendors so your proposal feels personal and polished. We’ll match you with a team that fits your vision and vibe.

5. Don’t Go It Alone

The best way to avoid proposal stress? Don’t try to DIY it. We’re here to help you make it beautiful, meaningful, and easy. Whether you need full-service planning or just a little help pulling off the surprise, Engaged on Maui is your behind-the-scenes support.

Planning the perfect Maui proposal doesn’t have to be stressful — it can actually be fun. Let us help you dream big, stay relaxed, and create one of the most unforgettable moments of your life. Ready to propose in paradise? Get in touch here!

Check out a few perfect maui proposals

Haiku Mill Proposal and a Romantic Maui Proposal

The post How to Plan the Perfect Maui Proposal Without the Stress appeared first on Engaged on Maui | Maui Proposal Photographer.

What You Can Do

Small-Scale Proposal Setups: Engaged on Maui specializes in creating magical moments, like intimate proposals on the beach. Small setups, placing an item on the beach or some flowers, are generally allowed with the right permits. Keep the footprint minimal and temporary to blend in with the natural beauty of the surroundings.

• Example: Setting up a heart of petals on the sand is fine as long as it’s easy to clean up and doesn’t interfere with the public’s use of the beach.

Beach Photography: Capturing the moment when someone says “yes” is what Engaged on Maui does best. As we always follow DLNR rules and regulations, your photographer will have a permit!

We always make sure to leave the beach exactly as we found it—pristine and untouched. If you have a larger setup like the one below, we will have someone on site to clean up afterward. If you have a smaller set up, like an orchid flower circle, your photographer and you will clean up (and use for more photos!)

Small Gatherings: Planning a small engagement party on the beach? With the right permits, you can set up a low-key celebration. And what we mean by lowkey celebration is that you can have up to 30 people on the beach as is covered by our permit

What You Can’t Do

Large-Scale Events: If you’re thinking about hosting a big event, like a HUGE post-proposal party with dozens of guests, elaborate decorations, or multiple vendors, this falls into the large-scale category. Permits are impossible to get for these sorts of events.

Permanent or Semi-Permanent Structures: Any plans to install structures like an arch or a large canopy on the beach? These are not allowed for commercial activity. Hawaii’s beaches are meant to remain natural and accessible to all, so keep things light and temporary. This also includes beach picnic setups with teepees and large umbrellas.

Table and chairs for beach dinners: Beach dinners are prohibited in Hawaii. All sand is state land, and these are not approved by DLNR. For private dinners we suggest Hotel Wailea or The Four Seasons Wailea.

Respect the Environment and Community

Engaged on Maui prides itself on creating beautiful, memorable experiences while respecting Hawaii’s natural beauty. Always follow the DLNR guidelines, pick up after your setups, and ensure that your presence doesn’t negatively impact the beach or its visitors.

Final Thoughts

Bringing Engaged on Maui to the beaches of Hawaii is a fantastic way to create unforgettable moments. By adhering to DLNR regulations, you ensure that your activities are both legal and respectful of the environment. Always check with the DLNR before planning any beach setup to avoid fines and keep those beautiful beaches as breathtaking as ever for everyone to enjoy.

The post Maui Beach Proposals – What you can and cannot do appeared first on Engaged on Maui | Maui Proposal Photographer.

On August 8, 2023, wildfires on Maui caused death and destruction in what is being called the worst natural disaster in state history and the deadliest U.S. wildfire in over a century.

Prior to the wildfires, the National Weather Service said to expect strong winds and high fire danger in Hawaii due to Hurricane Dora, a Category 4 hurricane passing hundreds of miles south of the islands.

However, we never in a million years thought this would happen.

Multiple fires blazed throughout Maui. Dry vegetation caused by a drought-filled year and gusts of up to 80 mph spurred the flames to spread frighteningly fast.

The Olinda fire burned an estimated 1,081 acres. The nearby Kula fire burned an estimated 202 acres. Nineteen homes in the upcountry area were destroyed with many more currently unlivable due to smoke damage.

The Pulehu-Kihei fire burned an estimated 3,200 acres of dry brush.

The historic town of Lahaina was hit the worst. Ninety-seven lives were claimed by the Lahaina fire – a drop from the previously reported death toll of 115 – and 31 people are still unaccounted for.

The Lahaina fire burned an estimated 2,170 acres and destroyed or damaged over 2,200 buildings, 86% of which were residential. The estimated $5.5 billion in damage is projected to take years to restore.

Thousands of survivors have been displaced. Many of them didn’t have time to save anything in their homes, so they left with only the clothes on their backs.

When clients first reached out to us following the fires to ask how we were doing, it was hard to put into words. Although a couple members of our team have either lost loved ones or homes in the fire, we are all feeling the loss.

You see, Maui is such a special place, and one of the things that makes it so special is that we are a community. It’s not just about yourself and your immediate family. Everyone here knows someone who has been affected.

In the first few days and weeks after the fires, it was amazing to witness the community rally together to support those in need. Now that the adrenaline has worn off and the mounting reality is sinking in, we are starting to grasp how much work there is left to do. Maui will need help long after the non-profits and reporters leave. Right now, we have to put away our pride and humbly ask for all the help we can get for the people of Maui.

What You Can Do to Help Maui

Donate

The best way to help those who have lost everything is to donate directly to them.

Most of the folks who have been affected have some of their immediate needs met, but they still need to find permanent housing and rebuild their lives from scratch. A lot of the people whose homes burned down barely escaped with their lives. They lost their pets, their worldly possessions, their places of work all in the blink of an eye. They are traumatized and grieving – several having lost loved ones too – and have bills piling up.

Giving to charity is great. However, it can take time for funds to reach those who need it, and we don’t know how much of the donations will actually be given to fire victims.

FEMA and the Red Cross are here, but we haven’t heard of many victims receiving money yet. Even if they have received assistance, the amount isn’t nearly enough to fulfill all of their needs, especially in a state known to be the most expensive when it comes to housing, with rates that are 2.7 times higher than the national average.

Survivors are having to resort to their own fundraising efforts, using Venmo and GoFundMe to try to avoid becoming homeless.

Instead of giving to a big organization, here are two ways you can give directly to people in need.

@lahaina_ohana_venmo on Instagram is a collection of many of the families who have been displaced by the fire in Lahaina, while @kula_ohana_venmo shows Kula residents who have lost their homes. Each post on the account shows a picture of who you would be donating to with a little about them and their Venmo to send to. Venmo is free to use and ensures the recipient you are giving to will receive all the money you are giving within just a couple days.

If you would rather purchase from a wishlist instead of sending money, Adopt A Family MAUI on Facebook helps people create and post Amazon wishlists with exactly what they need.

Once you join the Adopt A Family MAUI group, you can peruse the posted wishlists and purchase items to fulfill specific needs. Since they are wishlists, items will disappear as they have been purchased, so you don’t have to worry about people receiving too much of the same thing.

Some wishlists don’t get as much attention as others. Scrolling down to check out different lists is definitely helpful.

If the wishlist has been set up correctly, once you get to the mailing section, the recipient’s mailing address should populate for you to select. If you do not see it as one of the options (if you only see addresses that you have send to before), all you have to do is comment on the Facebook post that you don’t see the shipping address as an option. One of the admins will help fix it and should let you know when it’s fixed.

All of people requesting help through Lahaina Ohana Venmo, Kula Ohana Venmo, and Adopt A Family MAUI have been vetted to prevent scammers.

If you want to donate but are overwhelmed with all of the options, please reach out. We would be happy to send you a list of friends and loved ones we know personally.

Visit Maui

Contrary to what you may have seen on the news, Maui is not closed. We need people to visit Maui. The reality is our island is still heavily dependent on tourism. It is an industry that contributes 80% of the county’s wealth and employs residents. Hundreds of small local businesses (including Engaged on Maui) rely on travelers visiting our beautiful island.

West Maui is in recovery, but the rest of the island is open. South Maui, upcountry, the north shore, and Hana are all welcoming visitors. We have fun activities to do, amazing sites to see, and delicious food to eat.

Right now, our tourism numbers are slashed in half. Airlines are cutting flights due to decreased demand. We experienced this during Covid, and it was scary. Many businesses and restaurants were forced to shut down.

This time, businesses wisata who were not directly impacted by the fire but are still suffering due to the lack of visitors, are not receiving any government assistance. So far, our options are to possibly take out a loan or figure it out… so here we are appealing to whoever will read this.

Please consider Maui for your next vacation. We are NOT closed. We need you here.

Support local Maui businesses

If visiting Maui isn’t in the cards for you anytime soon, you can still support Maui businesses from afar.

Many Maui companies have online stores and will ship to you. Keep Maui businesses in mind whenever you are looking for gifts or a treat for yourself. Check out @mauismallbusiness on Instagram to get ideas.

If you are one of our clients, you can help support Engaged on Maui by going back through your gallery and ordering prints, wall art, or an album as a tangible keepsake to display for years to come.

Share the news about how to support Maui

We understand that not everyone can help financially, but sharing this post and talking about Maui within your social circles is super helpful.

It’s tempting to say, “well I don’t have a big social media reach,” but you certainly know people we don’t know. You have friends who live outside of Hawaii who may be able to help.

Many of us here are immersed in how our friends and family are suffering and what we can do to help. We will be in this for the long haul. Rebuilding Lahaina, helping those whose lives were destroyed by the fires – it will be a marathon, not a sprint.

We could really use you – yes, YOU! – to keep sharing about how to help Maui.

You can stay informed by checking out MauiNOW and Maui Fire, Flood and Disaster relief group on Facebook.

If you have specific questions about what is happening on Maui and how to help, our inbox is always open!

Mahalo nui loa

The post Maui Wildfire Relief – 4 Ways to Help Maui appeared first on Engaged on Maui | Maui Proposal Photographer.

However, there are some tasks you can do on your own to prepare. Here are all the things you should do before you pop the question.

Make sure you and your love are on the same page

Before you think about asking, “Will you marry me?” you should be confident the answer will be, “YES!!!”

Marriage should be something you have discussed as a shared plan for your future together. Most importantly, you should make sure that the timing is right. If your sweetie has talked about life or career goals they want to accomplish before getting engaged, honor their goals and don’t jump the gun to get down on one knee just because you are coming to Maui.

Save up and get the engagement ring

We can’t tell you how many times engagement rings have been delayed. Please don’t be one of those people who wait until the last minute to order an engagement ring. When you start saving up for a ring, research how long it will take for the ring to be ready before you start planning your proposal. Then take the estimated arrival date and add a few weeks. You should have extra time in between when the engagement ring will be ready and your proposal date. It’s better to have the ring in hiding than to risk it not arriving in time for your proposal.

You are responsible for getting the ring on time. We can’t refund you if the ring isn’t going to make it and you don’t want to propose without a ring.

Talk to the people who matter

Asking for permission to marry, especially when phrased that way, can sound old fashioned. However, if your sweetie is close to their parents (or people who raised them), talking to those family members to get their blessing before you propose can be very meaningful. It’s a great way to show respect and grow your relationship with your future in-laws and is sure to gain you bonus points with your new fiancé.

If you tell loved ones when you are planning to propose, make sure they wait to hear from the two of you before they send texts of congratulations or champagne to your room. You don’t want them to spoil the surprise if they forget about the time difference or in rare cases where we have to reschedule due to weather.

If family members are going to be at the proposal, please let us know in advance as that may affect location options and what we do before or after the proposal.

Set yourself up for success

This tip comes in extra handy if your sweetie is normally the planner in your relationship. If you know you want to propose in Maui, use going on vacation as an excuse to take the lead on planning and make your proposal part of your vacation itinerary.

You can say you were looking at fun things to do and want to pick a day (or a couple days) during your vacation where you get to choose what to do. Your partner can pick a different day to be in charge, and other days you can plan together. That way, you can plan your day strategically to make sure you are in the right place at the right time to pop the question.

Alternatively, you can start planning more dates and surprises before you go on vacation, so you taking the lead on planning something doesn’t seem so out of character and arise suspicion.

It’s all in the details

If you aren’t able to pick a vacation day to plan, you still have to figure out how to get to the proposal spot at the right time.

Look at GPS to estimate how long it will take you to get there, so you know when you have to leave. Be aware that we don’t want you to arrive too early because you can’t beat the photographer there or show up before they are ready.

Come up with a cover story if you need to. Usually the best cover stories are simple, especially if you’re a bad liar. It can be something like, “I saw that this beach is known for turtles, and I wanted to check it out on the way to dinner.”

Pro tip: It’s okay to fib about your dinner time and restaurant if it puts you in a better position for your proposal location to seemingly be convenient and “on the way” to your dinner plans. Planning your proposal is the only time it’s okay to lie to your partner. When you’re celebrating your engagement, you can reveal all the lies you had to tell to cover your tracks.

If you are sending us a special item to place at the proposal location or want a message in a bottle, make sure you get the item shipped to us or write out your message. We like to have those ready about a week in advance.

Think of what you want to say when you get down on one knee. In order to get epic proposal photos, we ask that you stay down on one knee for at least 20 seconds. This gives us enough time to get close ups and a wide shot of the proposal moment. Even though it may be nerve wracking, try to practice your speech out loud so you’re not tripping over your words when it’s time.

You’ll also want to ponder what you want to wear. Consider that you should be comfortable but look nice in photos. Don’t forget to wash your clothes so you can pack them.

Pro tip: Many guys tell us they know their sweetie will want to be dressed up for photos but don’t know how to get her dressed up. If you wear something a little dressier and get dressed before her, she may pick out something fancier either subconsciously or on purpose to match your level.

Use a thin ring box

Don’t use a bulky ring box from the jeweler. It’s too obvious in your pocket and will ruin the surprise.

We recommend getting a thin ring box or pouch and trying it on with your desired clothes to make sure it’s undetectable.

If you don’t have time to get a thin ring box, then put the ring straight in your pocket or the last resort would be to put it in a backpack. We don’t love the idea of putting the ring in a bag because it can get in the way during the proposal or be an eyesore in photos. If you decide to hold the ring in a backpack, make sure to put the backpack on the side so it’s not blocking your knee.

Do your homework

Once you book your proposal with Engaged on Maui, we send you a Proposal Guide and Dining Guide. Those were made with you in mind. Read them over when you receive them. If you don’t get them, check your spam folder. If it’s not in your spam folder, let us know. It means you aren’t receiving our automated emails and you will miss some important info.

About one week before your proposal after your final balance has been paid, we send your itinerary over. Carefully read through your itinerary and the email it came in. If your itinerary email came with a video walkthrough, watch that too. 95% of the time, the itinerary and video will answer any remaining questions you have about the plan.

Make dinner reservations

You should make dinner reservations as soon as you have your proposal date and time set. You can use our Dining Guide or check your favorite restaurant review sites.

If you have a proposal that is planned to end at sunset, we always recommend leaving a little buffer time in between the end of your proposal and your dinner reservations. Don’t make dinner reservations that force you to leave the beach right after sunset to get to dinner on time.

Once you’re engaged, you won’t be paying attention to the time. We’ve seen couples opt to hang out on the beach after we leave. It’s very likely you will be late to dinner if you have to rush, and most restaurants will only hold your table for 15 minutes before they give it away.

Picture-worthy hands

If there’s one time for a manicure, this is it. Your sweetie should have their nails done. If they get manicures regularly or will get one because you’re going on vacation, then you won’t need to worry about this.

If they don’t typically get their nails done, then maybe you can enlist a family member or close friend to invite them to get manicures before you leave. Or you can schedule a nail appointment on Maui if their nails aren’t photo ready when you get here.

Don’t forget about yourself. Your hands will also be in photos too, so take a little extra care of them before you get engaged.

These tips cover everything to do before getting down on one knee in Maui, except where and when to propose. For help with all your Maui proposal needs, contact Engaged on Maui today!

The post 9 Things to Do Before You Propose appeared first on Engaged on Maui | Maui Proposal Photographer.

Engaged on Maui works exclusively with Air Maui for our helicopter proposals. Their team coordinates with our team to get your flight scheduled and ensure you have the best time seeing Maui from the sky. Their pilots are not only experienced professionals but also act as tour guides, telling you interesting facts so you can learn about what you are seeing. Above all, we were sold by their 100% safety rating. Air Maui adheres to the highest standards of safety and has a perfect safety record of over 25 years to show for it.

How does a helicopter proposal work?

For a helicopter proposal, it will just seem like you are going on a helicopter tour as guests. Air Maui will be aware that you are going to pop the question but won’t give away the secret. You’ll be given instructions and treated like any other passenger, so your sweetie won’t suspect a thing.

Your photographer will be on board with you during the flight, pretending to be another tourist on the helicopter.

You will be asked to check in at the heliport 30 minutes before take off. This time is needed for you to watch a short safety video and get instructions before you board the helicopter.

As long as it works out with weight requirements, you and your soon-to-be fiancé will be seated in the front of the helicopter next to the pilot, where you’ll get the best view. The photographer will be in the back where they will be able to document highlights of the tour and discreetly snap a few candids of you enjoying the sights before the proposal.

Once you get to the landing, it’s go time! You only have 15-20 minutes at the landing, so you should walk to your proposal spot right away to make the most of your time.

Don’t worry! We will give you an itinerary that tells you where to go and what to do for the big moment. Your photographer will be hanging back, pretending to take pictures of the scenery, while secretly waiting for you to get down on one knee so they can capture every second.

After the proposal, you can reveal it was all a set up. Your photographer will come over and introduce themselves and you’ll do a quick mini engagement session at the landing before getting back into the helicopter.

What are the helicopter tours offered?

There are two helicopter tours that will work for proposals: Cliffside Landing – Hana & Haleakala and Oceanfront Landing – West Maui & Molokai.

Cliffside Landing – Hana & Haleakala
For Cliffside Landing, you begin the tour by flying above Haleakala. Haleakala translates to the “House of the Sun.” In Hawaiian legend, Haleakala is known for being the spot at which the demigod Maui ensnared the sun, freeing it only after it promised to linger longer in the sky.

After getting a bird’s eye view of our dormant volcano, you venture to east Maui to the rugged area of Kaupo where you will propose.

At Cliffside Landing, there are multiple spots to get down on one knee…

With the ocean in the background

With the mountains in the background

Or angle yourselves on the left side of the cliff

Or the right side of the cliff

Once you ask the all-important question, you can relax and enjoy your engagement session at Cliffside Landing!

After the proposal and engagement session on the landing, you get back in the helicopter and fly over Hana. This is our more jungle-y side of Maui, so it’s really lush and green, perfect for viewing waterfalls! Whether or not you decide to drive the infamous Road to Hana, it’s also a really neat perspective to see the twists and turns of the road from the air.

Oceanfront Landing – West Maui & Molokai
Oceanfront Landing is only available on weekdays. For Oceanfront Landing, you actually fly over to Molokai first, where you get to see the tallest sea cliffs in the world on the north side of the island and waterfalls in the rainforest.

Towards the end of your flight, you’ll return to Maui and land in Kahakuloa, a small, secluded village that offers a glimpse of old Hawaii.

Oceanfront Landing has one ideal proposal spot. If you follow our directions, we can get the palm tree, ocean, and the head of Kahakuloa in the background of your proposal.

Oceanfront Landing is smaller than Cliffside Landing, so we’ll capture you by the prettiest backdrops before continuing across the West Maui Mountains and back to the heliport.

Air Maui does offer other helicopter tours, but we don’t offer them for proposals because no landing takes place.

Similarly, you may notice that Air Maui has a “Marry Me Tour” on their website. This option is a quick tour that includes flying over a beach. On the beach, there is a “WILL YOU MARRY ME?” banner with your sweetie’s name written in the sand.

With this tour, there is no landing, so you don’t get down on one knee. Since the photographer would be seated in back of you and wouldn’t be able to capture your faces, Engaged on Maui does not have a helicopter proposal package with this flyover tour. However, if you decide to do a beach proposal flight with Air Maui and not document your proposal, we can help you with an engagement session after your flight instead.

What are Engaged on Maui’s helicopter proposal packages?

Engaged on Maui has two helicopter proposal packages: Air Maui Ala Carte and Air Maui Private Charter.

Air Maui Ala Carte Package
Our Air Maui Ala Carte package includes three seats – one for you, your other half, and your photographer. The helicopter fits up to six passengers, depending on weight, so there will at least be another couple on board with you, if not three other people besides the photographer.

To preserve your memories, Air Maui Ala Carte comes with a 5×5″ 10-page highlight album as well as digital backups of the images in your album.

Air Maui Private Charter Package
The Air Maui Private Charter Package means you rent out the entire helicopter so it’s completely private. The photographer brings along an assistant so it’s less suspicious. Or if you choose to add on videography, the videographer and photographer can pretend they are traveling together.

The Private Charter package also includes two leis and champagne upon return to the heliport.

The 10-page highlight album is upgraded to a bigger 8×8″ size, and of course, those digital backups are included to make sharing with family and friends a breeze!

What else can you add on to make a helicopter proposal special?

A helicopter proposal brings plenty of wow factor as it is, but we do have a few favorite add ons.

24-Hour Sneak Peek
Our number one recommendation is always to add a 24-Hour Sneak Peek to your proposal package. Our turnaround time is 2-4 weeks, so that sneak peek will give you a photo of the proposal to make that announcement on social media within 24 hours.

Mini Engagement Session
Your engagement session at the helicopter landing is short and sweet. Adding a Mini Engagement Session prolongs the fun and adds diversity to your images. After the helicopter tour, you follow your photographer to a nearby beach to capture those quintessential Maui vacation photos.

Videography
Video really has the ability to let you relive your big moment. Something about the movement and seeing the two of you interacting gives us all the feels.

Videography can be added on to the Private Charter package. Your videographer joins your photographer aboard the helicopter and edits your footage into a short film set to music.

Is a helicopter proposal the right fit for you?

If you are looking for an activity and proposal in one, a helicopter proposal may be calling your name!

The advantage of pairing a proposal as a surprise during your helicopter tour means that you don’t have to come up with a cover story to get your sweetie to a certain place at a certain time. You can simply tell them you booked a helicopter tour, and Air Maui told you when you need to be at the heliport.

We can even send you a PDF that looks like it came straight from Air Maui. This comes in handy if your sweetie is the type who likes to print out itineraries and organize your vacation.

A helicopter proposal is also perfect for those who want their proposal to be a more intimate moment. Of course, the Private Charter guarantees you the most privacy. But the Ala Carte still gives you a remote setting with only a few witnesses.

Both tours are impressive. The view from the helicopter is a unique way to experience the majesty of Maui, and the landings are picturesque proposal backdrops.

When is a helicopter proposal NOT the right fit?

A helicopter proposal may not work if either of you have a fear of heights or get severe motion sickness.

Since the helicopter tour is an activity and a proposal, it is among our higher priced packages.

Lastly, a helicopter proposal doesn’t allow for anything to be set up at the proposal site. If you’re wanting flowers or some other details to be waiting at the place you pop the question, we can help you select a location that is best suited for a beautiful proposal set up.

How do you reserve a helicopter proposal?

The first thing to do is fill out our inquiry form, so we can schedule a phone call with you and start planning.

Once you have an idea of your desired proposal date, proposal package (Private Charter or Ala Carte), and tour (Cliffside Landing or Oceanfront Landing), we can check availability with Air Maui and our photographer calendar. If you are inquiring last minute or during a busy travel time, we may have to expand checking availability to several days while you are here on Maui.

Once we have a tentative date and time frame, we can send you a booking link to reserve your helicopter proposal. The booking link requires a signed contract and 50% deposit to secure your date.

When we have a completed booking link, your names, and approximate body weights, we will be able to officially reserve your tour!

From here, you are pretty set until you pay your remaining balance and we send your itinerary over with proposal instructions about a week in advance.

Ready to get started planning your helicopter proposal? Fill out our contact form here!

The post Everything You Need to Know About Helicopter Proposals appeared first on Engaged on Maui | Maui Proposal Photographer.

At Engaged on Maui, a lot of thought goes into our proposal locations. We don’t simply offer any place on the island that looks nice.

Here are the boxes a spot has to check in order to be on our list of Maui proposal locations.

Is this proposal location photogenic?

First and foremost, a proposal location has to be beautiful.

Beyond that, since we not only plan proposals but photograph them, we think about timing, lighting, and angles. All of those aspects affect how your proposal location is captured in photos.

Is this proposal location legal?

There are certain places on Maui that are completely off limits.

For example, Ka’anapali Beach does not allow any commercial activity. This means we cannot provide professional photography, amazing set ups, or any kind of services on Ka’anapali Beach.

Venturing somewhere we aren’t allowed could result in fines or even jail time. The state has shown they aren’t afraid to enforce rules of where we are able to go, so we make sure to play by the rules.

When a potential spot is private property or we aren’t able to get the necessary permission needed to photograph there, it’s a no go for us.

Is this proposal location accessible?

You can’t propose somewhere if you can’t get to it.

Even if a spot looks like it’s off the beaten path, we try to select proposal locations that are easy 5-10 minute walks. We don’t want to arise too much suspicion out of your partner on your way, and we want you make sure you two to still look good when you get there.

Some of our proposal locations are seasonal. There are certain beaches where big swells take away the sand every year. The beach and place our clients would normally propose disappears, and we have to wait for the sand to return before we can offer that spot as a proposal location option again.

At our seasonal locations, we have a good idea of when this happens, but sometimes obstacles occur unexpectedly.

Although beaches don’t close often, it can happen if there is a tsunami warning, shark sighting, flooded parking lot, or some other safety concern. When this happens on your proposal day, we quickly make a plan for a nearby backup location.

How busy is this proposal location?

A place can be stunning and easy to get to, but if it is known to be very crowded in a way that is tough for your photographer to work around, we cross it off our list. A busy location takes away from the intimacy of your special moment and is also very risky for photography.

If there is a high chance that someone (or several people) could walk in between where you are proposing and where your photographer is, that is simply not a risk we are willing to take. There is not much Photoshop can do if someone walks right in front of you as you get down on one knee.

Some of the beaches that we don’t offer for proposals due to crowds are Kapalua Bay, Wailea Beach, and Makena Cove.

How busy a place is could change depending on the day of the week. There are a few beaches that we love for weekdays but we don’t offer on the weekends and holidays because the atmosphere changes. We have more gatherings and local families hanging out at those beaches when they have the day off. This means there are people all over, it’s louder (think people are laughing and having a good time, music is bumping, kids are yelling), and parking is all taken up.

What can the cover story be?

The majority of our proposals are a surprise. Most of the time your sweetie doesn’t know you have to meet your photographer for a photo session at a certain place and time. The surprise part is part of what makes planning proposals more stressful than a regular photo shoot.

While you are responsible for getting your future fiancé to the proposal location at the agreed upon time, we do think about possible cover story ideas you can say as an excuse to go there.

We also consider your photographer’s cover story. Many of our proposal spots allow your photographer to hide or pretend they are there another reason – either just hanging out or taking pictures of the scenery.

For some places, we have your photographer discreetly follow you from behind, so they have the right angle to capture your big moment.

Questions we ask when considering places to propose in Maui

As you can see, we have certain criteria a location needs to meet in order to be added to our list of places to propose in Maui.

Here’s a recap of the questions we answer about our proposal locations.

– Are we allowed to shoot here?
– Is this location picturesque?
– What does the location look like during engagement photography time (sunrise, morning, sunset)?
– Where does the photographer need to be to get the proposal shot?
– What is the weather like here?
– Are there any other conditions we need to be concerned about (ie: high tide, prone to wind or rain, lighting, lack of cell phone reception, safety)
– Is the location fairly easy to get to?
– Is there enough parking nearby?
– What is the crowd level like here?
– Is this somewhere that our clients will be able to convince their future fiancé to go?
– Is the photographer able to discreetly hide or follow the couple, or is the location situated in a way where the photographer would be too obvious?
– What does the surrounding area look like?
– What other locations are nearby if clients choose a proposal package that includes coverage at more than one location?

Engaged on Maui policy for public access locations

For public access locations – we’re talking about beaches and other places out in nature – it is Engaged on Maui’s policy not to reveal our list of exact locations until you book.

Back when we first started, we used to talk about locations by name but quickly learned that potential clients would pump us for information and then ghost us.

Now, before you say, “I wouldn’t do that to you. Of course, I wouldn’t.” That’s what they all said. Everyone else said, “I’m definitely going to hire you for my Maui proposal. Just tell me the name of this spot in this example picture so I can plan around it.” Then we told them what they wanted to know and never heard from them again. It was a bummer and a waste of our time, so we learned our lesson.

Some folks we talk to are very particular about the type of location they have in mind. They have a vision in their mind or specific requirements of what they want or don’t want in a proposal location. While we cannot provide names of potential locations, we can show you example pictures of spots that might work for your vision – as long as we have enough time.

This is super important. If you are coming to us within two weeks of your desired proposal date, we don’t have enough time to go back and forth on details. At this point, if we are even available, we need you to make quick decisions.

We also need you to understand that if your proposal is being planned last minute, you may have less location options to choose from. Maui doesn’t have many private venues as it is and those get reserved months or even years in advance for weddings. Helicopter tours usually get booked ahead of time.

It’s common for us to have 2-3 proposals on the same day, but we never schedule our couples at the same location. If one of our other clients has already chosen a place on your day, that location doesn’t get offered to you.

When you have a specific idea of what you want your proposal location to look like, the biggest thing we ask is to be upfront with us from the beginning. Don’t wait until you book and see our location options to tell us you don’t see anything that you like. Sharing your thoughts will allow us to better help you.

Picking your location during the proposal planning process

If you have selected a private venue, a helicopter tour, or Haleakala for your proposal, then you are pretty set on your location. Likewise, if you looked at example photos before you booked and chose somewhere you liked based on pictures, then we reveal the name of your spot and mark it as your proposal location.

However, most of the time, you choose your proposal location once you officially become our client, after signing your contract and paying a 50% deposit.

At this point, your proposal planner will send you an email with location recommendations and example galleries to look through. We send recommendations because you hire Engaged on Maui to make the proposal planning process easy.

In the past, we used to tell our clients to look through our blog and IG and send us screenshots of places they liked. This process worked, but sometimes it was extra work. We found clients would send us screenshots and links to not only locations but any photos they liked. We would get examples of epic sunsets, ring shots, close ups of couples – none of which showed us which locations they liked. Sometimes, clients would send us photos of locations they liked but those were only locations we used for engagement photos, not a place that would work for a surprise proposal. Or they would go back 5+ years and show us locations we had in the past that we could no longer use anymore.

Now, we prefer to send you location recommendations because it saves everyone time. We have already vetted our locations. They have passed the checklist and we know they work well for a proposal in Maui.

When a location doesn’t work for your Maui proposal

We have had some people scour the web and send us pictures of places to see if that spot would work for their proposal on Maui. If you have officially booked with us and we have enough time to plan, this is something we might be able to entertain, however you should be prepared to hear that a spot picked solely from a picture on the internet won’t work.

Here are just a few of the popular reasons that we have had to say no to a potential proposal spot:

– The place in the picture isn’t on Maui
It’s common for folks to search for “places to propose in Hawaii” but that will result in locations that are on other Hawaiian islands and not on Maui.

We specialize in Maui proposals and engagement photography, so if you fall in love with a location that is not on Maui, it makes sense to use a photographer that is local to that area.

– The location is not accessible or there isn’t a reliable way for our photographer to get the view you want
We are seeing more drone photography online because that bird’s eye view is amazing. When we are shown an inspiration photo that is taken by a drone or from a helicopter, we know we likely wouldn’t be able to access that same spot by land and, even if we were, the perspective we would be able to get would be much different than what you are envisioning.

We don’t like to depend on having a proposal photographed by drone because a drone can only be deployed if the weather cooperates. If it’s rainy or too windy, it’s too much of a risk to fly.

We once had a drone crash into the ocean because it was a little too windy. We were so thankful that the drone was only getting coverage of the couple after their proposal and we weren’t depending on it to capture their big moment.

– The place no longer looks the same as it does in the photo
When you are browsing online, you can run into all kinds of information and it’s tough to tell if that info is recent or accurate.

We know for a fact there are websites out there with outdated info on Makena Cove and Nakalele Blowhole.

As we mentioned earlier, Makena Cove aka Pa’ako Beach is one of the spots we don’t shoot proposals because it’s too crowded. However, it used to be known as Secret Cove because way back when, it was actually uncrowded.

With the reputation of being an intimate beach, Makena Cove became popular with weddings and also gained the nickname Wedding Beach. There are still websites out there saying this is a nice quiet beach, but that really isn’t true nowadays.

In fact, if a place has “secret” in its name, there is a good chance that it isn’t secret anymore. With the rise of social media and tell-all books, there are few places that are truly a secret on Maui.

Another place that you can read inaccurate info on is Nakalele Blowhole. There used to be a rock nearby that looked like it had the shape of a heart cut out of it. Sadly, part of the rock fell into the sea, and it no longer looks like that any more.

Bottom line: If we aren’t confident that we can capture your Maui proposal at a particular location and that you will have an enjoyable experience there, we can’t approve it as a proposal location.

Alternative solutions when a location doesn’t work for a proposal

Certain places that don’t work as a proposal location may be suitable for engagement photos after you’ve already popped the question. Once you’re engaged and reveal you have an engagement photographer, it’s much easier to go to other locations. You don’t have to come up with an excuse to go there. You can follow your photographer to make sure you’re at the right place. Plus it’s easier for your photographer to work around other people since they don’t have to hide anymore. Your photographer is able to be out in the open, move around, and direct you so there aren’t a ton of other people in the way or in the background.

If you have a place that you absolutely love for sentimental or aesthetic reasons and that place doesn’t fit the criteria for a proposal location, then perhaps we could use it for an engagement session instead. There are two ways we could go about this.

If you still want your actual proposal documented, you could pick a proposal package that includes more than one location, select a spot nearby that is better suited for your actual proposal, and plan to go to the other spot for the rest of your engagement session.

If it’s not as crucial for you to get photos of your proposal but more important to get engagement photos at a specific location, you could propose on your own without a photographer there and then we do an engagement session at your desired spot. With this plan, you get to propose wherever and whenever it feels like the right moment. Your proposal can be a bit more spontaneous because a photographer isn’t there waiting for you to get down on one knee and capture your sweetie’s reaction.

Ryan wanted to propose at Makena Cove because it was the first beach he and Jenna visited on a previous visit to Maui. We comprised and he popped the question at a nearby beach that has a lot more space.

Then they ended with sunset engagement photos at Makena Cove.

Choosing your own unique Maui proposal location

For those of you looking for a place to propose in Maui that has not been used before, you may be in luck! Engaged on Maui has some new locations we would like to add to our list.

The downside of picking a new proposal place is that you don’t get to see example galleries of engagement sessions at that spot.

The upside is that you get to be the very first person to propose there. Our photographers would love to shoot at somewhere different, so your engagement pictures will be awesome. We also have other incentives in place. If you are interested in hearing more about our new proposal locations, we would prefer to have at least 6 weeks notice, but if it’s sooner, don’t hesitate to ask.

At Engaged on Maui, we know the best places to propose on Maui, especially when you want your proposal documented. Fill out our inquiry form to get started on planning your Maui engagement and schedule your initial consultation.

The post Places to Propose in Maui: How We Choose Our Proposal Locations appeared first on Engaged on Maui | Maui Proposal Photographer.

The Sugar Industry in Hawaii

Before Hawaii became part of the United States and tourism was introduced, agriculture was the state’s leading economic activity. It provided Hawaii’s major sources of employment, tax revenues, and capital through exports.

Sugar was the top crop, and the sugar industry steered Hawaii’s politics and economy for over a century.

Like any industry, sugar had its ups and downs. A few things caused the sugar industry in the Hawaiian islands to explode. In the 1840s, steamships provided a reliable way to transport sugarcane from the islands to the mainland. The California gold rush increased demand.

Production slowed when California became a state in 1850 and created an import tariff that taxed exports of sugar cane and other goods to the United States, but it ramped back up during the American Civil War. Much of the sugar production in the United States occurred in the southern states that seceded from the Union. With the North no longer receiving sugar from the South, the price of sugar during the Civil War rose a staggering 525 percent, from 4 cents a pound in 1861 to 25 cents a pound in 1864.

In 1875, the U.S. made a reciprocity treaty with the Hawaiian Kingdom, eliminating all tariffs on sugar and rice in exchange for Hawaii eliminating all tariffs on cotton and other American products. Eliminating export taxes caused sugar production in Hawaii to skyrocket.

However, the reciprocity treaty laid the groundwork for the Hawaiian islands’ eventual annexation. When the treaty was renewed in 1887, the United States received exclusive rights to enter and establish a naval base at Pearl Harbor.

How Sugar Created Hawaii’s Diversity

A lot of labor is needed to grow, harvest, and process sugarcane. Since the sugar industry required a larger labor force, workers were recruited from overseas. Immigrant workers arrived in waves from China, Japan, and the Philippines. A smaller number of people also came from Korea, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Scotland, Germany, Norway, Russia, and Spain.

When they arrived, workers were assigned to sugar plantations throughout the islands and given housing separated by ethnic groups. In order to communicate with each other, they created a language called Pidgin English, a blend of all their languages and English, spoken in the present tense with most verbs disregarded. Pidgin is still spoken to this day and was recognized as an official language of Hawaii by the U.S. Census in 2015.

Over 330,000 people came to work the sugar plantations in Hawaii. While many of them returned home once their contracts were up, thousands remained in the islands, sharing their cultures and creating the melting pot that Hawaii is today.

Sugarcane continued to be Hawaii’s main economy, employing one out of every 12 people in Hawaii, until it started to decline in 1959. This is when Hawaii became a state, and the U.S. started to market Hawaii as a tourist destination.

History of Haiku Sugar Mill

The Hawaiian islands are formed from volcanic mountains, some of which are still considered active. Due to the rugged terrain and the nature of soil, only certain low lands near coasts are tillable. Therefore, Hawaii’s sugar companies were all located along the coastlines of the four largest islands, extending into the foothills and upward along mountain slopes.

Haiku is located on the north shore of Maui, approximately 14 miles (22.5 km) east of Kahului. These days, the town of about 8,500 is mostly inhabited by locals, and visitors usually only breeze through when starting their journey on the Road to Hana. However, Haiku was once a hub of sugar production.

The Haiku Sugar Company started in 1858 and was the first sugar enterprise in Hawaii to raise capital through stock. The construction of Haiku Sugar Mill was completed in 1861 and became the first to process sugarcane using a steam engine, cutting edge technology for its time.

Haiku Sugar Mill was the leading sugar processor on Maui for eighteen years, from 1861 to 1879.

The construction of an irrigation system from 1876 to 1878 allowed water to be transported from the wet slopes of Haleakala to the fertile but dry plains of the central Maui isthmus. The increased water flow allowed sugar production to be moved and Haiku Sugar Mill was subsequently abandoned in 1879.

Restoration of Haiku Mill

The abandoned sugar mill was left to deteriorate for over one hundred years. By the time it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1986, only the stone walls remained and they were overgrown with vegetation.

Inspired to preserve this piece of Hawaiian history, Sylvia Hamilton-Kerr purchased the property and embarked on a journey to restore the ruins of the old sugar factory to the enchanting hidden gem it is today.

Design of the space took cues from its past and the surrounding land. The Haiku area of Maui is lush and green. Instead of fighting this, vines were encouraged to drape the walls. Greenery is prevalent throughout the property and inside the Mill itself, giving magical secret garden vibes.

Restoration was also influenced by the unpretentious lifestyle of the south of France. Antique cast iron columns hold up a glass ceiling that lets in light and keeps you covered in case of rain. A beautiful chandelier hangs above the picturesque proposal spot.

The result is the perfect combination of rich Hawaiian history combined with Old World European elegance nestled in the tropical jungle of Maui. Upon its transformation, the property was given the simpler name of Haiku Mill, also known as Pua Le’a or “blossoming passion” in Hawaiian.

Why We Love Haiku Mill Proposals

If you’ve read everything above, you’ll understand why Haiku Mill is so special and one of a kind. Years of hard work went into transforming the old ruins into a beautiful open-sky cathedral.

Haiku Mill is a private venue, which means when you choose a Haiku Mill package for your proposal, the space is reserved especially for you. This makes Haiku Mill a top contender for anyone who wants an intimate proposal without other people around.

Our directions for proposing at Haiku Mill are pretty simple. You walk into the Mill and get down on one one knee under the chandelier.

Planning a proposal can be a nerve-wracking time. We’re here to help with all the planning and alleviate your stress, but sometimes nerves can be hard to shake. If you feel like you might be a nervous wreck, having a location with simple instructions like Haiku Mill might help you feel better.

Haiku Mill is naturally stunning and doesn’t need any extra decor. However if you want to add flowers to your proposal, Haiku Mill is a blank space that is easy to dress up.

One thing to note though, is due to the age and history of the structure, nothing can be affixed to the structure and we can’t do anything too risky. For example, we once had a client who was interested in a soccer-themed proposal. This wasn’t a good fit for Haiku Mill because of the risk of a wayward soccer ball causing damage.

The layout of the property also allows us to incorporate surprises before or after the proposal.

For Rich’s proposal to Bao, he arranged for her sisters and best friend to be waiting at Haiku Mill before their arrival. We had a table and chairs set up for the couple to sit at before they entered the Mill. One by one, Bao’s loved ones surprised her with different colored roses and a letter from Rich. Each color of roses had a symbolism explained in his letters.

After each person handed Bao their letter and roses, they went into Haiku Mill, using a separate entrance so they could witness the proposal from above.

When it was time to propose, Rich led Bao into Haiku Mill where a violinist played in the background when he got down on bended knee on a scattering of red rose petals.

Josh and Kimi came to Maui from Oahu. Since they live on Oahu and there’s no shortage of pretty beaches there, Josh knew he wanted something different for his proposal location. She thought they were flying over for a Maui adventure, but he actually planned the trip around when he could propose at Haiku Mill.

Josh wanted to incorporate this gorgeous ring box filled with roses that looked and smelled amazing. Since we have a policy of not handling the engagement ring, we came up with a way to use the box without putting Kimi’s engagement ring inside.

He led Kimi into the Mill and to the floral ring box where Kimi read a note asking her to dance. Once she read the note, Josh opened the ring box to take out a bluetooth speaker that was already paired to his phone. He started playing “Perfect” by Ed Sheeran. They danced together for a minute and he proposed during the song.

Aron and Julia are a blended family. He has two boys and she has two girls. They have a daughter together and another baby on the way.

Aron proposed to Julia with the kids watching, but it was also important for him to ask Julia’s daughters if he could officially be part of the family. After some family portraits, Aron proposed to the girls with their own rings. It was the sweetest!

Our Proposal Packages at Haiku Mill

Engaged on Maui has two proposal packages designed for Haiku Mill – our Haiku Mill Mini and Haiku Mill Deluxe.

The Haiku Mill Mini package is meant for a proposal and short engagement session at the Mill. The 30 minute time span is just long enough to enjoy all the beauty Haiku Mill has to offer.

The Haiku Mill Deluxe package is the best of both worlds. With this package, you get 1.5 hours of time and two locations. You can have the privacy and lush grandeur of Haiku Mill for your proposal and end your session at a nearby beach for engagement photos that show off Hawaii.

Ready to pop the question at the gorgeous Haiku Mill? Let us help you with that! Fill out our inquiry form to get started!

The post Spotlight on Haiku Mill, A Stunning Venue with a Sweet Past appeared first on Engaged on Maui | Maui Proposal Photographer.

A Non-Beach Proposal Location

Although we are experts at beach proposals, that’s not all we do! We often have clients who specifically request proposal locations that aren’t on a beach.

Sometimes, they are apologetic and say the beach is beautiful but they “just aren’t beach people.” Or they want something different and unexpected. Or they know their sweetie won’t want to get sandy.

Whatever the reason, we support you. It’s our goal to help you find the right location that matches what you’re envisioning and is somewhere that your future fiancé will love!

Private Venue on Maui

If you describe your ideal proposal as private, intimate, taking place somewhere that’s not crowded, then private venues immediately jump to the top of our minds as possible options for you.

We are ecstatic to introduce Haiku House as our newest private proposal venue, especially since it adds to our list of non-beach locations.

About Haiku House

Haiku House is tucked away on Maui’s north shore, a peaceful retreat from the hustle and bustle of the resorts in south and west Maui. This 20 acre slice of paradise is filled with the beauty of mother nature. The driveway is lined with royal palms. There are fig trees and an orange orchard. Majestic trees throughout the grounds create a canopy overhead so that you feel like you’re in your own world.

The estate boasts a rich history as well. In 1849, King Kamehameha III deeded 530 acres, including the 20 that Haiku House sits on, to missionary Richard Armstrong for a dollar. This was considered payment for Armstrong’s help in writing and implementing the Great Mahele, an act that allowed private ownership of land in Hawaii for the first time.

The property changed hands several times, with each owner making their own enhancements. After Armstrong, it was owned by Henry P. Baldwin, co-founder of local corporate giant Alexander & Baldwin. The Baldwin family built the original part of the house in 1860 and hosted many lavish galas for esteemed guests, including King Kalakaua and Queen Liliuokalani, Hawaii’s last reigning monarchs. Haiku House is currently owned by the Chan family, who live in Vancouver but maintain close ties to Maui as the owner of Wailea Golf Club.

Proposing at Haiku House

The vast outdoor space at Haiku House means there are multiple places where you could get down on one knee. We scouted four unique proposal spots for you to choose from.

The first proposal area you come to is right in front of an impressive banyan tree. This is perfect if you want the jungle feeling without having to venture into the jungle.

Next, we have the platform. This area is also surrounded by trees, but it is a blank canvas. This space is ideal for customizing with romantic floral details.

Imagine strolling along a path, hand in hand with your sweetie, and popping the question under outstretched branches that form a kind of tree tunnel. The light streaming in and enveloping you in a warm glow… it was love at first sight for us when we laid our eyes on this proposal spot.

Lastly, if you want a proposal location that’s classic and traditional, there is a white gazebo on the property that would make such a picturesque proposal moment.

Haiku House Proposal Packages

We have two proposal packages designed for Haiku House.

The Haiku House Classic is made for the couple who vibe with all the greenery and want to stay on property for an hour during their proposal and engagement session to make use of all the ample backdrops Haiku House has to offer.

Haiku House does have a peek of the ocean…

…but if you do want engagement pictures on the beach (or another nearby location) as well, then our Haiku House Deluxe gives you 1.5 hours of photography and an additional location for your engagement session.

Interested in proposing at Haiku House? Reach out to us to chat about this beautiful private venue!

The post Spotlight on Haiku House, A Lush Estate for Private Proposals appeared first on Engaged on Maui | Maui Proposal Photographer.

Congratulations from your family

Having your new fiancé read messages of congratulations from your family is such a special way to start off this next step of your future together. Of course, you’ll probably get text messages and comments on social media once you reveal the big news, but going old school with hand-written congratulations shows you really put some extra thought into, not just your proposal, but afterwards too.

You could have your family members all sign a card and give your new fiancé this card after they say yes. If your family lives all over the place and signing one card isn’t feasible, each of them could mail you a letter or card by a certain deadline before you leave.

To prevent any suspicion, you can have the letters mailed to you at work. Or you could ask another family member or close friend to keep them safe for you until you’re ready to pack the cards into your suitcase. If it’s too risky to pack them, you can also mail your family letters directly to us.

This does require some advance planning, but if you have time to do this, it will be such a sweet gesture welcoming them to the family.

For Lawton and Maddy’s proposal, we took our message in a bottle add on and changed it to incorporate Lawton’s family. Normally, we use a message in a bottle before the proposal. You write a message on it for your sweetie to read right before you get down on one knee.

This time, we gave Lawton and Maddy the message in a bottle after the proposal. Lawton’s mom was in charge of getting family members to write messages of congratulations on a scroll. She mailed the scroll to us. We put it in a bottle and gave it to their photographer so Maddy and Lawton could read the messages while she captured their reactions.

If your family prefers talking to writing, another thought is to have them send you videos of them giving you well wishes that you can watch together after the proposal. Since this is likely to take a while to watch, we recommend playing the videos when you are back in your room, instead of during your photo session.

Presents after your proposal

A classic way to celebrate your engagement is with a bottle of champagne. If you’re staying at a resort, it’s easy for family to call and order a bottle to be delivered to your room. If you’re staying at an Airbnb or somewhere without a front desk or room service, then we may be able to help deliver the present during their photo session.

We love how Francis’ family contacted us to add champagne with a little note to his engagement session with Brianna. You can see their story here.

If your loved ones want to put a Hawaii spin on their surprise, leis are a beautiful addition to your photos.

Tony’s sister Brenda lives on the island of Oahu and worked with us to help plan his proposal to Katie. She wanted them to have beautiful leis after the proposal. Brenda purposely picked specialty leis that you can’t just find in the grocery store – maile intertwined with tuberose for Tony and a white orchid and pink rose lei for Katie.

Using technology to bring family to you

If your sweetie is super close to someone who won’t be there for the proposal itself, you can go above and beyond by calling that special person right before the proposal and putting your phone in your pocket. After the proposal, you can reveal that special person was “there” the whole time. Mikey introduced us to this idea when he proposed to Caitlin with her mom on the phone in his pocket.

If you decide to do this, put your phone in your back pocket or somewhere it won’t be bulky and distracting in photos. Do a test run by calling the person, sticking your phone in the pocket you’re planning on using, looking in the mirror to ensure it doesn’t create an unsightly bulge in pictures, and confirming they can hear on the other end.

You can also FaceTime loved ones after the proposal. Just keep in mind that any time you spend chatting will be taking away from your photography time, so you’ll want to keep it short or save the FaceTime for when you don’t have anything to do or anywhere to be.

You’ll also want to double check the time difference as it may be very late where relatives live. We’re 5-6 hours behind EST depending on the time of the year, so it could be midnight when you’re calling.

Conclusion

Your engagement is an exciting time, not just for you two but for your friends and families as well. We hope these ideas will inspire you on how you can incorporate your nearest and dearest when they won’t be here for the proposal in person.

If you have any new ideas on how you want to involve family in your proposal, we’re all ears! The sooner you contact us to start planning, the better!

The post How to Involve Family in your Destination Proposal – Part 2 appeared first on Engaged on Maui | Maui Proposal Photographer.