At Engaged on Maui, we’ve planned hundreds of proposals, and if there’s one thing we’ve learned—it’s better to be prepared. Maui’s tropical beauty comes with a few unpredictable elements (wind, waves, and the occasional rogue mosquito), so here’s our tried-and-true list of what to pack for your proposal just in case:

Bug Spray

You’re in paradise… and so are the bugs. Especially for beach or garden proposals, a quick spritz will keep the “ouch” out of your romantic moment.

Small Towel

Whether you’re wiping off sweat, brushing off sand, or dealing with a happy tear overload—this one’s a lifesaver. Bonus points if it fits in your back pocket.

Water Bottle

Stay hydrated! Maui’s sun is no joke, and a bottle of cold water will keep you feeling good and looking fresh in your proposal photos.

Safety Pins

Wardrobe malfunctions, meet your match. You never know when you’ll need to secure a stray strap or tag that’s popping out mid-photo.

Makeup Blotting Paper

Perfect for beachy proposals or warm afternoons—blotting paper keeps you both shine-free and photo-ready.

Breath Mints or Gum

Because you’ll want that kiss after the “yes” to be minty fresh.

Fully Charged Phone (on silent!)

You might not use it during the actual moment (especially if we’re capturing it for you), but having it on hand to call your family after? Essential.

Extra Hair Ties or Bobby Pins

If the wind picks up, these little lifesavers can help keep everything in place—especially for long hair.

Bonus Tip: Let us carry the stress so you don’t have to. At Engaged on Maui, we help plan and photograph surprise proposals all over the island, and we’ve got backup supplies (and backup plans) ready to go.

The post The Proposal Emergency Kit: What to Pack (Just in Case) 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.

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.

There are so many ways to incorporate family into your proposal we split this topic into two parts. This first part will focus on a family proposal when they are here on Maui too.

If you want to involve loved ones in your Maui proposal but they won’t be able to travel, then part two is for you.

Since Maui is a vacation destination, you may be traveling here with family and using the trip as the perfect time to propose.

If they are on island with you and have the option to be at the proposal, you have to ask yourself the following questions:

– Do you want loved ones to watch the proposal?
– Or would you rather have that moment to yourselves and celebrate with them afterwards?
– Can family help you pull off a great cover story?
– Or do you think they will ruin the surprise?
– Do you want family to be part of your photo session?

Your answers to these questions will help us determine the best way for family to be involved, while still making sure you are happy with the plan. Your comfort in the proposal plan is key to its success!

If you want family to witness the proposal

If you want family to be able to watch the proposal take place, you can all come to the proposal spot together or family can arrive early to hide and watch the proposal in secret.

Family photo session cover story

When you arrive to the proposal location together, we often use the cover story that you are there for family photos. This gives you a reason to be dressed up for pictures and be at the proposal location at a specified time.

We also suggest you have your mom or their mom or whoever is planning your Maui vacation tell you and your future fiancé about the family photo shoot. That way, it seems like this photo shoot is not your idea and you are just going along with it.

The family photo session cover story works well if…
– you are not the planner in your relationship
– you would have a difficult time getting your sweetie to a certain place at a certain time without arousing suspicion
– you know they want to be dressed up
– family photos is something your family would appreciate (whether family photo shoots are a regular thing for you or your family is long overdue for photos)
– it would help you to have more direction from the photographer

In the family photo session proposal, we usually do spend the first portion doing family photos. When it’s time for couples photos, the photographer usually leaves you and your sweetie for last. Then it’s proposal time and the rest of the photo session will be focused on engagement photos.

Mona thought they were doing a photo session with her family until AJ got down on one knee.

Jamin and Lyndsay’s group included her mom and stepdad, sister and family, as well as Jamin’s son. One of the best things about these family photo session proposals is being able to see everyone’s reactions and feel the love in their congratulations.

Family present, photographer hiding

Maybe the family photo session cover story is not your style or something you think your sweetie would see right through. You can also use a different excuse such as watching the sunset before dinner. One family used the cover story that they had been to that beach on a visit years earlier and wanted to revisit it.

Since the photographer will be incognito and not able to direct you, we provide instructions on where family should be so they aren’t photobombing your proposal.

For Matt and Sara’s proposal, Matt asked his mom to take a photo of them right before he popped the question. Our photographer was waiting farther away at a different angle, so she could capture the proposal and Matt’s parents watching, without them blocking Sara’s reaction.

Family is hiding

What if you want family to be there when you get down on one knee but you don’t want your sweetie to know they are there? In that case, loved ones should arrive to the proposal location before you two arrive, so they can witness the big moment but be hidden.

This plan requires choosing from certain locations and an additional fee.

The location needs to either have tree cover or somewhere family can hide without being seen or be a long beach where the proposal can occur at one end and family wait at the other end. An open space or a small cove with nowhere to hide won’t work for this type of plan.

An additional fee is also required for a proposal with a family surprise because a proposal planner will need to be on-site to meet family at the proposal spot, hide them, and cue them when to come out of hiding.

Speaking of coming out of hiding, family can run out of hiding right after you propose. However we love to do what we call a two-stage or even three-stage surprise.

In a two-stage surprise, you would propose and family would stay hidden while you start your engagement session.

Your fiancé then believes the proposal is the only surprise. But when the time is right and your photographer is ready, we have family come out of hiding so your photographer is poised to capture everyone’s reactions.

With the delayed surprise, your fiancé gets a little bit of time to absorb that you are engaged before loved ones come out to congratulate you. We also get two genuine reactions – one for the proposal and another for the family surprise.

A three-stage surprise fits when you are traveling with one side of the family and your sweetie knows they are on Maui, but you have other family or friends that are flying in for the proposal and your other half has no idea they will be here. The party you are traveling with would come out of hiding first and be in some photos with you. Loved ones who are arriving as a surprise would come out last and your sweetie will be blown away.

We did a three-stage surprise for Tim and Leesa’s proposal. First, Tim asked Leesa to marry him at sunrise. After a few minutes of engagement photos, Tim’s mom and sister came out to congratulate them. Just when Leesa thought the surprises were over, her mom and stepdad came out and she was shocked! It’s always been a dream for Leesa and her mom to visit Hawaii together and she didn’t expect it to come true yet – and to have their dream come true to celebrate Tim and Leesa’s proposal was amazing!

Tim chose to add leis to their engagement session. We did a twist on a lei exchange, a Hawaiian marriage tradition where the couple gives leis to each other’s parents to symbolize the joining of families. Since both moms were there, we had Tim’s mom present Leesa with a lei and Leesa’s mom give Tim a lei.

Sometimes, we combine different techniques. For Giles and Kesslee’s proposal, they were traveling with Giles’ family, so we used the family photo shoot cover story as an excuse to get them to the beach. We pretended the photographer was running late when she was actually already waiting on the beach. This gave Giles an opportunity to walk Kesslee down the beach “while they were waiting on the photographer.”

Kesslee’s mom and grandma flew in to watch the proposal. Kesslee had no clue they were on Maui, so they arrived to the beach and hid among the trees until after the proposal when it was time for the big reveal! Check their engagement story out here.

If you want family there after the proposal

What if family is here on island, but you don’t want an audience for the proposal? How you involve them depends on if you want them in photos or not.

Family arrives after proposal

If you want a private proposal but you still want family photos, the best thing to do is select a proposal package with multiple locations and have loved ones show up to congratulate you at the second location.

With this option, and really any time you want to involve family in your proposal, please make sure you let your proposal planner know so we can write this into your itinerary. If family is arriving after the proposal, you may think we don’t need to know. However, in order for us to give you the best experience, it’s always helpful for us to know the full plan.

For Stephen and Brandee’s proposal, he got down on one knee and friends showed up later at their second location for celebratory photos.

Family joins you at dinner

Some couples want to have the proposal and entire engagement session to themselves. Having family meet you afterwards at dinner is a nice compromise to have your privacy and still invite them to be part of your special night.

Recap of options when family is on Maui

Please let your proposal coordinator know if you are thinking of involving family and/or friends in your proposal. We can help you figure out the best plan and make sure your photographer is aware of all the details.

If you want family to witness your proposal and it makes sense for you all to arrive together, you can go to the proposal location under the guise of doing a family photo session. You can use another excuse if you want family to go to the location together but have the photographer to capture the proposal sneakily.

If you want loved ones to be there as a surprise, they would arrive early and witness the proposal from a hiding spot. This requires choosing from locations with somewhere to hide and an additional fee for an on-site coordinator.

If you want a private proposal, family should arrive at a second location, after you’ve already popped the question. Make sure to let us know, so we can coordinate the details and ensure everyone is on the same page.

If you want your photo session to be just the two of you but still want to celebrate with family, then loved ones should join you at dinner.

How can you involve loved ones in your proposal when they aren’t here on Maui? Check out ideas in How to Involve Family in your Destination Proposal – Part 2!

The post How to Involve Family in your Destination Proposal – Part 1 appeared first on Engaged on Maui | Maui Proposal Photographer.

Editing Versus Retouching

The terms ‘editing’ and ‘retouching’ get thrown around a lot in the photography world. Sometimes they are used almost interchangeably, which is confusing because they do mean two different things.

What is editing when it comes to your photographs?

An edited image is corrected for color, contrast, saturation, and exposure. It may also be cropped to get rid of distracting elements and bring the focus to what’s more important – like the two of you.

Every photo included in your Engaged on Maui gallery will be edited. We try to get things as right in camera as possible so editing is enhancing the elements of the photograph that were already in place when the image was captured.

The final product is a slightly elevated version of reality, not a complete fabrication of reality.

Our goal is for your gallery to look very close to what it actually looked like that day, so you can relive those special moments over and over again.

What is retouching when it comes to your photographs?

Our editing is performed in Lightroom to correct the entire image, but retouching refers to changing a part of the image, typically using Photoshop.

Photo retouching is a far more specialized form of editing that is most commonly (and often excessively) used in fashion photography to remove so-called imperfections such as wrinkles or cellulite, whiten teeth, brighten eyes, body slimming, etc.

What is included when it comes to retouching?

We would never assume you would want your appearance changed, so our standard retouching includes:

Removing people from the background
We can’t promise you an empty beach, but we can do our best to remove other people in the background of your photos.

Removing distracting elements
We typically try to angle so that distracting elements aren’t in the frame, but if things like the light stand from flash photos at sunset are in there, we take it out. Distracting elements are removed at our photo editor’s discretion.

What is not included in retouching?

Body shaping
Your sweetie is marrying you just as you are. Please don’t feel you have to digitally alter your body into something it’s not.

Sunburn removal
Fixing a sunburn or tan lines is really difficult to do well. The best way to prevent this is to schedule your proposal early on in your Maui vacation and protect your skin (wear sunscreen and don’t forget to reapply) before your big moment.

Removing hotel wristbands
We know a lot of hotels require wristbands on property if you’re wearing them for the proposal, don’t forget to take them off for the rest of your engagement photos.

Wardrobe malfunctions
Since the proposal and engagement session are usually a surprise, your partner most likely won’t know they are having their picture taken until it’s happening, but you can still help them out. If you notice a bra strap peeking out, let them know so it can be fixed before we snap the pictures.

Since you do know you will be photographed, make sure your outfit looks good in a full length mirror. Don’t forget to remove bulky items like your phone and keys from your pocket.

Before and after examples of Engaged on Maui editing

Below you will see some examples of Straight of out the Camera (SOOC) on the left and the final edited version on the right:

Ultimately, we really want you to be thrilled with your images, so it’s crucial that you know what you can expect from Engaged on Maui. If you have any questions about our proposal planning and photography services, let’s chat!

Other articles you may enjoy:
How to Choose your Maui Proposal Date
What to Know About Maui Weather
How to Make Your Proposal More Personal

The post Editing vs. Retouching: What’s the Difference? appeared first on Engaged on Maui | Maui Proposal Photographer.

For some, their proposal date is a no-brainer. There is a day that is special to their relationship or one that naturally works better.

For others, the date is flexible and picking a date is one of the first choices they need to make before getting down on one knee.

Pop the question earlier in your trip

Most of our clients will opt for proposing on the first or second full day they are on Maui. We highly recommend popping the question sooner rather than later for a few reasons.

First, you’re likely going to be nervous leading up to the big moment, so once you propose – and they say a big YES! – you’ll be able to let out a sigh of relief. Then the two of you will be able to spend the rest of your Maui vacay celebrating!

Getting down on one knee towards the start of your time on Maui also might be better for your photos. Many people don’t realize how strong the sun is here and end up with a bad sunburn.

Due to Hawaii’s proximity to the equator, the sun’s rays are much stronger that what you might experience at home. This means, you can get sunburnt on an overcast day, even when it doesn’t feel hot.

It can be really tough, not to mention painful, to cover up sunburnt skin with makeup. It’s even trickier to mask red skin in Photoshop. Picking a proposal date towards the start of your trip will help prevent the chance of having a horrible sunburn in your proposal photos.

Lastly, an earlier proposal date gives us extra leeway in case we need to reschedule for some reason. Although it’s rare, there are times when we had to or were considering rescheduling for reasons beyond our control. You probably don’t want to propose when it’s pouring rain or there’s a hurricane warning. When weather isn’t cooperating on your original date, it is nice to have options for a backup proposal date.

But don’t propose on the same day you arrive

With all the reasons to propose early in your Maui vacation, you might be tempted to pop the question as soon as you get off the plane. However, we actually have a policy against planning proposals on the same day you arrive. It’s too easy for something to go wrong that would cause you to miss your proposal. The reason why we have this policy is because we’ve learned from experience.

What if your flight is delayed? What if you get into a car accident or get stuck in an elevator before you get to the airport and miss your flight? (Not wishing this upon you, but these things have all happened to our clients, causing them to not show up when they were supposed to propose.) What if it takes you longer than expected to get your bags at the airport and get your rental car? What if your sweetie is too tired or doesn’t feel well after traveling and doesn’t feel up to your plans?

Like we said, it’s too much risk that can all be avoided by planning your proposal after your first night here.

Avoid weekends and holidays if possible

If you’re dreaming of proposing on a beautiful Maui beach, we definitely suggest you avoid choosing a holiday or weekend if at all possible. Beaches are going to be much busier on those days. Locals like to enjoy the beach too (it’s one of the reasons why we live here), and weekends and holidays are usually the days when we can hang out at the beach with our families and friends.

Since we can’t ask anyone to move to a different spot or leave the beach, even if we get there first, it’s safe to assume you’ll have lots of other beachgoers present if you’re choosing to propose on a Saturday, Sunday, or a holiday.

For example, a Valentine’s Day proposal can sound really romantic, but keep in mind that there will likely be beach weddings happening and other proposals too. At Engaged on Maui, we never schedule two proposals on the same beach on the same day, but that doesn’t mean we can stop other people from planning their own proposal.

The exception to this rule is proposing on the beach at sunrise. Even if it’s on a weekend or holiday, there’s a decent shot you’ll have the beach to yourselves if you’re willing to get up early. The good news is that many visitors say they rise before the sun on their first morning in Maui anyways due to the time difference.

Use a special day to you

Sometimes, using an anniversary or birthday can be helpful in keeping the surprise. Your other half is already expecting you to make special plans, so it doesn’t seem as suspicious if you say you want to visit a certain landmark or made reservations at a nice restaurant.

Others may feel that their partner is expecting them to propose on a certain date and purposely pick a different one in order to throw them off.

You know your sweetie best, but we can always weigh the pros and cons with you on certain dates.

Work around your itinerary

When your other half is the planner in the relationship and has packed your vacation with activities, we may have to plan your proposal date around the little openings you have in your schedule.

The best thing to do in this case is send us a copy of your itinerary and let us give you ideas that would fit seamlessly into your existing arrangements. We can look at where you’ll be and say, “Okay, you have dinner reservations at this restaurant. You can propose at this beach on your way. Or you’re going on this hike, we have these locations nearby…”

We’ve worked with clients like this and there have been times when they didn’t love the options that fit into their existing schedules. However, we helped them find a spot they did love and then they worked out how to convince their sweetie to change the plan to accommodate their secret proposal.

We pick the date for you

There are occasions, especially during busy season or with last minute proposal inquiries, where our calendar is extremely full or the venue you’re interested in is completely booked.

In these circumstances, you have to pick from our limited time availability and/or location choices, which could be less than ideal. That time could clash with what you already have planned or mean you’re proposing at the end of your trip. If the location you want is unavailable, because it is also a wedding venue that gets reserved many months or over a year in advance, we know it is a letdown.

To have the full pick of date and location options, inquire with Engaged on Maui early! We’re talking as soon as you’ve booked your trip or even before you’ve officially paid for your flights and are just considering getting down on one knee in Maui.

We’ve planned hundreds of Maui proposals and will be happy to help you choose the best day to ask your partner to be yours forever!

The post How to Choose Your Maui Proposal Date appeared first on Engaged on Maui | Maui Proposal Photographer.

About Engaged on Maui

How We’ll Help

We will help you plan the proposal of your dreams! Truth is, we know the best locations like we know the back of our hands. Whether you want to propose on top of a 10,000-foot volcano at sunrise, in the jungle, in a helicopter overlooking some of the most beautiful views you have ever seen, or with a private Maui oceanfront view, we will make it happen.

Plus, working with your photographer through Engaged on Maui opens up a network of people who are willing to work hard for YOU. How can it get better than that?

We know you want to make this day — this incredibly special moment — as memorable as possible. We are here to help ensure that happens…to capture every moment leading up to the moment your special someone says, ” I do!”

Read more about how it all works here!

Book Your Maui Proposal Today

Have questions? Contact us today and we will be glad to help however we can!

Once you have proposed on Maui, come back and get married here! And have me take your photos!

The post Fall Proposal Perks appeared first on Engaged on Maui | Maui Proposal Photographer.

Personal Proposal Tips

Pictures

Take a walk down memory lane with your favorite photos throughout your relationship. Or, send us a sweet collage in a memento box for her to “find” right before you pop the question.

Victor decided to paint scenes of meaningful milestones in their relationship to display along the path to the gazebo where he proposed to Mariah.

Incorporate “your song” for a personal proposal

If you have a special song together, hearing it sets the tone for the romance.

For Jack’s proposal to Christine, we planned for a ukulele player to learn their special song. Said ukulele player also “just so happened” to be playing it as he passed by them on the beach. (Wink wink!) After the proposal, the musician treated them to a mini private concert. Romantic, right?

Incorporate keepsakes or inside jokes

When Blake met Kristina, she was working at a bakery. He came in to buy chocolate-covered strawberries. She was holding hot dog buns and he said, “Hey, nice buns. How much are your chocolate covered strawberries?” To pay tribute to the way they met and also their shared love of pirates, Blake sent us a treasure chest to bury on the beach. Can you guess what it was filled with? Yep, hot dog buns and chocolate-covered strawberries.

This was a super cute idea that fit into Kristina and Blake’s story. We have had some guys inquire about doing a treasure chest or other ideas they have seen online without any connection to their relationship. The key here is to think of something that makes perfect sense for your love story!

Meaningful ring holder

We normally tell you not to keep the engagement ring in the box and put it in your pocket instead. This is because the bulky outline is pretty recognizable and will give away even the stealthiest planners. However, in some cases, it makes sense for the ring holder not to be a box at all but something else entirely.

Chris and Jamie met at a bar. Jamie had just come from a wedding and was a little tipsy. Long story short, she showed Chris a cactus she received as a gift from the wedding, told him to take her on a date to get sushi, and put her number in his phone. When Chris texted her the next day, she didn’t remember him but ultimately decided to give him a chance and was very impressed that he took her to one of the best sushi restaurants in Houston.

For the proposal, Chris created a scrapbook of their favorite pictures and memories such as a menu from their first date. He ended with a small cactus. Since Jamie actually lost the cactus from the night they met, he said he found it and something special had grown in it over time. Then, he presented the ring and asked Jamie to marry him.

For Antonio’s proposal to Harry Potter fan Daniela, he sent us the Golden Snitch which had a copy of the Unbreakable Vow page inside. Our photographer set up the Golden Snitch for the couple to find right before the proposal.

Involve loved ones

If your sweetie is super close to family and friends, she will love knowing that they were involved in the proposal from asking for her parents’ blessing to getting sisters or best friends’ input on the perfect engagement ring.

We’ve planned many proposals that involve double surprises, with the engagement being the first surprise and having loved ones join in on the photo shoot later or be there at dinner as the second surprise. The look of shock and awe when she sees her nearest and dearest there is priceless!

When loved ones can’t be there in person, that’s when technology comes in handy. For Mikey’s proposal to Caitlin, he actually called her mom right before the proposal and put his phone back in his pocket so she could hear the whole thing.

We’ve also had several ladies FaceTime their besties to tell them the great news right away, and we’re able to capture that special moment too!

Ready to Plan Your Personal Proposal?

We can’t wait to hear your love story and help you brainstorm a personal Maui proposal true to your relationship! Contact us today to get the planning started!

The post Personal Proposal Tips appeared first on Engaged on Maui | Maui Proposal Photographer.