How To Plan a Surprise Proposal at the Top of a Mountain - When There's Nowhere to Hide the Photographer?
- neatocheetoish
- Jun 12
- 4 min read
A Surprise Proposal at Elk Garden, Grayson Highland State Park on the Appalachian Trail.
Planning a surprise proposal is tricky enough—but when your dream location is a wide-open mountaintop with no trees, no rocks, and nowhere to hide… it takes some serious creativity. Daniel reached out to me months in advance to plan this unforgettable moment at Elk Garden in Grayson Highlands State Park, right along the Appalachian Trail. As an engagement photographer in Southwest Virginia, I knew the views would be incredible—but we had to get creative to keep the surprise.
Daniel reached out to me about two months before his proposal, I could immediately sense how thoughtful and intentional he was. He had a clear vision- he wanted to propose to Emily, on top of a mountain along the Appalachian Trail, where they hike every year for his birthday. The specific location he chose was Elk Garden at Grayson Highlands State Park, a place that held deep meaning for the two of them. The Appalachian Trail runs directly through this section of the park, and hiking there on May 4 had become a tradition for them. That’s Daniel’s birthday—and every year, they celebrate it with a hike on the trail. So for Daniel, proposing there on that exact date, on his birthday, was the perfect way to mark the beginning of a new chapter in their lives.
We met a month before the proposal to scout the area, and I immediately saw the challenge: the spot he chose was breathtaking, but also wide open. There were very few trees or rocks—definitely no place for me to hide! That’s when we came up with a plan. I’d go up ahead of them and pretend to be a landscape photographer. When they arrived, I’d casually ask to take a few photos "for my portfolio", so Emily wouldn’t suspect a thing.
Rain or Shine—The Tradition Continues
As the day approached, the forecast showed rain. We looked into other locations just in case, but Emily insisted on sticking with their annual tradition—rain or not. She didn’t know about the proposal, but it was important to her to hike Elk Garden on May 4 like they always did. So we kept the plan in place and hoped for the best.
The day finally arrived and so did the rain. I made it to the top of the mountain and found a small rock ledge to take cover under while I waited. Daniel texted to say they were waiting at the bottom for the rain to ease up before starting the hike. When I finally saw them approaching, I got into position and casually asked if they were hiking in the rain “for fun.” Emily nodded said yes. Then I asked if I could take a few shots of them for my portfolio. Daniel quickly agreed, and Emily, though slightly suspicious, decided to go along with it.
A Moment She’ll Never Forget
I captured some sweet, candid moments of them walking hand-in-hand and enjoying the view. Then I led them to the tree—where Daniel and I had planned for him to propose. I gave them a simple prompt: to dance together. When Emily twirled, Daniel dropped to one knee.
The second she said “yes,” the skies opened up—and I truly believe it was God shining down on this moment. The sun poured through the clouds, casting the most beautiful, golden light across the mountaintop. The timing couldn’t have been more perfect. What started as a rainy, overcast afternoon turned into something radiant and divine. And the photos? They looked like they were taken during golden hour—even though it was around 3 PM.
The Best Kind of Surprise
After the excitement of the proposal, we told Emily the truth: the photo session wasn’t random, and Daniel had planned every detail. She was completely shocked and so touched by the thoughtfulness behind it all. Daniel had even packed outfits for both of them to change into after the hike, knowing she’d want to take engagement photos while they were dressed up. I brought a pop-up tent so they could change comfortably, and then we had a full engagement session on top of the mountain.
Emily was glowing—with love, joy, and total surprise—and the images we captured afterward were just as magical as the proposal itself.
Client Love from Emily
After planning this surprise proposal on the Appalachian Trail and hiking into Elk Garden at Grayson Highlands State Park, I received the sweetest note from Emily. Her words truly mean the world to me — and they perfectly sum up why I love doing what I do:
“Robin went above and beyond to capture such a special moment in our lives! From the very beginning, she made us feel so cared for and truly took the time to get to know us. Everything she did felt so personal and intentional—she even hiked to our location multiple times just to make sure everything would be perfect. Her attention to detail, warmth, and creativity made the whole experience unforgettable. We’re so in love with our photos and couldn’t be more grateful for her heart and talent!”
Planning a Surprise Proposal on the Appalachian Trail? Let’s Make It Perfect.
If you’re dreaming of a surprise proposal at Grayson Highlands or anywhere along the Appalachian Trail, I would be honored to help you plan the moment. Communication, lighting, and location are key—especially when the proposal is a surprise. I’ll help you think through everything ahead of time so you can focus on what matters most: asking the question that will change your life.
When you book with me, I’ll guide you through every step—providing prompts and direction that make the photos feel natural, authentic, and full of real emotion. My goal is to create timeless images that bring you right back to that exact moment every time you look at them.
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Check out this other engagement session at Grayson Highland State Park with Wild Ponies!
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