The forecast said rain. By the time Emily turned around on the beach in Sea Isle City, the sky had settled into soft silver clouds, the wind was coming in off the ocean, and John was already down on one knee. Sometimes the Shore hands you exactly what you didn’t know you wanted.
Four Years, One Beach
John and Emily met on the beach in Wildwood four years ago. His parents keep a trailer in Ocean View, about ten minutes from Sea Isle, so the two of them have spent every summer weekend down there for four years running. Sea Isle became their spot. So when John started thinking about where to propose, there was never really a question. You propose where you fell in love.
The Plan
Emily was half expecting it. Their anniversary fell over Labor Day weekend and she was sure that was going to be the moment, but John didn’t have the ring yet. The next open weekend was the first one in October, and it turned out to be even better. The beach was quieter and the light was softer. And Emily had no idea.
To get her down to the beach dressed up without tipping her off, John’s sister Tara, who shoots a little on the side, offered to take some photographs of the two of them. Emily had no clue the real photographers were already in place. We got there early, checked the light and the wind, marked our spot in the sand, and stayed completely out of sight.
The Moment
The plan was for John to come up behind her for a hug. Instead, he dropped to one knee. Emily turned around, and I have never in my life photographed a more expressive reaction. She was jumping, she was crying, she could barely hold it all in. That’s the moment every proposal photographer is chasing, and she gave it to us completely.
Then We Celebrated
Tara had made bride-to-be sunglasses and a custom sash, so we had some fun with those right there on the sand.
Even in October the water was still in the low to mid seventies, warm enough that they walked right out onto a sandbar. For a few minutes it looked like the two of them were standing in the middle of the ocean.
Then came a little surprise of my own. I had champagne waiting so they could pop a bottle right there on the beach. John got his open right away. Emily fought with hers, and that fight made some of the best, most real photographs of the whole day.
Sea Isle in October
From the beach we headed up to the Promenade.
Right in front of the main stage, John nailed his High School Musical jump.
Then we got gloriously silly around a giant turtle sculpture, with an entire restaurant full of people watching us. That only made us lean into the weirder poses.
We would have finished at Rita’s, because Emily is obsessed with Rita’s, but it had already closed for the season. A very Shore in October ending.
Don’t Let a Cloudy Forecast Scare You
Couples ask me all the time what happens if it’s cloudy. You can still get great photos on an overcast day. I’d always rather have a little sun because it makes everything more three-dimensional, but I’ll find the light either way, and nobody’s squinting. The beach is quieter after Labor Day, too, which makes hiding a lot easier.
I’ve been photographing surprise proposals at the Jersey Shore for over 21 years. If Sea Isle is your place, read how I hid on a Sea Isle City beach for Simone and Tom’s proposal, or see what happened when a nor’easter hit Mackenzie and Sean’s proposal in Ocean City. Still early in the planning? My guide on how to plan a surprise proposal at the shore walks through timing, locations, and how we keep the secret.
Ready to Start Planning?
Tell me the town, the date, and who you’re asking. I’ll help you figure out the rest, clouds and all. Fill out my proposal inquiry form here and let’s make it happen.