Abhinav reached out to me months before this special day to plan the perfect proposal to his longtime girlfriend, Gauree. Working out the details felt like a covert mission & it was so exciting to be a part of! On the big day, Abhinav took Gauree on a road trip starting in San Francisco and stopping at several spots that were special to them, before arriving to their final destination in Carmel, where I was waiting for them without Gauree knowing. In each location, he had prepared a reading that documented their journey together, and then took a polaroid. Each spot was meant to be a clue to where they would be going next. I arrived to Carmel a couple of hours before their arrival time to meet with Abhinav’s sister, where she showed me the exact spot Abhinav had picked out to propose to Gauree. When Abhinav arrived, he confirmed what they were wearing and I anxiously waited, watching couples on the trail, until I finally spotted them! I sneakily snapped photos as he read the final reading, took a polaroid and then bent down on one knee. When she said yes, other hikers on the trail cheered for them and then I came out of my hiding spot to make myself known and congratulate the newly engaged couple! Gauree was SO surprised and beyond happy with the entire experience, it went incredibly smoothly (whew!) After our introduction & hugs, I took the couple down the trail for some portraits. Then, we drove to another location nearby for a quick outfit change (yes, Abhinav even picked out her second outfit without her knowing!) and we finished our perfect proposal day together amongst a field of flowers & stunning views of the ocean. It was one of the most unique experiences I’ve been lucky enough to witness, and an unforgettably beautiful day.