4 Great Locations for A Surprise Proposal on the Central Coast of California
Having the Central Coast of California as the backdrop to your proposal spot is a surefire way to guarantee some epic images.
If you’re thinking about proposing, I’ll start off by saying congratulations! This is such an exciting time, and it is absolutely normal to feel all the stress and nerves before you do this.
One thing I highly recommend is hiring a professional photographer to capture it all. The reason I say “professional photographer” is because if they have been around the block with photography they have most likely shot a few proposals in their time. I personally have done several in my 16 years in business. Most of the time I do everything for the couple. Find the location, set up, champagne, chocolates, photos, roses, blankets, food, etc. and I have even had a harpist there. I absolutely love to make it special for them and the person proposing gets all the brownie points.
Capturing all of the raw & surprised emotions of this special moment truly is priceless. Most of the time they are so nervous they even forget what they said during the proposal. Capture it all.
The journey from proposal to vows is a blink and I want you to remember what it felt like in that moment when you look at your portraits. Therefore, it pays to take a moment, and appreciate how you’re feeling right now. As a wedding photographer in California, I’ve taken photos of countless couples at all stages of their wedding timelines. Every single one of them loved having the opportunity to stop for a minute, pause all the madness of big-day planning, and just embrace each other’s company.
During my time capturing proposals, engagements, and weddings throughout the Central Coast of California, I’ve been fortunate enough to discover some pretty wonderful locations for photos. Places that feel unique to this beautiful part of the world, and offer the most romantic of backdrops for portraits. From caves and beaches to wineries and nature reserves. There is the perfect proposal location for every couple here on the coast.
Where Best to do a proposal on the Central Coast of California Today I’m going to share my secret California Proposal spots, and hopefully inspire you to take advantage of these breathtaking locations.
If you’re a couple who loves to explore together, and would take a hike over going to the movies any day. Then The Pismo Preserve in Pismo Beach, California could be the ideal place for a proposal ! This 880 acre piece of coastline is home to 11 miles of wonderfully scenic hiking trails, and offers panoramic views of the Pacific.
The Pismo Preserve is a hiker’s paradise, with a variety of trails, all offering different views, experiences and difficultly levels. Meaning there’s a route for every type of couple. Most of the trails would be good for beginner to intermediate level of hiking. The sweeping views of the beautiful ocean side can be seen from many view points along the trails. The back ground for your proposal will look like something out of a magazine.
Vineyards and wineries are pretty romantic destinations. The rolling hills, sprawling green fields and often breathtaking views are all trademarks of a good vineyard. Laetitia Winery checks all of those boxes, and then some. Located in San Luis Obispo County, this coastal vineyard has been producing fine wines since 1982, and was established originally by a French Champagne House.
I’ve been fortunate enough to take photos at Laetitia Winery multiple times, and it is certainly one of my favorite destinations on the Central Coast of California for proposal or engagement sessions. Mainly due to how impressive it looks on camera. The vineyards seem to stretch infinitely across the land, offering a dramatic perspective, the ideal backdrop to capture couples against. But it’s not just wide open fields, there are rural paths through the grand Oak Trees on the property that make for a breathtaking back ground.
The winery is a destination for wine lovers, with a variety of of tasting options available. Which I would highly recommend as a post-proposal treat. Just imagine kicking back, enjoying a glass of fine wine, and embracing those wonderful views in the warm afternoon sun.
Another great spot for wine lovers on the Central Coast of California, and a magnificent place to capture a surprise proposal, is the Eberle Wine Caves. A series of underground tunnels that play host to hundreds of aged wine barrels. A naturally cool and architecturally unique location that has certainly impressed my couples in the past.
A surprise proposal in a cave 30 feet below ground may not seem like an obvious, or particularly romantic choice on first mention. But the moment you step inside, and start wandering through the tunnels, you’ll quickly realize why it makes such a good backdrop. The rows of barrels stretch on within the caves that are very subtly lit with a soft glow. Which gives photography down there a really intimate feel, and a remarkable sense of depth.
Pismo Beach Caves (low-tide)
The caves at Pismo Beach are another great place for the adventurous couple, and a location many locals haven’t even seen themselves! These natural caves are hugely popular with kayakers, who love exploring the many intersecting tunnels while the tide is high. Which could be a fun way to see the caves from another perspective following your shoot!
For those who’d rather keep their feet on the floor, you need to time your visit to the Pismo Beach caves for around low-tide. Which means either starting your day early, and making your way down to the beach around 6:45am, or later on in the day, at about 6:30pm. As an wedding photographer in California, who’s taken countless photos down at this popular Central Coast location, I would thoroughly recommend setting your alarm. Visiting this spot early, during the week won’t guarantee privacy while taking your photos, but it’ll certainly increase the chances of getting the place more to yourselves.
Exploring the caves early evening means you’ll be shooting during golden hour. This is the most flattering and beautiful time of the day for photography. During this time, the sun gently illuminates these caves in a gorgeous, soft light that looks incredible on camera. The sheer beauty of these caves make this another one of my favorite places to do a surprise proposal.
We’re ending our list of great places for a surprise proposal on the Central Coast with a place that is also a wonderful wedding venue. See Canyon Fruit Ranch is a beautiful place to tie the knot, and a destination I’ve had the pleasure of shooting both engagement and wedding photography at numerous times.
This family run ranch is situated within a magnificent canyon, and is surrounded by soaring oak trees on all sides. A feature that not only makes it a delightful place to wander around, weaving through the apple orchards. But it also gives the area an intimate, cozy feeling, as if the acres of tall oaks are protecting those on the ground in some way. Within the ranch there are various lush gardens, a few apple orchards and plenty of winding paths that guide you around the beautiful ranch. Ideal places for a couple and their photographer to explore together, capturing photos as you go.
There is wonderful on-site camping if you’d like to make a weekend of it, and relax in the countryside after your surprise proposal. Enjoy a glass of wine surrounded in the 100 year old apple orchard that is beautiful any time of the year. Otherwise, you’re less than a 10 minutes drive from several gorgeous beaches, including Avila Beach, Shell Beach and Pismo Beach. All of these locations have some great restaurants overlooking the sea.
I hope I have inspired your search for a surprise proposal location, and maybe found the perfect spot to backdrop your photos against! It would be my pleasure to continue helping you further, and actually become a part of your big day team.
As a Central Coast wedding and engagement photographer, I am all about capturing moments as they happen for my couples. My wish is that you will look back in 10 years from now, and can feel every emotion you did on the day.
You are welcome to browse through my portfolio on the website. For any questions, or if you’d like to have a chat about your upcoming proposal, engagement or wedding. I would be happy to help plan out the perfect session you dream of.