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Ashley and Adam’s Hyde Park Proposal
Before their proposal
Ashley and Adam - what a lovely couple and what a gorgeous proposal to photograph. Adam contacted me a few weeks before he was due to depart on a business trip to London from the US. He had everything figured out apart from the exact spot of the proposal. After long consideration he settled on the bridge at the bottom of Hyde Park.
Ashley arrived in the UK at the end of the week when Adam was done with his work arrangements and their plan was to have a week in London as a getaway. Little did Ashley know Adam planned to propose in the beginning of their week so they can spend the rest of the time away celebrating as a newly engaged couple.
On the day
The location was tricky. I arrived half an hour before the agreed time and observed for a while. It was empty for a while and then a group of people started feeding the gulls and ducks. You can probably guess what happened next. More birds and more people came, which crowded the bridge and certainly got me a little worried about our plan.
Luckily just as Adam and Ashley finished their breakfast in the cafe next to the bridge, the people went and there was our golden opportunity. They walked to the end of the bridge, Adam dropped on one knee, she said yes and we then spent an hour or so walking around the park.
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Where to next?
Check out Alexandra and Miguel’s Big Ben Proposal here.
Top 7 Locations to Propose in London According to a Proposal Photographer
Straight to the point, I present you my list of the top 7 locations to propose in London. This list is based on personal preference mostly which I’ve developed as a proposal photographer in London. Read further to find out more about each location and why I think it deserves a spot on this list.
1. Kyoto Garden - my personal favourite
2. Big Ben (or the arch beneath Westminster Bridge)
3. Primrose Hill
4. Italian Gardens
5. Tower Bridge
6. St Dunstan in the East Church Garden
7. Millennium Bridge
Kyoto Garden - My Personal Favourite
Kyoto Garden is a gem of a spot for proposals, situated within Holland Park in London. It’s usually not too busy and offers a lovely setting for an intimate proposal. I fell in love with Kyoto Garden from the moment I saw it for the first time. I enjoyed a cup of coffee on one of the benches at the park while I was waiting for my couple to arrive as they were running a little late. The garden is beyond tranquil and is the perfect spot if you’re looking to propose in London, love nature and prefer a more intimate environment.
2. Big Ben (or the arch beneath Westminster Bridge)
Looking for an iconic location within London? The arch across the Big Ben is a 10/10 for the task. Situated in the heart of London, the arch beneath Westminster bridge is a surprisingly convenient and not as busy as one would imagine for a proposal. Let me explain. The area is busy indeed, but the actual spot itself not so much. There might be a small queue of people lined up to take photos at the iconic spot but everyone is waiting for their turn and not spoiling other people’s photos. This makes it ideal for a surprise proposal at an iconic location.
3. Primrose Hill
Primrose Hill is another great location for proposals in London. It offers breath-taking views of the London skyline mixed with the natural views of Regents park in the foreground. Primrose hill is a very special place to me - it’s where I photographed my first ever surprise proposal. I love the reaction of people at Primrose Hill. Normally, there is a crowd at the top and they always cheer and applaud the couple and it’s lovely to see.
4. Italian Gardens
Italian Gardens, part of Hyde Park, is yet another beautiful spot for a proposal in London. It offers some lovely views and beautiful grounds to explore after you have proposed. It does get busy though so if you have your eyes set on Italian Gardens as your location to propose you have to be prepared to accept you might have some people other than you and your partner in your photos.
5. Tower Bridge
The most iconic bridge in London and certainly one of the most famous proposal locations - Tower Bridge. The only reason Tower Bridge isn’t nearer the top of this list is because of how busy it gets. It’s a fantastic location to propose and I certainly recommend it to everyone who wants an iconic look to their proposal photos.
6. St. Dunstan in the East Church Garden
St Dunstan in the East Church Garden is another stunning location for proposals in London. It’s just a few minutes away from Tower Bridge, very much in the heart of London but not many people know about it hence why it’s quiet and a lovely spot for proposals.
7. Millennium Bridge
Last on this list but definitely not least is Millennium Bridge in London. Busy but iconic, Millennium bridge is a great spot propose. With it’s stunning surroundings and amazing views it definitely deserves a spot on this list. It does get pretty busy so it’s okay if you are fine with people being around you but if you are looking for a more intimate proposal, very early morning would be the only appropriate time at this particular spot.
Bonus location - Fitzrovia Chapel
Fitzrovia Chapel is located in Pearson Square, London, was built in 1891-2 and restored in 2017. No longer a religious space, the chapel is frequently used for weddings, proposals, exhibitions and more. Ideal if you are looking for a really intimate setting and want to go an extra mile - the Chapel can be decorated and you can even hire a musician to perform while you are proposing.
To Summarise
London is full of stunning locations to propose. It’s all down to your personal preference. Whether you are looking for an iconic Tower Bridge or Big Ben proposal or you are after a more intimate, but still prominent setting like Kyoto Garden or St Dunstan in the East,, or a fully private setting like Fitzrovia Chapel, London has got it all for you.
Where to next?
Surprise proposals - how I photograph them, what’s included in the package I offer, the answers to your questions and more, you can find here.
Naadia and Jamie - Rowhill Grange & Utopia Spa Hotel Proposal
The Planning
Jamie contacted me a few weeks before the proposal. He had all the details figured out - the ring, the place, the time, the gazebo and afternoon tea. He had planned a spa day away for him and his partner, Naadia, at the Rowhill Grange & Utopia Spa hotel near Dartford. He arranged a company to decorate the gazebo at the hotel and had an afternoon tea set up there as well.
The plan worked perfectly. Naadia had a massage booked from 12 until 12:30 during which we made sure everything was okay and made sure the wind didn’t knock one of the decorative trees over towards the table where the ring was hidden and where the afternoon tea was set up.
The hotel itself and the grounds were fantastic. The weather, apart from the random gusts of wind, was definitely on our side. The weather forecast kept changing and also the chances of rain were high according to the ever-so-unreliable weather apps but in the end the rain held off for us.
The decorated gazebo looked gorgeous thanks to A&K Event Styling Ltd and the afternoon tea which was prepared by the hotel looked, and tasted, amazing. Thank you so much Naadia and Jamie for letting me have the smoked salmon sandwiches from your afternoon tea!
The ring! The ring was nothing short of incredible. Jamie could not have done a better job at picking the ring. I can tell you this because Naadia did not stop looking at it throughout the hour or so I had with them and indeed it was a fine piece of jewellery.
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I’m forever grateful I got to photograph Naadia and Jamie’s proposal and also to receive this message from Naadia afterwards.
“Stan....we are honestly lost for words...The pictures are absolutely beautiful, every single one captures a different emotion that helped us to relive and remember that particular moment in time. The photos are stunning and we love them. We cannot wait to share them with our family and friends. I'm so pleased that you were recommended to Jamie and that you were available on the weekend as planned. It was meant to be!”
Where to next?
Check out Alexandra and Miguel’s Big Ben proposal here.
Kyoto Garden Proposal - Apoorva and Sunil - A Perfectly Executed Plan
It couldn’t have gone any better..!
Apoorva was oblivious to what was coming. I was on the other side of the waterfall, she saw me and handed me her phone to take a photo of them. I said I’d take a photo of them on my camera and send it to them later as well. Little did she know Sunil was about to propose. The plan was so perfectly executed it took Apoorva a while to realise what had just happened.
After the proposal
After Sunil proposed we then wandered through Kyoto Garden and Holland Park and then got on the streets. To finish, we all needed to get on the tube which was a perfect opportunity to get a photo of them with a blurred train in the background - I loved it!
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Where to next?
Check out Akanksha and Sam’s Italian Gardens proposal here.
Millennium Bridge Proposal - Cristiana and Raffa
“Hi Stan!!!! You have exceeded our expectations!!! These are really really beautiful!!! Thank you sooooo much!!!”
The Story
Raffa and Cristiana met during the pandemic and used to go to Millennium Bridge all the time. Back then it looked a little different from now - there were a lot less people. Despite this, Raffa didn’t have a doubt that Millenium Bridge was where he would propose.
He contacted me and we had a video call during which we made a great use of Google Street View - my best friend in location scouting.
On the day Raffa executed the plan well, she said a big YES, and we wandered around for an hour or so to take some photos around Millenium Bridge. They had a really lovely connection between them which made it a breeze to capture nice moments.
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About Me
Hi, I’m Stan and I’m a documentary wedding photographer based in Folkestone, Kent. I also enjoy working as a proposal photographer in London and the UK. My approach and style are all about beautifully capturing the candid moment - natural, authentic and unposed. Find out more about how I photograph proposals here.
Italian Gardens Proposal - Akanksha and Sam
Before the Proposal
Sam and I got on like a house on fire from the day he contacted me about his proposal. I loved how he planned the whole thing and the location he had in mind - Italian Gardens. Sam was so excited and literally couldn’t wait for the big day (he contacted me 5 weeks in advance).
We had a video call and we did the usual Google Street View scout of the location. A couple of weeks after that I was in London for another proposal so I popped down to the location to figure out which was the best spot for the proposal which Sam really appreciated.
The Plan
Sam told Akanksha they were coming to London to celebrate her taking her GP exam and he had the whole day planned. Little did she know he was also planning to propose.
On the day, after their train got cancelled and then they got stuck in traffic, they finally made it to Italian Gardens, and the rest is history.
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PS
I feel like herons are stalking me - there has been one at my last two proposals.
As always it was an absolute pleasure to be a part of another proposal story and to be able to capture some photos for Akanksha and Sam that they will hopefully cherish forever.
About Me
Hi, I’m Stan and I’m a documentary wedding photographer based in Folkestone, Kent. I also enjoy working as a proposal photographer in London and the UK. My approach and style are all about beautifully capturing the candid moment - natural, authentic and unposed. Find out more about how I photograph proposals here.
A Surprise Proposal in London - the Arch Beneath Westminster Bridge - Laura and Luke
Find out the story behind Laura and Luke’s surprise proposal in London.
Before the Proposal
Luke contacted me in early June and told me about his and his girlfriend Laura’s plans to visit Europe for 5 weeks during July and August. He told me that Laura loved London and was really looking forward to visiting all the landmarks, which is why he was thinking of proposing to her in London.
Choosing the Location
Luke was considering proposing at the arch beneath Westminster Bridge, opposite Big Ben but wasn’t entirely sure. During our video call, we looked at the photos from a previous proposal I had photographed there - Alexandra and Miguel’s proposal, and it was enough for Luke to fall in love with the location.
Photographing the Proposal
The time we agreed on was 9 am because the spot tends to get pretty busy after that and Luke wanted as much of a private setting as possible. I was going to be exactly on time, but I normally get to proposals at least 30 minutes beforehand which gives me time to adjust to any unforeseen circumstances. I decided to message Luke and ask him to slow them down so I get some time to set up my cameras and get ready.
Little did I know - he took my request quite literally. They didn’t mean to but got on the wrong bus to get to the location and ended up being almost an hour late. It actually worked great for me as I had time to set my cameras up, adjust all settings, get ready, take some establishing photos and so forth. I did get worried when they hadn’t showed up half an hour later so I dropped Luke a message to make sure everything was okay.
Luke executed the plan perfectly. They took a few selfies with the Big Ben in the background and just when Laura thought they were about to leave, Luke got the ring out of his pocket and dropped to one knee.
After the Proposal
After Luke introduced me to Laura we had a quick chat and we did what I always do with couples after their proposals - we got lost in London for about an hour, they were being themselves, celebrating their engagement and having lovely moments and I was capturing their real connection, intimacy and joy.
It was an absolute bliss getting to know Laura and Luke and being a part of something so special for them.
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About Me
Hi, I’m Stan and I’m a documentary wedding photographer based in Folkestone, Kent. I also enjoy working as a proposal photographer in London and the UK. My approach and style are all about beautifully capturing the candid moment - natural, authentic and unposed. Find out more about how I photograph proposals here or find out more about me.
Westgate Gardens, Canterbury, Surprise Proposal - Hannah and John
The Planning
John and Hannah were planning a trip to the UK at the end of June. A few weeks before they were due to land in London, John contacted me to see if I was available to photograph his surprise proposal. We had a lovely video call during which we were choosing the best spot for the task with the help of Google Street View.
On the day there was a small blue tractor with a trailer parked just behind the spot we had decided on. It’s because of circumstances like this I like to get on location for proposals well early, which gives me time to react and solve the problem.
Luckily for John and Hannah, the tractor wasn’t too big and simply choosing a lower angle to photograph from meant it was no longer an issue.
On the Day
John executed the plan perfectly and Hannah said a big YES. She was caught by complete surprise and there was so much shock, tears and laughs. We then spent some time wandering the streets of Canterbury.
Another proposal, another couple it was an absolute pleasure to meet and photograph.
About Me
Hi, I’m Stan and I’m a documentary wedding photographer based in Folkestone, Kent. I also enjoy working as a proposal photographer in London and the UK. My approach and style are all about beautifully capturing the candid moment - natural, authentic and unposed. Find out more about how I photograph proposals here.
Big Ben Surprise Proposal - Alexandra and Miguel
Before the Proposal
Miguel - a devoted Manchester United fan and a great guy got in touch to see if I could photograph his surprise proposal in London at the beginning of June. He and his girlfriend at the time, now fiancee, Alexandra, were on their way to Italy for a wedding but decided to spend some time in London beforehand. Little did she know Miguel had big plans for their short stay in London.
Miguel knew Alexandra loved the architecture in London and decided that Big Ben would be a perfect background for their proposal. The original plan was to propose at a specific time (11:19, which is their date), but he ended up proposing earlier.
Photographing the Proposal
Miguel executed the plan perfectly and as you can probably guess, she said yes and we spent an hour or so wandering around Westminster after their proposal for some photos. What a pleasure it was to meet and spend some time with these two genuinely lovely people and capture some moments they will treasure forever.
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Where to next?
Check out Apoorva and Sunil’s Kyoto Garden proposal here.
Lucas & Danielle’s London Surprise Proposal
“I reached out to Stan on short notice to plan a surprise proposal in London and he was amazing to work with. From planning to execution everything went smoothly. He picked an amazing spot to shoot it and walked around London for an hour with us afterwards and the pictures turned out perfect. My fiancé and I couldn’t have been happier with how the whole day went. It was an absolute pleasure getting to meet and work with him on planning a day we will never forget!”
Lucas and Danielle came to the UK from Canada for their holiday at the end of April. Lucas loved London and had decided to propose during their trip. He was particularly fond of the architecture but knew Danielle didn’t like crowded spaces, which was a challenge in busy London.
The location we came up with was Abingdon Street Gardens - a quiet spot in Westminster, overlooking the Palace of Westminster and Big Ben.
Lucas did a great job, executed the plan perfectly and Danielle said YES! After their proposal, we wandered around for an hour or so during which I photographed them being themselves and having some lovely moments as a newly-engaged couple.
We joked about how brave pigeons in the UK are and I’m thrilled I managed to get one in flight in one of their photos!
About Me
Hi, I’m Stan and I’m a documentary wedding photographer based in Folkestone, Kent. I also enjoy working as a proposal photographer in London and the UK. My approach and style are all about beautifully capturing the candid moment - natural, authentic and unposed. Find out more about how I photograph proposals here.
Primrose Hill Surprise Proposal - She Said YES! (Katy and Dhanesh)
“If you are a looking for a photographer who will go above and beyond to capture your special moment, Stan is your man!
When you book someone 24 hours before your proposal on an Instagram strangers recommendation, you’re not sure what you’re going to get. But what was delivered were timeless memories that we, our friends and family will treasure for a lifetime. Such good photos that we booked him for our wedding, and once again Stan delivered!”
Long Shots Pay Off Sometimes
On Friday last week, I got a message from a nice chap called Dhanesh asking if I was free the next day for a surprise proposal in London. Long shot… but it paid off. I’m over the moon I took on the challenge.
There were so many variables and unknowns that could’ve gone wrong but despite everything Dhanesh executed the plan perfectly. And most important of all - Katy said YES!!!
We started at Primrose Hill where he proposed, and walked down to Camden Market where I photographed them being themselves and having some nice moments after the proposal.
About Me
Hi, I’m Stan and I’m a documentary wedding photographer based in Folkestone, Kent. I also enjoy working as a proposal photographer in London and the UK. My approach and style are all about beautifully capturing the candid moment - natural, authentic and unposed. Find out more about how I photograph proposals here.