Back in October Jin reached out looking for a photographer for his proposal. He had thought up lovely reason to bring Sue into DC at sunrise and wanted to surprise her by proposing down at the monuments. I’ve not shot too many proposals, it’s something people often keep to themselves. I was so excited to work with Jin and Sue after chatting with him though. It was clear he was excited and had been thinking about a plan for quite a while. His plans for a Washington DC proposal sounded amazing, and I was so excited to be party of their story!

On a chilly morning in November we headed down to the Lincoln Memorial at sunrise. A Washington DC proposal pretty much requires that you arrive at sunrise to avoid crowds. Even on chilly days and mid-winter the views of sunrise over the Lincoln Memorial brings out a crowd. We arrived at sunrise and even though the Memorial was under construction we took advantage of the view over the Reflecting Pool. While the first light was full of color, within a minute the sky turned to lovely winter blues and grays. And in all honesty – these colors were much more beautiful and in tone with our fall color pallet.

Our plan was really chill. Take some photos around the Reflecting Pool and then head over to the DC War Memorial for a bit of privacy for Jin to propose. If you’re planning a Washington DC proposal there is no better spot. There are hardly ever any other people around, it’s quite a bit quieter than the main drag of monuments, and the rotunda makes for a beautiful setting.

As the sun began to rise we made our way over to the DC War Memorial. Jin looked both excited and a bit nervous – but did an amazing job at pretending that this was just a normal day. After a bit time of chatting, snuggling and walking around Jin gave me the nod to let me know he was about to propose. He got down on one knee, looked into Sue’s eyes and asked her to marry him! Sue was so happy, and I felt so honored to be part of the moment. Take a scroll through all these special moments and enjoy this Washington DC proposal unfold before your eyes!

WHAT DO YOU NEED TO KNOW TO PLAN YOUR OWN WASHINGTON DC PROPOSAL?

There are definitely some tips and tricks when it comes to planning for such an iconic location. First off – Sunrise is your friend. Less people, easier parking, and the backdrop of the sun rising down the Reflecting Pool and over the Capitol Building. Depending on the season you might even see a moonrise, or a group of baby ducks floating by. Be warned that in spring the area is busy with the crowds of Cherry Blossoms and in the winter the mornings can be quite chilly. But in the end it’s all worth it to get that perfect Washington DC proposal. Lastly – we do need a permit since it’s National Park land, but don’t worry I’ll take care of that! Start planning your proposal and reach out when you’re ready to book your photographer!