From Long Distance to Together Forever: Brent and Anna’s Romantic New Orleans Surprise Proposal
In the game of pulling off surprise proposals in New Orleans, it's all about sweating the small stuff. I'm super excited to take you behind the curtain of one of the prettiest proposals I've ever had the chance to help bring to life—and capture through my lens- at an exclusive location I used for the first time! Y’all know how much I like firsts after all these years planning proposals in New Orleans. But this isn't just a story about how my team and I had to do some quick problem solving to set up this big surprise; It's a story about Brent and Anna's journey together, a story so perfect it could easily be the plot of a blockbuster romance movie.
The Couple
Brent and Anna’s story started like any good romcom- they met at his cousin's wedding. Then came the whole long-distance thing, which, honestly, you'd think would pull them apart, right? But nope, it did the complete opposite.
They stuck it out for over two years, and finally, they didn't have to count down days between seeing each other. They were actually living in the same place, and things between them just bloomed. When Brent hit me up about planning his proposal to Anna, I just knew we had to make it worthy of the wait.
Choosing the Perfect Location
The first step in creating the perfect proposal is selecting the ideal location. Brent was clear from the start: Anna would prefer something private and away from the public eye. But he also wanted it to be within walking distance of the French Quarter where they would be staying.
Anyone who has ever been to New Orleans knows it is quite challenging to escape the public anywhere near the French Quarter. So I tapped my personal connections in New Orleans to secure him a private space on Frenchmen Street, a location not open to the public at all! With a little bit of sprucing up it would be perfect for what we had in mind.
Setting the Scene
Brent's vision for the proposal was clear—he wanted it to be romantic, filled with candles and rose petals to create a warm, intimate atmosphere. Drawing on this vision, I designed an elegant setup with hundreds of ivory pillar candles housed in clear, glass hurricane vases and a delicate sprinkling of red rose petals. The focal point of the proposal would be a classic New Orleans mantle left behind long after the fireplace it once housed was bricked shut.
Every proposal, no matter how meticulously planned, comes with its challenges. In our case, the backdrop had a few issues: a conspicuous breaker box next to the fireplace and an open window into a kitchen that were both, well, to be frank, eyesores. But with every challenge comes an opportunity for creativity! And y’all know I never shy away from a challenge.
Together with my assistant, Victoria, we brainstormed solutions, settling on hanging pieces of deep, red velvet fabric on the wall to elegantly cover the breaker box, with stunning floral arrangements attached, mirroring each other on either side of the mantle so that it looked intentional rather than a slapdash attempt at covering something unsightly. This not only solved our problem but also added a rich, luxurious element to the decor. To conceal the kitchen window, I decided on a tension rod to hang lace curtains, covering the chaotic kitchen scene and bringing in an extra touch of softness to the entire space.
The Day of the Proposal
Brent’s proposal was the 11th of a run of 13 proposals in 6 weeks. It was also the first of three I had booked for that weekend. So on the morning of the proposal, it would only make sense for me to wake up with a backache. I had arranged to do all the setup with Victoria but I knew I was going to need an extra set of hands. My usual suspects were all booked but one of them referred a coworker of hers who was looking to pick up some gig work. She was available and I am so grateful she was able to help out! It turned out I needed every hand available.
My team and I arrived early, a practice I've learned is essential in this line of work. While the space had been tidied, it fell short of my exacting standards. Without hesitation, I dug through the kitchen to find some cleaner and clean bar rags and got to work on my hands and knees, scrubbing floors, baseboards, and walls until they met my definition of clean. I am nothing if not committed to perfection for my clients' most memorable moments- though, I'll admit, hiring a cleaning crew is on my list for next time!
Between scrubbing baseboards and sweeping floors, I was climbing onto bar stools to hang the fabric and the curtains. My two assistants worked tirelessly setting up the candles to transform the room from a musicians’ green room above a music venue into a vision of romance and elegance. The glow of the candles cast soft shadows, the floral arrangements added a burst of color and life, and the lace curtains did exactly as I intended. Overall we created an ambiance that was nothing short of magical.
The Element of Surprise
To maintain the element of surprise, I coordinated with the restaurant downstairs to create a seamless experience. My assistant, ever the embodiment of professionalism and discretion, posed as a host downstairs to meet Brent and Anna at the door for their reservation. She would then lead them to their "special table upstairs." This simple yet effective ruse ensured that Anna remained unaware of the preparations that lay in wait. Meanwhile, I positioned myself discreetly in the corner of the room, cameras in hand, ready to capture the unfolding moments.
The Big Moment
As I heard Brent and Anna heading up the stairs, ushered by my assistant, I hit play on my ipad to start the playlist I had Brent make. It started with their song- “Until I Found You” by Stephen Sanchez. The look on Anna's face when she walked into the room was one I'll never forget. Surprise, joy, and love (and candlelight!) illuminated her expression as Brent led her into the heart of the room, in front of the fireplace, where he got down on one knee. The moment was intimate and beautiful, exactly as Brent had wanted for Anna. Brent wasted no time getting out the ring and popping the question. And Anna responded with an immediate "yes!" while I kept the shutter firing from the corner across the room.
One Final Surprise
The surprises weren’t done for the night! I invited Anna and Brent, still floating on that "just engaged" cloud, to step out onto the balcony for some engagement portraits. It was my sneaky way of hitting two birds with one stone. We got to capture their love with the lively colors of Frenchmen street as a backdrop and it also gave my assistant the perfect window to setup the final surprise.
I made sure to position them on the balcony where Anna wouldn’t see what was waiting for them downstairs. When I got the go ahead from Victoria that everything was ready, I suggested we go downstairs to take a few photos on the street. But then I led them to their own horse drawn carriage where Victoria had arranged blankets to fend off the January night's chill and a bottle of champagne with glasses for a celebratory toast.
Seeing their stunned and happy faces was just the best. It wrapped up the night in the most perfect way. They popped open the champagne, toasted to their future, and snuggled under the blankets, all smiles. Watching them ride off to dinner was the perfect end to this chapter of their Hollywood love story.
Looking back at Brent and Anna's proposal night in New Orleans really drives home why I'm so into this job. It's all about the little things- making sure every single detail, from their favorite song to that fairy-tale carriage ride, lines up just right for the perfect surprise. I always have to lean on creativity, a keen eye for details, and a lot of proposal experience- especially when encountering some last minute hurdles-to turn what my clients dream up into something real. I can’t be afraid to (quite literally) get my hands dirty in order to make sure everything is flawless. My back (and cuticles!) might not be too happy about it in the moment but the joy I see on the couple’s face is worth it every time.
So, what do you say? Ready to plan the proposal of your partner’s dreams?
