Valen and Sydney’s Proposal Under the Sea

Last spring, as the intoxicating scent of jasmine filled the air in New Orleans, I received a call from Valen. He was eager to plan a summer surprise proposal in New Orleans but was unsure of just how to pull it off from the West Coast. One intriguing detail in his initial contact form caught my eye; his girlfriend, Sydney, was obsessed with mermaids.

Dive on in to this much belated blog post and hear how we made a splash giving Sydney a unique proposal tailored just for her.

Answering The Siren’s Call

Reading about Sydney’s love for mermaids sparked an idea that swam through my mind even before our official consultation. I envisioned a proposal set in a lush, tropical, New Orleans style courtyard, complete with a sparkling pool and real-life mermaids. The pièce de ré·sis·tance would be a handcrafted clamshell holding a life-changing message.

As I laid out the plan for a mermaid-themed proposal—complete with a tropical backdrop and a handcrafted clamshell—I couldn't help but notice Valen's silence on the other end of the line. Those moments felt like an eternity, my own heartbeat echoing in my ears, much like the suspense our clients often talk about. Finally, Valen broke the silence with a simple "yes," and I breathed a sigh of relief. That moment, I really got a taste of the nervous excitement that comes with asking a big question!

Planning Magic in the Marigny

I dove head first into creating a proposal that had never been done before- not in New Orleans, maybe not anywhere! I reached out to some friends who owned a beautifully landscaped courtyard with a pool in the hip Marigny neighborhood. They were excited to help us pull off something truly unique. Valen and I worked out the details together: he would tell Sydney they were heading to a backyard play of The Little Mermaid. At the entrance, someone would check their tickets, serving a dual purpose- keeping up the ruse until the last possible moment and making sure they were the only people to enter this private courtyard.

Once inside, they’d see mermaids swimming in the pool surrounded by nautical decor. One of these mermaids would gently call Sydney over to the edge of the pool to hand her a clamshell. Inside, the message would simply read, “Turn around.” When she did, she'd find Valen, ready on one knee with a ring. Planning this, we could hardly contain our excitement, picturing her reaction to the big reveal. We both got goosebumps when I described how the scene would unfold- that’s always how I know I have nailed the perfect plan.

To make the whole experience even more unforgettable, we planned a mermaid-themed engagement photo session for the very next day. Valen mentioned that Sydney never travels to a swim-friendly destination without her mermaid tail, so he only needed to find something that gave off a "Prince Eric" vibe for himself. Meanwhile, I took on the task of gathering some pearls and shiny makeup accessories, knowing Sydney wouldn't have planned for a photoshoot.

Creating a Magical Mermaid Grotto in New Orleans

The preparation for this aquatic fantasy didn’t stop there. I put out a casting call for "real mermaids" — actresses equipped with swimmable mermaid tails. I also brought in a harpist to enrich the atmosphere with their soothing melodies. The set itself needed to be magical, so I dedicated hours to handcrafting nautical decorations, including two large coral formations and the custom clamshell. These set pieces were key- they had to be just as stunning as the AI-generated mockup photos I had created for Valen, which helped him picture exactly where he needed to be during the proposal.

June 25th was the big day- just a stone's throw away from my own 37th birthday! I remember working up quite a sweat as I put together all the decor in the courtyard. Honestly,I just wanted to fall directly into the pool during the setup. But, alas, duty called! As the day turned to evening, the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky with strokes of pink and orange. It was the perfect backdrop as Valen and Sydney walked into the courtyard.

She Said Yes Under the Sea

And wouldn't you know it? Everything unfolded just as we had envisioned, smooth as a calm sea, with every detail swimming into place perfectly.

The mermaids swam to the edge of the pool and beckoned Sydney over. Without a single word, just like a voiceless Ariel, one of them picked up the shell and held it out in front of Sydney with a bit of a mischievous glint in her eye. Sydney’s rapt attention was squarely on the mythical creature in front of her while Valen got in place behind her. As soon as he was ready and waiting with the ring box open, the mermaid mimicked the motion of opening a ring box with the shell in her hand, showing Sydney the message written in gold.

Sydney turned and looked over her shoulder to find Valen ready with the surprise of her life. She was completely shocked! She had been knelt at the edge of the pool but she got up and hurried to Valen, dropping to her knees and throwing her arms around him. I bit back tears as I heard her crying joyfully against his shoulder. But soon she started laughing through her tears, overwhelmed by the moment, as Valen, ever so poised, slid the ring on her finger.

The couple cuddled next to the pool as the evening deepened into night. The pool lights illuminated the mermaids, their tails shimmering like sequins under the water. As much as I wanted to let them spend all night in this magical space we had created, the mermaids had been at it for quite a while and our harpist was ready to pack it up and head home.

So I told Sydney about our mermaid portrait session plan (if she wanted to, of course. And she did want to!) and invited them to return the next day. I carefully packed away the majority of the decorations, ensuring everything was ready and in perfect condition for the next day’s mermaid-themed engagement session.

Surprise Mermaid Engagement Photos in the Big Easy

The next day was even hotter, but this time, I was ready to join the action in the pool! We kicked off with some classic engagement shots in the picturesque streets of the Marigny, capturing the iconic color and charm of New Orleans shotgun houses. There was a small hiccup when one of Sydney's nails came loose. So I manned the camera and my light gear simultaneously while my assistant dashed off to CVS for some quick-fix nail glue. I worked up quite a sweat, really earning my pool time!

Once my assistant returned and Sydney got her nail glued on, he helped her with makeup and gluing the pearls I’d purchased around her eyes to give her a more magical mermaid look. He and I changed into our swim gear, Sydney slipped into her mermaid attire, and we dove into the more adventurous part of the shoot! I had rigged a 10-gallon fish tank to safely house my camera for underwater photography. It was a tricky setup, with my assistant stabilizing the tank in the water while I balanced on my tiptoes in the pool to get the perfect angles. The challenge was real! But the photos were absolutely worth the effort.

Unfortunately, our shoot had to be cut short as our mermaid began feeling a bit seasick. Nonetheless, we captured some magical moments under a crescent moon- Sydney with Valen, the Eric to her Ariel, shared a tender embrace in the pool. These shots were not just visually stunning; they perfectly illustrated the creative and memorable proposal experiences that can be crafted in New Orleans, ideal for couples looking to get engaged in this vibrant city in a truly unique way.

Ready to make a splash with your own unique surprise proposal in New Orleans?

Check out video and photos from Valen and Sydney’s one-of-a-kind mermaid themed surprise proposal in New Orleans.