Cate + Jonah’s Proposal Pictures and Surprise Engagement Party in Ithaca, NY

Cate and Jonah met while attending Ithaca College. It was during the second semester of their senior year that they went on their first date at Stewart Park. Little did they know at the time that this was the first milestone of many in the life they would build together. So when it came time for Jonah to propose, he took Cate back to the location of their first date and popped the question. Thankfully, I was there to grab some proposal pictures and the surprise that happened afterward!

Jonah and I knew each other from our high school days, so I was thrilled to hear from him when he reached out to capture this exciting moment. We met up at a local coffee shop to discuss his plans. After years of being hired as a proposal photographer, I have some tips, tricks, and advice that I like to pass on to my clients for sessions like these. We walked through the process, where I’d be hiding, the direction Jonah should face, and more.

On the day of the surprise proposal, I arrived at Stewart Park extra early so I could scope out the locations we had talked about. There were some beautiful willow trees overlooking the lake that I knew would make an excellent backdrop for later. I settled into my “hiding spot” and waited for them to pull into the parking lot. I pretended not to notice as they walked by, but gave Jonah a secret nod to let him know I was ready. I followed behind them at a distance, taking a few establishing shots. When Jonah got down on one knee, I dove into action. I’ll never get sick of proposal pictures - it’s so sweet to witness this moment in person!

Once they’d had a moment to take a breath, I offered my congratulations, then we spent about 30 minutes taking engagement photos around the park. They had an obvious glow about them and were so easy to photograph!

Jonah had lured Cate to Ithaca under the guise of an “alumni dinner.” Little did she know that after the proposal, they’d be attending a surprise engagement party. Their family and closest friends had gathered at Coltivare, a gorgeous farm-to-table restaurant in downtown Ithaca, to surprise Cate once more.

I ran ahead so I could beat Jonah and Cate to the restaurant. Cate had no idea what was in store, and I loved how happy she was seeing everyone. All the people she wanted to share her exciting news with were right there in the room! There was a lot of chatting, laughing, and hugging, followed by a toast. I grabbed some candids and group photos, then left them to enjoy the rest of their evening.

Congratulations to you, Cate and Jonah! It was such an honor being a part of your big day, and I wish you both a lifetime of happiness!