Planning A Surprise Proposal In Jackson Hole Wyoming

Okay, you might’ve seen these two gorgeous humans on our website before! And that’s because this was our third shoot with them in 3 years. Kelliann first booked me for a sunrise aniversary session at Mount Rainier back in 2021. Then, Kaitlin asked Adam and I if we’d be willing to fly to Italy to document her proposal to Kell in 2022. This year, we were planning a ski trip at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort with them when Kell privately messaged me and said she wanted to propose back to Kait on the trip. It was a no-brainer. We’re so happy and grateful to have repeat clients and life-long friends!

Mount Rainier Sunrise Anniversary Session

Italian Dolomites All Day Proposal Adventure

How To Surprise Your Partner With A Proposal

Surprises can be difficult sometimes, especially when you’re keeping them from your best friend. I know I always have a hard time keeping surprises from Adam! But here are some of our top tips for surprising your partner with a meaningful proposal!

Tip #1: Enlist Help From Family/Friends or a Photographer

It’s a great idea to have help when planning a surprise! Whether you ask your friend, a trusted family member, or a photographer that’ll help you plan it all out. You can bounce ideas off them, have them help lure your partner to the proposal spot, etc. When we get inquiries for proposals, we help figure out everything from the location to keeping it a secret from your partner.

Tip #2: Have an Organized Game Plan

Okay, so not everyone needs to have an organized plan. Heck, Adam popped the question on a random day of the week during our 2-month southwest U.S. roadtrip. It was a perfect night outside of Zion National Park, and it ended up being so special! But a lot of people will benefit from having a good game plan set in place. This will alleviate stress from any unknowns. To create a game plan, the top things you need to do are:

1. Secure the ring. And make sure that if you live together or share a joint bank account, you hide all receipts and the ring/ring box. You don’t want to spoil the surprise if they unexpectedly find a jewlery receipt in the car.
2. Figure out photo/video. Obviously, we’re going to recommend that you hire a photographer/videographer that you like to capture the day! This takes the stress off of you to make sure it’s documented. We can either plan a mock couples photoshoot or hide and capture the surprise! But if you don’t have it in the budget, make sure you have a friend/family member recording it or set up your phone for a “timed selfie,” but hit record instead.
3. Location. If you want somewhere outside, make sure you’ve visited the location before or that you trust your photographer to find a private spot. You can also make dinner reservations ahead of time if you want to propose indoors.

Tip #3: Stick To Your Normal Routine

If you’re trying to surprise your partner, you don’t want to randomly tell them that you’re having a fancy dinner on Friday if you guys don’t normally do that. They might get suspicious and it’ll spoil the secret! So, try to throw them off your trail by planning something that doesn’t seem suspicious. For example, if you know you want to do a fancy dinner, maybe mention that you want to start doing fancy dinners once a month as a date night. Then, go on a few dinners before your surprise proposal dinner! Or if you want to hire a photo/video team, have your photographer secretly reach out to your partner and ask if they’d be willing to model. They’ll never suspect that you’re actually behind the photo session!

Grand Tetons National Park Proposal Spots

There are so many amazing places to propose to your partner! You really have an unlimited number of options. It can be anything from an intimate proposal on your back porch in the morning to an extravagant international trip! Just make sure that it’s a surprise you and your partner will love and cherish. If the Tetons are special to you, or you love exploring new places, here are some of our favorite Grand Tetons proposal spots!

1. Taggart Lake – This is one of the only accessible spots during the winter season. You can enter the National Park from the town of Jackson, and the park road will dead-end at this trailhead. It’s a shrot loop hike with views of the Tetons on a clear day!
2. Jenny Lake – Jenny Lake is the centerpoint of Grand Teton National Park. During the summer, this is a highly trafficked area, so we recommend finding a private spot along the lake or going out during sunrise.
3. Schwabacher Landing – We love this little pull-off in the park! You’re right next to a small channel of the Snake River, and the views of the Teton range is iconic.
4. Turnouts on Jenny Lake Loop Drive – This drive has some private little turn-offs that have incredible views of the mountain range. A small pull-out might be awesome if you’re looking for minimal crowds.
5. Hidden Falls & Inspiration Point – If you want to do a hike, we recommend checking this falls and overlook out! We kept going and followed the Cascade Canyon trail, which passes between Teewinot and Mount St. John taking you into the Teton backcountry.

Where To Stay In Jackson For Your Winter Engagement

The town of Jackson is super cute, especially in the wintertime. We recommend booking a local hotel or getting your own private Airbnb stay. Our couple stayed at the Rustic Inn Creekside Resort & Spa, and loved their experience! It has cute log cabins, as well as free shuttles to the ski resort. But if you prefer to stay at an Airbnb, here is a link to our Jackson Hole Airbnb Wishlist. Since the town is up-and-coming, there are a lot of condo and apartment stays. But they’re all updated and super cute!

Things To Do In Jackson Wyoming In The Winter

Jackson Hole is definitely a HUGE winter destination! You’ve got a ton to do from skiing to exploring Grand Teton National Park. Below is a list of some things we definitely recommend checking out if you’re planning a surprise proposal in Jackson Hole.

• Ski at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort
• Snowshoe Taggart Lake
• Check out the National Elk Refuge
• Yellowstone National Park Snowcoah Tour
• Give loves to doggos on a Dog Sled Tour
• Explore wildlife on a Snowmobile Tour
• Visit one of Jackson Hole’s Spas