When Nick first reached out to begin planning his New Orleans proposal months in advanced, he knew he wanted it to be extra special and in an iconic New Orleans location. Being a New Orleans wedding photographer, some of my favorite non-wedding sessions are surprise proposals! We brainstormed a few spots and ultimately decided the best way to propose in New Orleans is in Jackson Square with the Cathedral majestically in the background.

The day of the proposal also happened to be the day of a Saints game making the French Quarter busier than usual! I got to the square 20 minutes early to layout some roses and prepare for the shot. About 5 minutes before Nick and Candice arrive, an ENTIRE SCHOOL BUS of High School age girls unloaded and came to our EXACT location. This is where as a photographer, I could have freaked out but I wasn’t going to let the proposal Nick spent MONTHS planning be overcrowded by high school girls!

Luckily, before I was a photographer, I was a High School teacher and I knew exactly what I needed to do.

I saw Nick and Candice get out of their car and begin walking towards our location. I quickly used my “teacher voice” to shout:

“Attention everyone! There are two well dressed people walking towards us RIGHT NOW. He is about to propose to his girlfriend, would you all help me in making sure I get the perfect shot of her saying yes?”

The crowd of girls erupted in a simultaneous “awwwwwww!!! Yes!!”

One girl shouted “Quick everyone! Get in place and be quiet!”

As Nick and Candice walked up, it was almost eerily quiet. Over a hundred people all standing around completely silent trying to “act causal” so she didn’t figure it out. Nick walked Candice right to the spot we planned, gave her a hug, looked at her, asked her to close her eyes, then took a step back and got down on one knee.

“You can open you eyes now” he said.

Her jaw dropped, she said yes!

Everyone cheered!

Congratulations Nick and Candice!

 

For other proposal stories check out Eric and Katie’s City Park Proposal or Kevin and Heather’s proposal that involve all of their friends!