She Said Yes on the Rocks at Asilomar: A Pacific Grove Proposal

Being a Pacific Grove proposal photographer means some of my favorite afternoons start with a secret. This one was Joe’s. He picked Asilomar because he and Peyton had ridden bikes along this stretch of coast years ago, and he wanted to ask her somewhere that already belonged to the two of them. On Friday he brought her back out to the rocks, got down on one knee with the whole Pacific behind them, and she said yes.

I scouted the area ahead of time so we could land on a spot that was semi-secluded and beautiful, with a clear line of sight for me and nobody wandering through the frame. Then, once the ring was on, we spent the rest of golden hour making engagement photos, which is my favorite way to do a proposal. You get the real moment, and then you get an hour of the two of you actually looking at each other with a ring on her hand.

The moment itself

Look at her hands. Both of them flew up to her face and stayed there, and the smile underneath is the whole reason I do this. Joe was steady and sure with the box open in front of him. He got to see her reaction up close, and now she gets to see it forever.

These two are so easy to be around. Warm, quick to laugh, and completely wrapped up in each other. Nothing in this gallery was hard to get.

Then, engagement photos

Once the ring was on we had the best light of the day at the north end of Asilomar. We moved between the rocky shoreline, the boardwalk, and the wooden steps up through the dunes, and every spot looked completely different. Sun on the rocks, wind on the boardwalk, and soft warm light in the dune grass at the end.

Peyton wore a strapless cream knit dress and Joe wore a black button-up over a white tee, and it was exactly right for this coastline. Neutral on neutral, nothing competing with the blue water and the tan rock, and the ring shows up in every single frame. If you’re planning what to wear for your own session, my what to wear guide for the Monterey coast covers all of this.

Why Asilomar is one of my favorite spots for a Pacific Grove proposal

Most people picture the main beach when they hear Asilomar State Beach, and it’s beautiful, but for a proposal I almost always steer couples toward the rocky coast at the north end instead. The rocks give you a little privacy, the boardwalk gives you a clean line to walk along, and the wooden steps through the dunes give you a warm, grassy look that feels nothing like the shoreline you were just standing on. Three settings in a few hundred yards, no hiking, and pullouts right along Sunset Drive so you can park and walk straight out.

It also faces west, which means late-afternoon light comes straight across the water and lights up the rocks. That’s the glow in these photos. There is more about shooting all over this town on my Pacific Grove photographer page, and if you’d rather be on the sand for your session, I wrote about a couples session at Carmel River Beach that shows a very different side of the coast.

Planning a proposal in Pacific Grove?

Congratulations, Joe and Peyton. Thank you for trusting me with a moment you only get once. I’m so happy for you two.

If you’re planning to ask someone on the Monterey Peninsula, I’d love to help you pick the spot, figure out the timing, and stay hidden until it’s done. You can reach me through my contact page, or text me at 831-328-3113. Your secret is safe with me.

Pin this session for later

Planning your own proposal or engagement photos on the Monterey Peninsula? Save one of these to your Pinterest board so you can find it when you’re ready.