The dog walk that lead to SURPRISE proposal photos in Ottawa!!

These surprise proposal photos in Ottawa still make my heart race!!

It was a warm Spring morning when Dan suggested to Alison that they take a walk with their new puppy – Harvey – to the South March Highland trails. What she didn’t know was that this wasn’t a spontaneous idea…in fact, it was a walk he’d been planning for months, and that I would be there (secretively!!) to document their surprise proposal photos!!

As I sat in the car, waiting for the right time to get out and hide, my heart was racing. I’ve never seen a proposal before (besides my own, of course!) and I already knew that Alison would get emotional…hence I would get emotional!! The bigger issue however, was that Alison and I have met before (In fact, by this point Alison and Dan had already hired me to be their wedding photographer for next year – despite not actually having a ring on her finger yet)!! This meant that if we crossed paths at any point in the walk, she might recognize me before Dan had the opportunity to get down on one knee!! This made me the most nervous of all, because despite wanting to get great photos of this moment, I wanted it first and foremost to be about them and to be the perfect moment Dan had been planning…

…and let me tell you, it was everything!!

Dan planned the whole thing perfectly – they would leave the house at 10am (ultimately making Alison a touch suspicious about why they had to leave at exactly 10…), and he would propose at the very end of the trail (where I’d be waiting)!!

I saw Harvey just second before I saw them. I jumped into the tree line and watched as Dan stopped on the middle of the boardwalk, got down on one knee and took out the diamond engagement ring from his pocket.

It was around this time that I stepped out from the bushes and Allison noticed me on the trail.

I heard her say “Is that Amy”!!…And here I was thinking my baseball hat was the perfect disguise ;)

By this point, Alison and I were still shaking; she was in tears, Dan was – I think – in shock, and Harvey…well, Harvey had no idea why we weren’t continuing our walk.

Here it is, the ring of her dreams!! With a classic setting and a huge diamond!! This is the kind of ring that catches your eye – that even strangers will admire and point out.

As we came to the end of the walking trail we started to say our goodbyes.

I heard Alison ask Dan about who else knew about the proposal…He was hesitant to say (and managed to change the subject), because he had one last surprise up his sleeve…

…Waiting at home for them was all of their parents, who had put together snacks and mimosas and were on the edge of their seat waiting to hear news!! Alison also had no idea that any of us would be there for this part, and I drove over quickly to their house before they had time to walk home from the trail.

Cheers to these two incredible families, becoming one next year!!

Alison, Dan, congratulations!!! I can still feel my nerves and excitement as I look through these photos and I hope you feel that too every time you look back through these memories!! What a morning!! And what a surprise!! Dan, your plans were perfect, from the walk to the surprise brunch with your parents (also, Deirdre – you spoil us with your decorating and party planning skills!!). This was so much fun to witness and I’m so excited for the whole family!! 

Let the wedding planning begin!!! This is going to be amazing!!
xo, A.